LESSER ANTILLES: Aboard the Sea Cloud

A special departure for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

February 28-March 8, 2018

St. Lucia Parrot, Amazona versicolor. Photo: David Ascanio.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology staff:

John Fitzpatrick, Brian Sullivan, Scott Sutcliffe & Bramble Klipple

VENT Leaders: Victor Emanuel, Barry Lyon, David Ascanio & John Harrison

Compiled by: David Ascanio

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC.

2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN TX 78746

WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

2018 VENT Lesser Antilles aboard the Sea Cloud TheLesserAntillesaboardtheSeaCloudAspecialdeparturefortheCornellLabofOrnithologyFebruary28-March8,2018CompiledbyDavidAscanio.Photoalbumlink:https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157693657490754

BrownTrembler,Cinclocerthiaruficauda.Guadeloupe.Photo:DavidAscanio.

“Fivecountries,sixislandsandawonderfulshiptosailtheCaribbean”That’shastobethewaytostartthefieldlistcompilingthewonderfulbirdsseenaswesailedbetweentheLesserAntillesaboardtheincomparableSeaCloud.Wetravelledforthebirdsbutalsoenjoyedtheuniquecuisine,learnedaboutendemism,discussedsugartrade,learnedaboutback-and-forthbattlesreshapingthepoliticalboundariesoftheseislandsaswellasotheraspectsoftheCaribbeanpeople’slife.TheCaribbeanSeavibratedwithpastelblueorgreencolorsthatintroducedustodifferentislandseverydayandallowedtolookfortheendemicparrots,tremblers,hummingbirds,oriolesandbullfinchesthattheselaboratoriesofendemismdohost.Ourtreasurewasn´tgold,norsugar.Itwaseveryoneoftheuniquespecieseitherendemicorrestricteddistributionbirds,thatwereenjoyedduringthecruise.Tofindthesetreasuresitseemedlikeeveryislandofferedauniquechallenge.BelowisasummaryofeachoftheLesserAntillesvisitedinhopethatthisincredibleexperienceremainswithyouformanyyears!

BarbadosTheeasternmostislandoftheLesserAntillesAlonglineatthecustomsinBarbadosairportwelcomedeveryonetoatraitoftheCaribbeanculturewherealaid-backattitudeisalwaysaccompaniedbyamagnetichappiness.Yet,outsidetheairportweweremetbywonderfulpeoplewhomarrangedthetransportationtothehotelinaveryeffectiveway.Soonafterthehotelcheck-inwewereaddingthefirstendemicbirdtoourlist,theBarbadosBullfinch(Loxigillabarbadensis).Also,wenoticedthatCaribGrackle(Quiscaluslugubris)inthisislandisnotdimorphic(meaningthatmalesandfemaleslookalike).Infact,thisspecieshereismorecompactanditsvoicedifferentfromthatoftheremainingLesserAntilles.AnotherdistinctivefeatureofBarbadoswastoseeZenaidaDoves(Zenaidaaurita)walkinginopenareasandBananaquits(Coerebaflaveola)withbroadeyebrowanddistinctivescratchyvoice.Thisallhappenedwithinhours.WelcometotheLesserAntilles!ThenextdaystartedwithBarbadosBullfinchesandBananaquitsvisitingtheopenareaswherethehotelservesbreakfastandfewCaribbeanMartins(Prognedominicensis)weresoaringoverthebeach.Itseemedtousthatfewmartinswerenestingintheroofonapeercontiguoustothebreakfastarea.AvisittoGraemeHallsanctuarygaveustheopportunitytoseetheonlyactivenestingcolonyofLittleEgret(Egrettagarzetta)intheAmericas.

LittleEgret,Egrettagarzetta.Barbados.Photo:DavidAscanio.

WecontinuedwithatouraroundtheislandandafteraCaribbeanlunchweweretransferredtotheportofBarbadoswherethemagnificentSeaCloudwithitsamazingcrewwelcomedus.

AtSeaCruisingfromtheAtlanticOceantotheCaribbeanSea:seabirdtime!ThedayopenedwithviewsofWhite-tailedTropicbirds(Phaethonlepturus)fromtheship’sopendeck.Also,severalRed-footedBoobies(bothmorphs,brownandwhite)andfewBrownBoobies(SulasulaandSulaleucogaster).AflashviewofaBlack-cappedPetrel(Pterodromahasitata)andapairofSootyTern(Onychoprionfuscatus)turnedouttobeanewspeciesforourfieldchecklist.Bymidmorningwegatheredtolearnaboutthe“MagicofIslands”,alecturebyJohnFitzpatrickthatallowedunderstandingtheprocessofendemismoccurringintheLesserAntilles.Duringtheafternoon,wecelebratedawonderfulencounterwithagroupofClymeneDolphins(Stenellaclymene)andenjoyedawonderfullectureabouttheSugarBaronsbyJohnHarrison.

