Trip Diary

Friday 2nd February Travel Day

We all met at the check in for BWIA and all well on time. The ladies especially had all gelled together. We boarded the plane almost on time but it takes some time to get out of Heathrow so we left about an hour late. The flight was uneventful landing at Antigua and then on to Trinidad where we were met by our guide for the eight days Roodal, the brother of Jogi. When we arrived at Asa Wright we were greeted by a rum punch and then led to our rooms where a sandwich and tea had been left for us. All well tired we retired and awaited the morrow.

Saturday 3rd February Asa Wright

Pre dawn there was a tremendous rain storm but it cleared for dawn and most of us met up in the verandah for the spectacular sight of birds feeding on the fruit and hummingbird feeders. We saw lots before breakfast including three Channel-billed Toucan, a Chestnut Woodpecker, a wonderful male Tufted Coquette plus a selection of tanagers and thrushes and a pair of Blue-crowned Motmots all very close. We also saw a few Agouti,

We breakfasted at 7-30 am and met up with Roodal at 8-30 am. He led us up the entrance track at Asa Wright where we saw another amazing selection of birds including Black and Turkey Vulture, a nice adult Common Black Hawk and a pair of Grey Hawk. Perhaps the stars were Crested Oropendola at nest, displaying and, of course, their wonderful calls. We also connected with a nice male Little Hermit and Long-billed Starthroat and a male Golden-headed Manakin and White-bearded Manakin. Woodpeckers put in a good appearance too with two Lineated and Golden-Olive. The morning had been spectacular with a wonderful selection of Asa Wright birds, and on the way back we connected with Tegu, a nice stripy lizard.

After lunch at the centre we embarked at 2-00 pm for a walk down the 'Discovery Trail' to try for manakins, trogons and Bearded Bellbird. We met up with a local guide called Jason and headed down the track. We connected with White-bearded Manakin but only three males and then heard bellbirds. We searched long and hard and Jill saw two for us well disguised behind leaves BUT then we had absolutely superb views of a male calling and out in full view so that everyone had superb views by binoculars and telescope. Jason meanwhile had found us a White-flanked Antwren but we did not succeed with any trogons - however only the first day so we were keeping our hopes up.

At the log we had seen 62 bird species and were due to go out on a night walk with Jason. On the night walk we had fantastic views of a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl with a second one close by. The rest of the walk was very interesting as Jason knew so much about Trinidad flora and fauna.

Sunday 4th February Blanchisseuse

Most of us did the usual pre breakfast on the terrace and we left in the two minibuses up and down to Blanchisseuse. We took for ages to get to the lookout BUT we did see all three trogons, a pair of White-tailed giving good views, a fantastically close male Collared Trogon just above us sitting on a branch over the road, and we took a long time to see Violaceous Trogon, but in the end all got good views. We continued to the lookout seeing on the way Zone-tailed Hawk and at the lookout Short-tailed Hawk as well as lots of Turkey and Black Vultures. We also saw Gray-breasted Martin and some Band-rumped Swift. We continued down towards Blanchisseuse getting good views of Blue-headed Parrot and Olive-sided Flycatcher.

We arrived at the village by the coast in time for lunch seeing four Brown Pelican, seven Magnificent Frigatebird, a couple of Tropical Kingbird and Short-tailed Swift.

After lunch we went the short distance to Marianne River but there were many people canoeing and swimming so we did not see much there apart from a nice close White Hawk.

We therefore returned up the mountain stopping for some fantastic birds that Roodal spotted for us - a Common Potoo VERY close to the road giving everyone superb close views, probably the sight of the week. A Striped Cuckoo again close to the road and Rufous-tailed Jacamar somewhat into the sun ,but a lovely male again very close to the road giving everyone very close views.

It had been a Sunday and therefore busy on the road but not as busy as Asa Wright - as we returned there was a convoy of cars emerging from the centre.