ClymeneDolphin,Stenellaclymene.CaribbeanSea.Photo:DavidAscanio.

DominicaParadisewiped-outbyhurricaneMariaAsweapproachedtoDominicawenoticedthathurricaneMariaeffectswerestillvisible.Hillshadlandslidesandmuchoftheforestseemedpartlydenuded.WewereabletoconfirmthisatcloserdistancewhenwereachedtheSyndicateEstate,inthevicinityofMourneDiablotin.Weheardfromourlocalguidesthatthetreeshadlosttheirfoliageafterthehurricaneandthatalltheforestwasbasicallybrown.Fortunately,asecondarygrowthhasemergedandthishasallowedtokeeptherichnutrientsofthesoil.Bythetimeofourvisit,thetreesweregettingleavesagainbutthesunlightwasstillreachingtheforestunderstory.Aboutthebirds.TheRed-neckedParrots(Amazonaarausiaca)werequiteconspicuousaswellasthePlumbeousWarbler(Setophagaplumbea).WeoweabigthankyoutoDr.Birdie(ourDominicanguide)forgettingusintoasitewherewenailedtheBlue-headedHummingbird(Cyanophaiabicolor).Someofusoptedtostayintheforestwhileothersreturnedtotheship.Beforeweclosedthemorning,someofusgotspectacularviewsoftheRufous-throatedSolitaire(Myadestesgenibarbis),locallycalledMountainWhistler.TheafternoonwasquieterbutweaddedsuperbviewsofHouseWren(aforestbirdhere,withrufousplumageanddistinctivevoice)andScaly-breastedThrasher.Yet,wemissedtheImperialParrot(Amazonaimperialis)andwecanonlyguessthat

there’snoreasonforittocometothelowerelevationssincethetreeshadtofruitnornutstooffer.GuadeloupeDifficult,verydifficultandalmostimpossibleLastnight,duringdinnerIwasjokinginthetablethattodaywasthedaytoseeingadifficultbird,averydifficultoneandanalmostimpossibletoseebird!TheBridledQuail-Dove(Geotrygonmystacea)wasthedifficultone.TheGuadeloupeWoodpecker(Melanerpesherminieri)wasthevery-difficultoneandtheForestThrush(Turdusinherminieri)wasthealmost-impossibletoseebird.So,withthatinmindwelefttheshipbeforedawntotheGuadeloupeNationalPark,inGuadeloupe(ofcourse!).Barry,Victor,Fitz,ScottandmyselfhadplanhowweweregoingtoorganizetheaccessofthetwogroupsintotheareawherewehadseentheBridledQuail-Doveinprevioustoursandwerehopingitcouldstaylongenoughforeveryonetoseeit.Whathappenedwasoneofthegreatbonusthatnaturecanevergivetoabirdinggroupandtheeventsunfoldedinsuchsynchronizedandwonderfulwaythatwecouldnotbelieveit.AsIwasenjoyinggreatviewsofthequail-dovewithhalfofthegroup,Barryreportedtohavingverycloseviewsofitaswellwiththeotherhalfastheywerewaitingtoaccessthearea.So,thesearchoftheForestThrushcontinuedandwehadonehopingrightinfrontofus.Well,guesswhat?Barryhadaboutthesameexperiencewiththeotherhalfofthegroup.Cowabunga!Therewasoneremainingtarget,thewoodpeckerandtoouramusement,apaircamerighttothetreeIwantedthemtoland.So,by09.30AMwehadseendifficult,very-difficultandalmostimpossibletosee!

White-tailedTropicbird,Phaethonlepturus.Photo:DavidAscanio.

ThemorningcontinuedwithavisittoLesJardinsdeValombreusewhereweaddedmoreviewsofGuadeloupeWoodpeckerandasurprisingForestThrushinthelowertrailofthegardens.BacktotheshipweenjoyedalectureaboutChristopherColumbus.ThedayclosedwithincredibleviewsofvariousconstellationsincludingOrion,theBigDipper,thePleiadesandotherlesspopularones.MartiniqueThedaytolookfordifficultandalmost-impossibleToday’sactivitiesstartedwithgreatexpectations.Ifwenailedthethreedifficult-to-seebirdsyesterday,itwascleartousthattoday’stargetspecieswereequallydifficult,ifnotmorechallenging.AssoonaswedisembarkedthetendersinMartinique’spier,wenoticedafemalePeregrineFalcon(Falcoperegrinus)eatingaEurasianCollared-Dove(Streptopeliadecaocto)atthetopofanawkwardlookingglass-wallhotel.Afterseeingthisfalconpluckingthefeathersofthedove,wedrovetothedrysideoftheisland,intheCaravellePeninsula,theonefacingtheAtlanticOcean.HereiswhereoneofthelastremainingpopulationsofthecriticallyendangeredWhite-breastedThrasher(Ramphocinclusbrachyurus)remains.Overtheyears,wehavelearnedthatthisspeciesbehavesmuchlikealeaftosser(agroupofFurnaridsfoundinCentralandSouthAmerica)andthattheyusuallymoveinsmall(family?)groups.Inordertoincreasethechancesoffindingthetargetspecieswedividedintothreegroups.SoonafterthefirstgroupwalkedintothetrailweheardthatBrianhadfoundthreethrashersandthathisgroupgotamazingviewsofit.HecontinueddeeperintothetrailasDavidwalkedintothetrailwithhisgroup.Forthesecondgroup,itwasgettinghardertoseethethrasher,astheyremainedbehindafallenbranch.Inthemeantime,Barrytookthethirdgroupintotheforestedgeatsidesoftheruins.

White-breastedThrasher,Ramphocinclusbrachyurus.Martinique.Photo:DavidAscanio.

AsDavid’sgroupwaitedforthethrasherstoshowup,weheardScottwhispering:Igottheoriole!So,wemovefewmetersbackintotheentranceofthetrailandwithsomeplaybackwenailedwhatIconsideredthealmost-impossibletoseespeciesoftheday,theMartiniqueOriole(Icterusbonana).AswewalkedbacktothemainroadatrioofWhite-breastedThrashersshowedupandprovidedspectacularviewsofthem.Theywerebusyincheckingleaflitterinsearchforarthropods.AswenailedthethrashersinthetrailwealsoheardthatBarryhadalsoastonishingviewsofthisspeciesattheforestedgebelowtheChateauDubuc.ThemorningendedwithmoreparticipantsenjoyingviewsoftheMartiniqueOrioleandadrivebacktotheshipaccompaniedbyalecturebythelocalguideofseveralculturalaspectsofMartinique.Duringtheafternoon,wesetsailsandenjoyedwonderfulviewsoftheSeaCloudfromthezodiacsasSpermWhales(Physetermicrocephalus)wereobservedinthedistanceandlaterlearnedfromJohnFitzpatrickandBrianSullivantheimportanceoftheeBirdprojectinproducingbigdatafortheconservationofbirds.

BridledQuail-Dove,Geotrygonmystacea.Guadeloupe.Photo:DavidAscanio.

St.LuciaThemostbeautifuloftheLesserAntillesLovelySt.Luciaisalwaysafavoriteamongcruiseparticipants.First,becauseyouapproachtotheislandviewingthefamousandastonishingPitonsasthesunrisesfrombehindtheisland.Second,becauseoftheirrelaxedandwelcomingcultureandthird,becauseithostsanamazingbirdlife.Aftertenderingtothedock,wedrovetothecommunityofBoutonandjustasweweregettingoutofthevanswestartedthemorningwithscopeviewsoftheAntilleanEuphonia(Euphoniamusica).Afternailingoneofthedifficultones,wedividedintotwogroupsandallenjoyedviewsoftheSt.LuciaParrot(Amazonaversicolor),theSt.LuciaWarbler

(Dendroicadelicata)andtheLesserAntilleanPewee(Contopuslatirostris)–thissubspeciesbeingagoodcandidateforafuturesplitandothermorewidespreadbirdssuchastheLesserAntilleanBullfinch(Loxigillanoctis)andtheLesserAntilleanFlycatcher(Myiarchusoberi).Anotherendemicfollowed,theSt.LuciaOriole(Icteruslaudabilis)andthesubspeciesofHouseWren(Troglodytesaedon).

St.LuciaWarbler.Dendroicadelicata.St.Lucia.Photo:DavidAscanio.