We did our log seeing 60 species in the day with a two day total of 88 bird species

Monday 5th February Lalaja highway am. Asa Wright pm

Our usual pre breakfast on the terrace gave us Blue-chinned Sapphire, a Grey-headed Kite perched for all to see and Barred Antshrike. After breakfast we drove the short way to Lalaja Trace or highway as Roodal called it, a certain misnomer as the track had been thoroughly potholed by lorries and bulldozers. However we got quite a way up and then walked to the top. Again however our first stop was out of the minbus half way up and we all saw four very good forest ground dwellers, a fantastic Grey-throated Leaftosser (leafscraper) which just sat on a branch and sang for us, a White-flanked Antwren which gave fleeting glimpses, a Rufous-breasted Wren and finally a White-bellied Antbird which sang for us but into cover so that we all got some excellent views of it.

We continued up to the top and walked getting sounds of Trinidad Euphonia with glimpses of same. When we got to the top some of us saw a nice male Trinidad Euphonia but he did not stay long enough for everyone to get a good view. A nice surprise at the top were sightings of raptors including three very early Swallow-tailed Kite, another Grey-headed Kite, a Broad-winged Hawk and of course lots of TVs and BVs.

We walked down to the vehicles and drove down the bumpy road back to Asa Wright for lunch having had a splendid morning seeing very difficult forest ground birds.

In the afternoon half the party relaxed and the rest went down the Discovery track seeing a much better White-bearded Manakin lek with nine birds displaying. We also carried on to see and succeeded in Bearded Bellbird there were at least three so we called it a peal of bellbirds. A few of us carried on and did the Chaconia trail and part of the Bamboo Valley Trails seeing very few birds but certainly a nice way of seeing the Asa Wright forest.

Tuesday 6th February Aripo Agricultural Centre and Nariva area

The usual pre breakfast on the terrace got the usual birds and we started for the Agricultural Centre after breakfast stopping just outside of Arima for a pair of Pearl Kite next to their nest giving excellent views.

We continued on to the Agricultural Centre where we stopped for some excellent birding seeing White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Pied Water Tyrant and a selection of waders. We had excellent views of Savannah Hawk, Red-chested Blackbird, White-winged Swallow and Southern Lapwing plus other species.

We stopped off at a village called Valencia for a comfort stop but most took a Carib beer. We continued on to the beach at Manzanilla where we took lunch and did a small walk after seeing close BVs and another Pearl Kite.

We then continued on by minibus towards Nariva area stopping for brilliant views of a pair of Yellow-headed Caracara mating and then being disturbed by yet another Savannah Hawk. This interaction continued with the caracaras chasing the Savannah Hawk. The day was getting hot, up to or over ninety degrees Fahrenheit, depending on whose gauge we considered. We therefore took to the shadow of trees with Roodal finding us some super birds such as Black-crested Antshrike, Silvered Antbird and Bi-coloured Conebill.

We continued on to Nariva swamp seeing many Smooth-billed Ani and a few Blue-black Grassquit but with a super sighting of a Gray Hawk just sitting in a palm tree. There were many Black Vulture clustered round a dead animal but we then decided to go back to the coast and wait for the Red-bellied Macaw. What a sight we must have seen about one hundred and fifty macaws plus a few Orange-winged Parrot but two Yellow-crowned Parrot, a very rare bird indeed that had been released and was now breeding again so we were very lucky to get these two birds.

We returned late to Asa Wright but they had saved us some supper and however everyone wanted to do the log so at the end the total for the day was 74 and our running total was 128.

Wednesday 7th February Asa Wright Oilbirds and Waller Field runway

for night walk

Most of us met for the pre breakfast on the terrace - how could we miss such a spectacle!! After breakfast at 8-30 am we met our guide Chima and walked the trails to the Oilbird cave or rather an enclosed gorge. We all saw a few Oilbird with their glowing eyes and also in flight and what big birds they are. They are now deeper into the gorge and there are about 134 birds all adults as they are just now starting to breed or perhaps at the end of February into March. As the weather had cleared a lot of the group just chilled out on the trails sitting, chatting and perhaps doing a bit of birding and botanizing.

We lunched at the normal time of twelve o'clock, relaxed for the afternoon and left for our picnic dinner and night birding at Waller Field aerodrome.

We dined at the entrance to the Agricultural centre seeing four fleeting Green-rumped Parrotlet and a nice collection of Yellow-hooded Blackbird coming in to roost in the marsh plus a Striated Heron.

After a super meal we continued on to Waller Field Aerodrome where we connected with a Tropical Screech Owl and about ten White-tailed Nightjar and about twelve Pauraque. This was our night ride and we then headed for Asa Wright where we all headed straight to bed.