Aswecontinuedoursearchforbirds,westartedexploringabambooinsearchofanotherendemicandpossiblethemostdifficult-to-seeintheisland,theSt.LuciaBlackFinch(Melanospizarichardsoni).Despitesomeplayback,thebirdremainedshyanddifficultandonlyfewparticipantshadseenit.Then,IgotthosethathavemisseditaroundmeandIsaid:“keepyoureyesdown,closetotheground,don’tlookateyelevel!”Well,youknowhowbirdingworks.Afterasoftplayback,youbetwhathappenedwasabouttheopposite:amalecameoutandperchedonatwigaboveeyelevel!Havingseentheblack-finchwewerereadytoreturntotheshipforawonderfullunch.Intheafternoon,someparticipantscamebacktotheforestformorebirdingandotherparticipantstooktheswimmingexcursion.WesailedoutoftheSoufrierebaywithanamazingsunsetandthesatisfactiontohaveseenalloftheendemicofthisbeautifulisland.

St.LuciaOriole.Icteruslaudabilis.St.Lucia.Photo:DavidAscanio

St.VincentInsearchofabeautifulparrotandanotheralmost-impossibleOurlastbirdingactivityoftheLesserAntillesCruisewasintheislandofSt.Vincent.Thisexcursionbroughtustoawholenewexperience:avisittooneofthemostbeautifulprotectedareasintheCaribbean,theVermontforest.Thechallengingactivitystartedbeforedawnintoatrailthatleadstoaviewingplatform.Thewalkwaschallengingbutthebeautyoftheforestkepteveryoneingoodspirit.IamsurethateveryonelovedhearingtheendemicSt.VincentParrots(Amazonaguidingii)callingandbarkingovertheforestcanopyaswewalkedthesteeptrailtotheplatform.Despitethatthemorningremainedquietandthebirdactivitywaslow,wewereabletoobservethemagnificentSt.VincentParrotinthescopeandaddedseveralviewsofflyingindividuals.Wecontinuedthetrailtosearchedforoneofthemostdifficult-to-seebirdintheCaribbean,theWhistlingWarbler(Catharopezabishopi).Wehadhearditwhenwewereascendingthetrailbutitwastoodarktocallitback.Despitemucheffortandsearchlaterinthemorning,noindividualwasseen.ButweaddedmoreBrownTremblers(Cinclocerthiaruficauda)-wenoticeditsdawnsong,quitemusical!-GrenadaFlycatcher(Myiarchusnugator)andsomeofusgottoseetheLesserAntilleanTanager(Tangaracucullata).Then,wedrovetotheSt.VincentBotanicalGardenandenjoyedmoreviewsoftheGrenadaFlycatcherandweaddedSpectacled(Bare-eyed)Thrush(Turdusnudigenis),theSt.VincentsubspeciesofHouseWren(quitepalewithaneyelineanddistinctiveeyebrow)andapairofLesserAntilleanTanagers.Timewentfastandwehadtoreturntotheship.AswesailedbacktoBarbados,weenjoyedalargefeedingflockof(mostly)Red-footedBoobiesandBrownBoobies,plusaddedSootyTernandManxShearwater(Puffinuspuffinus)-abigThankYoutoBrianforspottingandidentifyingthesetwospecies.TheafternoonactivitiesconcludedwithalecturebyFitzabouttheuseof“MediaforConservationprojects”bythelabandfollowedbytheCaptain’sfarewellcocktailanddinner.

SunsetontheCaribbeanfromtheSeaCloud.Photo:DavidAscanio.

THELESSERANTILLESABOARDTHESEACLOUDITINERARY28Feb2018.ArrivaltoBarbados.01March2018.MorninginGraemeHallandColletonHouse.Embarkation.02March2018.Atsea.03March2018.Dominica.SyndicateEstate.04March2018.Guadeloupe.ParcNationaldelaGuadeloupe(GuadeloupeNationalPark)andLesJardinsdeValombreuse(GardensofValombreuse).05March2018.Martinique.Réservenaturellenationaledelapresqu'îledelaCaravelle(CaravellePeninsulanaturalreserve).06March2018.St.Lucia.Boutoncommunityroad.07March2018.St.Vincent.VermontForesttrailandSt.VincentBotanicalGardens.08March2018.Barbados.Disembarkation.Departureforinternationalflights.