Thursday 8th February Aripo and Arena am, Asa Wright pm

We started early at 6-30 am and stopped for a Merlin in a tree and after at a river crossing on the main road. Here we saw the expected bird a Masked Yellowthroat, Pied Water Tyrant, a Solitary Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs BUT the bird here was a Ringed Kingfisher giving excellent views but flying over.

We continued on to the Waller Field Aerodrome where we saw many birds starting off with Southern Beardless Tyrannulet plus many others just in one tree. Just after we stopped for a really rare bird for Trinidad, a Crane Hawk perched in a tree in splendid light, he even gave us a short flight view as well - it was the first record for Trinidad and only seen about three times, the first just before Christmas. White-tailed Goldenthroat (a hummer) kept us occupied for some time even seeing the nest whilst a Ruby-topaz Hummingbird flew quite close. We even saw Fork-tailed Palm Swift about twenty and plenty of flycatchers including a Bran-coloured. We then drove down a rather bumpy track and picked up a flight view of Bat Hawk. By now everyone was somewhat birded out so we stopped at Cumuto village seeing a tree full of Yellow-rumped Cacique whilst most of us took a beer.

We continued on to the Arena forest where we took lunch by a couple of bats and seeing a pair of Green-rumped Parrotlet very close up giving most of us splendid views.

We then headed back to Asa Wright for a free afternoon.

After dinner we went for another night walk up the road hoping for another sighting of Ferruginous Pygmy Owl but no luck, however we did see an opossum.

Our total at the log for the day was 72, and our running total now 143

Friday 9th February Waterloo and Caroni Swamp

Our usual pre breakfast on the terrace and then the long haul down to Waterloo, a nice muddy area right on the coast. But first we stopped at Trincity sewage works seeing Little Grebe, Black-necked Stilt, various swallows and good views of Yellow-hooded Blackbird plus of course five Spectacled Cayman.

We continued on to Waterloo where the tide was right for us and we saw quite a few new bird species such as over one thousand Laughing Gull, many Black Skimmer, a few Willet and Greater Yellowlegs plus Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Semi-palmated Plover with a rare bird for the Americas, three Lesser Black-backed Gull but no terns of any kind. Here we also saw close Osprey and Turnstone.

We then headed for Cacundie via various doctors for Katharine but all were out. At Cacundie, a mangrove area we had glimpses of Straight-billed Woodcreeper and Bi-coloured Conebill plus a mongoose walked across the track for us. We returned to the doctor for Katharine's bad ankle and continued on to Caroni Swamp. The boat trip down the waterways was somewhat uneventful until we saw an extremely close adult Scarlet Ibis just sitting in a tree and a close Straight-billed Woodcreeper. Further on there were some more Scarlet Ibis and a good tree where we saw Yellow Warbler, more Bi-coloured Conebill and a wonderful male American Redstart.

Soon after we moored by some other boats and had our rum punch whilst the Scarlet Ibis were coming in to roost. An absolutely stunning experience seeing well over one thousand five hundred of them plus many Tri-coloured Heron, Snowy Egret and Olivaceous Cormorant. We stayed until dusk and returned to Asa Wright Centre did the log, now up to a total of one hundred and eighty bird species and most of us headed for bed.

Saturday 10th February Travel to Tobago, afternoon at leisure.

We all hung around the Asa Wright verandah getting our last looks at the tremendous range of species coming to the feeders, had breakfast and left for Tobago. Only a fifteen minute flight but by bus to Blue Waters Inn an hour and a half on the Atlantic coast road. At Blue Waters Inn we lunched and took the afternoon off for swimming, walking, looking at birds etc.

Sunday 11th February Little Tobago and afternoon walk

We all did a pre breakfast walk down to the stream at the entrance to Blue Waters Inn but there was little there except some Cattle egret, a few Little Blue Heron and an adult and immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Our walk back to the hotel got us a female White-fringed Antwren, a large group of Shiny Cowbird and two White-tipped Dove. We had seen a larger group of doves at the bridge, which turned out to be Pale-vented Dove.