THEBIRDLISTProcellariidae/PetrelsandShearwatersBlack-cappedPetrel.Pterodromahasitata.CaribbeanSea.ManxShearwater.Puffinuspuffinus.CaribbeanSeaandAtlanticOcean.Audubon’sShearwater.Puffinusiherminieri.CaribbeanSea.Hydrobatidae/Storm-PetrelsLeach’sStorm-Petrel.Oceanodromaleucorhoa.CaribbeanSea.Phaethontidae/TropicbirdsWhite-tailedTropicbird.Phaethonlepturus.SeenintheAtlanticOceanbetweenBarbadostoDominica.Wenoticeditsdistinctivewingpatches.Frigatebirds/FregatidaeMagnificentFrigatebirdFregatamagnificens.Dailyviews.BoobiesandGannets/SulidaeBrownBooby.Sulaleucogaster.VariousindividualswereseenintheCaribbeanSeaandtheAtlanticOcean.Red-footedBooby.Sulasula.Themostnumerousoftheboobies.CommonintheAtlanticOcean.Pelicans/PelecanidaeBrownPelicanPelecanusoccidentalis.ParticularlycommonaroundGuadeloupe.Herons,EgretsandBitterns/ArdeidaeGreatBlueHeronArdeaherodias.ObservedinBarbadosandSt.Lucia.GreatEgret.Ardeaalba.SeeninDominicaandSt.Lucia.LittleEgret.Egrettagarzetta,AbreedingcolonywasobservedinGraemeHall,Barbados.SnowyEgretEgrettathula.Barbados,MartiniqueandDominica.LittleBlueHeronEgrettacaerulea.BarbadosandSt.Lucia.CattleEgretBubulcusibis.AcommonspeciesintheLesserAntilles.Apparently,arrivedattheseislandsduringthesecondwaveofindividuals(firstdocumentedinSuriname,inthelate1800).GreenHeronButoridesvirescens.SeeninBarbados,GuadeloupeandSt.Vincent.Yellow-crownedNight-HeronNyctanassaviolacea.SeeninGraemneHall,Barbados.Black-crownedNight-Heron.Nycticoraxnycticorax.St.Lucia.Ospreys/PandionidaeOsprey.Pandionhaliaetus.ObservedinBarbados.Hawks,EaglesandKites/AccipitridaeCommonBlack-Hawk.Buteogallusanthracinus.StVincent.Thissubspecies(cancrivorus)issometimesregardedasaseparatespecies.Broad-wingedHawk.Buteoplatypterus.AlthoughbeingaborealmigrantspeciesinSouthAmerica,theLesserAntilleshostaresidentpopulationofthisspecies.SeeninDominica,St.Lucia,St.VincentandBarbados.

Rails,GallinulesandCoots/RallidaeCommonGallinule.Gallinulagaleata.AwetlandspeciesfoundinBarbadosandSt.Lucia.Ploversandlapwings/CharadriidaeSemipalmatedPlover.Charadriussemipalmatus.OneindividualwasobservedinGraemeHall,Barbados.SandpipersandAllies/ScolopacidaeSpottedSandpiper.Actitismacularius.SingleindividualswereobservedinBarbados,GuadeloupeandSt.Vincent.SolitarySandpiper.Tringasolitaria.AsingleindividualwasseeninGraemeHall,Barbados.Gulls,TernsandSkimmers/LaridaeLaughingGull.Leucophaeusatricilla.AmazingnumbersinSt.Lucia.Icounted180+individuals.RoyalTern.Thalasseusmaximus.FewpairsinMartinique,St.LuciaandSt.Vincent.SootyTern.Onychoprionfuscatus.Seentwice.AtlanticOcean.PigeonsandDoves/ColumbidaeRockPigeon.Columbalivia.Introduced.Commoninurbanareasinmostislands.Scaly-napedPigeon.Patagioenassquamosa.Particularlycommonandeasy-to-seeinBarbados.AforestspeciesinGuadeloupe,St.LuciaandSt.Vincent.EurasianCollared-Dove.Streptopeliadecaocto.Introduced.ObservedinBarbados,GuadeloupeandMartinique.CommonGround-Dove.Columbinapasserina.Seeninmostislands.RuddyQuail-Dove.Geotrygonmontana.FlushedinSt.Vincenttrail.Seenbyfewparticipants.BridledQuail-Dove.Geotrygonmystacea.Whenitcomestoquail-doves,thisonewinsthebeautycontest.Afabulousgroupdynamicallowedustoseefiveindividualsinvariouslocationssurroundingthepicnicareaandthewaterfallstrail,inGuadeloupe.ZenaidaDove.Zenaidaaurita.Particularlycommonandeasy–to-seeinBarbados.AlsoseeninMartiniqueandSt.Vincent.EaredDove.Zenaidaauriculata.FirstseeninSt.LuciaandlaterelsewhereinSt.Vincent.Cuckoos/CuculidaeSmooth-billedAni.Crotophagaani.Dominica.MangroveCuckoo.Coccyzusminor.BrieflyseeninDominicaandlater,inanopenbranchinSt.Lucia.Swifts/ApodidaeTheswiftsareprobablytheleastknownfamilyofbirdsintheAmericas.Thatisbecauseoftheirhabitstotravellongdistanceandroostinhard-to-findlocations.Short-tailedSwift.Chaeturabrachyura.ReportedinSt.Lucia.LesserAntilleanSwift.Chaeturamartinica.AcommonspeciesfoundinmostoftheLesserAntilles.Notnumerousthistime.

Hummingbirds/TrochilidaePurple-throatedCarib.Eulampisjugularis.Thisexquisitehummingbirdwasenjoyedbyeveryoneinthecruise.WecameacrossitmanytimesintheislandsofDominica,Guadeloupe,St.LuciaandSt.Vincent.Green-throatedCarib.Eulampisholosericeus.ThisspecieswasanothergemoftheLesserAntilles.ItwasseeninBarbados,Guadeloupe,St.LuciaandSt.Vincent.Blue-headedHummingbird(E).Cyanophaiabicolor.ThistimeitwashardtofindthisspeciesduetothelownumberofflowersinSyndicateEstate.MostcruiseparticipantsgottoseeitinsidethetrailinDominica.AntilleanCrestedHummingbird.Orthorhyncuscristatus.AnotherlittlegemoftheLesserAntilles.WenoticedthecrestcolordifferenceamongthenorthernandsouthernLesserAntilles.Itwasseeninalmosteveryisland.Kingfishers/AlcedinidaeRingedKingfisher.ObservedinDominica.BeltedKingfisher.Megacerylealcyon.SeeninBarbados.Woodpeckers/PicidaeGuadeloupeWoodpecker.Melanerpesherminieri.EndemictoGuadeloupe.ApairwasobservedinthepicnicareaoftheGuadeloupenationalpark.ItwaslaterreportedintheVelambrousegardensaswell.TheepithetherminieriwasgivenafterFelixLouisl’Herminiere,aFrenchnaturalistinGuadeloupe.Weenjoyedthreepairsofthisislandendemic!Falcons/FalconidaeMerlin.Falcocolumbarius.Dominica.PeregrineFalcon.Falcoperegrinus.Martinique.Parrots/PsittacidaeRed-neckedParrot(E).Amazonaarausiaca.EndemictoDominica.Thecommonestandprobablytheeasiest-to-seeparrotintheLesserAntilles.Wesawitperched,inflightandatclosedistance.St.LuciaParrot(E).Amazonaversicolor.SEndemictoSaintLucia.EveryoneenjoyedgreatviewsofthisparrotalongtheBoutoncommunityroad.St.VincentParrot(E).Amazonaguildingii.EndemictoStVincent.Tofindthisspecieswetriedtwolocationsinthesameprotectedarea.ThosethatwerereadytowalkasteeptrailtothelookoutareajoinedFitz,Brian,Scottandmyself.BarryandVictorleadthegrouptoseetheparrotfromtheforestedge.Everyoneenjoyedgoodviewsofit!Orange-wingedParrot.Amazonaamazonica.Introduced.AlargeroostwasobservedalongtreesneartheseaasweenteredthebayinMartinique.Rose-ringedParakeet.Psittaculakrameri.Introduced.Barbados.TyrantFlycatchers/TyrannidaeåCaribbeanElaenia.Elaeniamartinica.Acommonspeciesseeninmostislands.Yellow-belliedElaenia.Elaeniaflavogaster.SV.SeenonlyintheSt.Vincentbotanicalgardens.AcommonspeciesinnorthernSouthAmerica.