After breakfast we met on the quay for our trip to Little Tobago, it was quite rough so a couple of the ladies were not that keen, however they all came and what a trip. We started off with a cruise around the reefs seeing some excellent fish including a large Barracuda on the Angel reef off the small island called Goat Island. The sea was heavy but we arrived at Little Tobago and we all disembarked one by one. Our guide was Larry who knew the island well for birds, plants and history. At the tumble down house he put out water and showed us a Crested Oropendola nest (I think it was nailed to the porch!!) Just after we spotted a Ruby-topaz Hummingbird which just sat there until it showed it's superb colouration of head and throat, when everybody said WOW!! which put it to flight.

We carried on up to the viewpoint and saw lots of Red-billed Tropicbird, Brown Booby and a nest of Red-footed Booby, an immature plus two adults. Larry then took us down a steep track and showed us very close, down to one metre, Red-billed Tropicbird on nests, a full grown immature with an adult and another just sitting on eggs - he also showed us an Audubon's Shearwater again very close by the path sitting and showing its back and tail. We had had a superb morning watching tropicbirds, frigate birds, boobies, even a spectacle to match the Scarlet Ibis at Caroni swamp.

Half the group indulged in an afternoon walk above the Blue Waters Inn. For a start we saw the female White-fringed Antwren at the top of the entrance road and soon after we had super views of a pair of Rufous-tailed Jacamar. The birds were a bit scarce but we did see two hawks in the air and Jill spotted a flycatcher which we identified as Fuscous Flycatcher. The only other birds seen on the walk were an Osprey and two Black-faced Grassquit. We returned for some to have a swim and met up at six o'clock to do the log have the buffet dinner and hear the solo pan man.

Monday 12th February Buccoo marsh, Grafton estate, Courland bay

Weather hot and sunny except when we returned to Speyside when cloudy with a bit of rain. We looked on the beach before breakfast in the hope of a Belted Kingfisher but no luck presumably because of the tremendous winds blowing from Africa.

We left at eight o'clock for Buccoo marsh arriving at about nine - thirty. We entered the area and immediately got into egrets and herons with a new species Red-crowned Woodpecker obviously making a nest hole. We also saw at this spot Greater Yellowlegs and Southern Lapwing, Great Egret and a Green-rumped Parrotlet. We continued on to the best wet area and saw many Black-bellied Whistling Duck,

Wattled Jacana, Common Moorhen and a Blue-winged Teal. We quartered the mangroves for White-cheeked Pintail but no luck as hunting is a big thing in this area and now the duck all try to hide themselves in the mangrove roots. We connected with Scrub Greenlet and eventually Lesser Yellowlegs.

We emerged from Buccoo marsh and headed for Grafton estate for lunch eating our sandwich whilst looking at the birds on the feeder. These included Rufous-vented Chachalaca, yet another Red-crowned Woodpecker plus the usual tanagers and of course Bananaquit.

After lunch we walked the trails at Grafton having to miss the boat trip to Buccoo reef due to the very windy weather. On the trails we heard Blue-backed Manakin but due to the wind they were well into the forest. However we did connect with a lovely male White-fringed Antwren. We finished the day at Courland Bay to see a selection of sea birds but again due to the heavy winds the selection was a bit sparse. However we did connect with Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Brown Pelican and one Brown Booby. In fact the pelicans connected with a shoal of fish and gave us a superb fishing display diving in large numbers.

This was the end of our day and it took us an hour and a half to get back to Blue Waters Inn. We did the log at six thirty with our grand total now at two hundred bird species including four heard.

Tuesday 13th February The Mountains

Our usual pre breakfast to the stream got us a nice Northern Waterthrush giving good views.

We left for the mountains at eight o'clock travelling straight to Gilpin Trace. The track was of course muddy so after a walk halfway down the track most of the party went on to the waterfall. We all saw White-tailed Sabrewing, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and heard Blue-backed Manakin. When the party split both parties saw eventually the Blue-backed Manakin and the party left behind saw Rufous-breasted Hermit on and close to nest. When we merged again we all saw yet another Blue-backed Manakin. Now everyone's boots were muddy so we cleaned them at the entrance and we had to use our brollies for a short shower.