LesserAntilleanPewee.Contopuslatirostris.Thislittletyrant-flycatcherisfondtoforestedge.ItwasfirstfoundinacitrusplantationinDominicaandlaterinSt.Lucia.SometaxonomisthassuggestedthattheSt.Luciapopulationmightbeaseparatespecies,theSt.LuciaPewee,Contopusoberi.GrenadaFlycatcher.Myiarchusnugator.AtargetspeciesinSt.Vincent.ItwasseennicelyintheVermontForestandinthebotanicalgardens.WenoticeditsincredibleresemblancewithGreat-crestedandBrown-crestedFlycatchers.LesserAntilleanFlycatcher.Myiarchusoberi.ApairwasobservedinDominicaandasecondpairinSt.Lucia.GrayKingbird.Tyrannusdominicensis.Thisspecieswasseeninallislands.SomeLesserAntillespopulationsofthisspeciesdomigratetonorthernSouthAmerica.WenoticeditsenormousbillsizecomparedwithpopulationsinotherlocationsoftheAmericas.Vireos/VireonidaeBlack-whiskeredVireo.Vireoaltiloquus.Fewindividuals(nesting?)wereobservedinBarbados.FewerinSt.Lucia.Themigratoryrouteofthisspeciesisnotcompletelyunderstood.Wrens/TroglodytidaeHouseWren.Troglodytesaedon.ThisisacomplexspeciesintheLesserAntilleswithvariouscandidatestobeelevatedtospeciesrank.Belowasummary:Troglodytesaedonrufescens.ThemostrufousofalloftheHouseWren.Itisbasically,aforestspecies.SeeninSyndicateEstate.Troglodytesaedonmesoleucus.St.Lucia.Thisoneprefersdesertscrubandopenareas.SeenalongtheroadtoBoutonschool.Troglodytesaedonmusicus.ThepalestofalloftheHouseWrenintheLesserAntilles.ObservedintheBotanicalGardensofSt.Vincent.

ThrushesandAllies/TurdidaeRufous-throatedSolitaire.Myadestesgenibarbis.WewereserenatedbythewonderfulvoiceofthissolitaireinDominica.LocallycalledMountainWhistler.CocoaThrush.Turdusfumigatus.St.LuciaandSt.Vincent.Notseenbyeveryone.Spectacled(Bare-eyed)Thrush.Turdusnudigenis.SeenattheBotanicalGardensofSt.Vincent.ForestThrush.Turduslherminieri.Everyonegottoseethisalmost-impossibletoseebirdinGuadeloupe.MockingbirdsandThrashers/MimidaeWhite-breastedThrasher(E).Ramphocinclusbrachyurus.EndemictoMartiniqueandStLucia.Allthreegroupsenjoyedastonishingviewsoftwosmallgroupsastheyweretossingleavesinsearchforarthropods.Endemicandhighlyendangered!Scaly-breastedThrasher.Alleniafusca.FirstseeninDominicaandlaterinalltheremainingislandsexceptforSt.Vincent.Pearly-eyedThrasher.Margaropsfuscatus.AcommonspeciesinDominicaandGuadeloupe.BrownTrembler.Cinclocerthiaruficauda.Thetremblersarecomicalbirdswithauniquebehaviortoshakethewingsconstantly.IthasbeensuggestedthatthepopulationfromGuadeloupemayrepresentsaseparatespecies.Thereare

currentlytwospeciestremblersrecognizedandthisoneismorewidespread.WesawthisoneinDominicaandGuadeloupe.Later,itwasseenalsoinSt.Vincent.GrayTrembler(E).Cinclocerthiagutturalis.FoundonlyinSt.LuciaandMartinique.Onceconsideredconspecificwiththepreviousspecies,thistremblerhaspalerunderparts.EveryoneenjoyedviewsofitinSt.Lucia.TropicalMockingbird.Mimusgilvus.CommoninMartiniqueandSt.Vincent.NewWorldWarblers/ParulidaeNorthernWaterthrush.Parkesianoveboracensis.Heardonly.Barbados.WhistlingWarbler(E).Catharopezabishopi.EndemictoSaintVincent.Despitemucheffort,goesasheardonlyforthistime.PlumbeousWarbler(E).Setophagaplumbea.Aneasy-to-findwarbler.ItwasseeninDominicaandGuadeloupe.YellowWarbler.Setophagapetechia.ThisinterestingspeciesisresidentintheLesserAntilles.TheBarbadosformisalsocalledGoldenWarblerwhiletheMartiniqueform(withcompletechestnut-maroonhood)iscalledMangroveWarbler.Seeninbothislands.St.LuciaWarbler(E).Setophagadelicata.EndemictoStLucia.Anothereasy-to-findwarbler.SeenbyeveryoneinSt.Lucia.Itfavorsopenareas.TanagersandAllies/ThraupidaeLesserAntilleanTanager.Tangaracucullata.ThistanagerisarelativetothecommonerandmorewidespreadBurnished-buffTanagerinnorthernSouthAmerica.SomeoftheonesthatwalkedthesteeptrailinSt.Vincentsawit.AlsoseenbysomeintheBotanicalGardensofSt.Vincent.Bananaquit.Coerebaflaveola.Anywhereyouseebananaquitsyousortofseeitonceandignorefortherestofthetrip.NotthewayintheLesserAntilles.Wesawindividualswithadottedwingbar,somewithbroaderthroatpatchandotherswithreducedthroatpatch.Furthermore,thereisanall-blackforminSt.Vincent.Seeninallislands.Black-facedGrassquit.Tiarisbicolor.AcommonspeciesseeninopenareasofalloftheLesserAntillesexceptforGuadeloupe.LesserAntilleanBullfinch.Loxigillanoctis.Acommonandgregariousspeciesthatvisitsopenareas,forestedgeandistoleranttohumandisturbance.ItwasseeninalltheislandsexceptforBarbados,whereisreplacedbytheendemicbullfinchthere.BarbadosBullfinch.Loxigillabarbadensis.Thisbullfinchwasthefirstoftheendemicbirdstobeseeninourtour.They´resoconspicuousthattheycanbeseenvirtuallyineveryopenareaofBarbados.Someweretryingtotakebreadfromthebuffetbreakfast!St.LuciaBlackFinch(E).Melanospizarichardsoni.EndemictoStLucia.SeenbymanywhenamalejumpedtoanopentwigalongtheBoutonroadinSt.Lucia.LesserAntilleanSaltator.Saltatoralbicollis.GuadeloupeandMartinique.TroupialsandAllies/IcteridaeCaribGrackle.Quiscaluslugubris.OurfirstsightingofthisspecieswasinBarbados,whichhostaninterestinganddistinctivepopulationsincetheyarenotsexuallydimorphic(meaningmalesandfemaleslookalike).Furthermore,thepopulationsofGuadeloupe,MartiniqueandSt.LuciaarevocallydistinctfromtheonesinlandSouthAmerica.Hereyougotagoodexampleofwhat’slikelytobe

twocrypticspeciesandprobablybothwillberestrictedtotheLesserAntilles.Wesawbothforms.ShinyCowbird.Molothrusbonariensis.SeeninBarbadosandSt.Lucia.St.LuciaOriole.(E).Icteruslaudabilis.EndemictoSt.Lucia.SeenwellalongtheBoutonroad.Nicestudiesofasingleindividualinspectingdeadhangingleavesofatree.MartiniqueOriole(E).Icterusbonana.EndemictoMartinique.Thisoriolehasprovedtobeoneofthemostdifficult-to-findendemicbirdintheLesserAntilles.SeenbyDavid’sgroupandlaterbyfewotherparticipantswhenwetriedtofinditagaininsidethetrail.Theepithetbonanareferstothefalsebelievebythelocalfarmersthatthisspeciesatethebananasintheplantations.Siskins,CrossbillsandAllies/FringillidaeAntilleanEuphonia.Euphoniamusica.EveryoneenjoyedscopeviewsofthisbeautifuleuphoniaasFitzgaveashortlectureaboutitsincredible-andshort-digestivesystem.OTHERSPECIESLISTSpermWhale.Physetermacrocephalus.AtSea.HumpbackWhale.Megapteranovaeangliae.AtSea.SmallAsianMogoose.Herpestesjavanicus.IntroducedintheLesserAntilles.AntilleanFruit-eatingBat.Brachyphyllacavernarum.Dominica.DominicanGroundLizard.Ameivafuscata.Dominica.BarbadosAnole.Anolisextremus.Barbados.DominicanAnole.Anolisoculatus.Dominica.GuadeloupeAnole.Anolismarmoratus.Guadeloupe.MartiniqueAnole.Anolisroquet.Martinique.St.LuciaAnole.Anolisluciae.St.Lucia.St.VincentBushAnole.Anolistrinitatis.St.Vincent.Johnstone’sWhistlingFrogorCoquiFrog.Eleurtherodactylusjohnstonei.Introduced.DominicaandSt.Vincent.FlyingFish.Exocoetidae(Thisfamilycomprisesabout64speciesofflyingfish).Leaf-cutterAnts.ArborealTermite.