We lunched at the viewpoint overlooking the Caribbean Sea with yet another really good sandwich but no Great Black Hawk. We decided to bird the road after lunch and almost immediately we saw good flight views of an adult Great Black Hawk so everyone was happy. We walked down the road for birds and our coach travelled down to Roxborough to have a puncture mended and yes we all got caught in a very heavy shower. However all had brollies or raincoats so we just stood by the road looking like miserable herons. The shower brought out the birds and we saw Buff-throated Woodcreeper and another glimpse of Red-legged Honeycreeper plus a few ‘heards' such as Chivi Vireo. We continued down and stopped on a corner where we walked down a private path. This was wonderful for us as we spotted a couple of pairs of Red-legged Honeycreeper giving everyone excellent views plus a stunning White-necked Jacobin in full view perched - a super end to the day and our holiday.

Wednesday 14th February Travel day to UK

Our usual pre breakfast walk down to the stream was amazing. The sky cleared and our first sighting was of an adult Great Black Hawk, we then connected with a Spotted Sandpiper, a Striated Heron, two Grey Kingbirds AND an Ornate Hawk Eagle being harassed by a Broad-winged Hawk, the size difference was dramatic.

At the Immortelle trees we had very good views of a Red-crowned Woodpecker on a telegraph post and also very good views of a male Ruby-topaz Hummingbird.

We then decided to head back for breakfast and saw the two Yellow-crowned Night Heron, an adult and immature and further up the slope yet another Black-faced Grassquit. We breakfasted then packed whilst some went for a swim and others birdwatched as we had to be out of our rooms by eleven o'clock. As we were not leaving till two in the afternoon I organized a sandwich lunch for everyone.

Four of the group went to Charlotteville, a very pretty fishing village and they saw some good birds such as Red-legged Honeycreeper. We had lunch and travelled to the airport saying our farewells to Colin & Ruth and Peter & Maggie who were staying on for a few days at Crown Point. The rest of us were booked through at the Tobago Airport which is a great improvement.

The weather had been very mixed on Trinidad with cloud, rain and hot and sunny, , but we all saw the very best of Trinidad bird species. Colin recorded the temperatures daily in Fahrenheit from 75 degrees at Asa Wright up to 95 degrees at Waterloo.

It had been very windy on Tobago at Blue Waters Inn so we did not see the usual species down by the stream. Colin recorded temperatures in Fahrenheit from 78 degrees up to 89 degrees at Buccoo marsh.

The whole tour had been splendid with fantastic views of all sorts of birds such as the verandah at Asa Wright, the sight of Red-bellied Macaws coming in to roost at Nariva swamp, the splendid and fantastic sight at Caroni swamp of over one thousand five hundred Scarlet Ibis going to roost complete with rum punch.

In Tobago the sight of all the Red-billed Tropicbirds on Little Tobago complete with very close sightings down to a few feet of two Red-billed Tropicbirds on nests with another very close Audubon's Shearwater also on it's nest. I could go on and on so how about the Crane Hawk - a first for Trinidad.

I am sure everybody has their own special moment in fact I think the Bananaquits are the birds of the trip as we saw them every day and they are so cute especially at Blue Water Inn.

Addendum Wednesday 14^th February Travel day

When we left from Trinidad at night HOWEVER the radar on the plane went down. We were going to return to Trinidad to have it put right but the captain said that it had recovered - WRONG!! When we arrived in Antigua we waited whilst they fiddled with the radar but to no avail so we were put up at a hotel for the night arriving at the Beachcomber Hotel at about two thirty in the morning on Thursday 15th, the hotel was right on the beach with a swimming pool.

Thursday 15^th February Antigua and Travel day

I am sure everyone was very happy for the extra day in Antigua as the weather was lovely and sunny and we were leaving for Antigua airport at four in the afternoon. We actually did some very good birding in the hotel grounds seeing Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Green-throated Carib (another hummer), Lesser Antillean Bullfinch that came into the dining room stealing sugar packets, Zenaida Dove, B&Qs of course, Royal Terns, Brown Pelican plus Carib Grackles and Tropical Mockingbirds. Everybody was happy as the weather was lovely and hot all day so most paddled in the sea and swam in the pool.

Acknowledgements

To all the party for being such good company and to our local guides such as Roodal and Adolphus for being such experts in their territory

Graham Hearl, Mallorca

BIRDS

Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus

Nine at Trincity on 9^th and three at Buccoo marsh on 12th

Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri

One seen sitting very close on Little Tobago on 11th

Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus

Lots seen on Little Tobago on 11^th with two nests with birds very close

Red-footed Booby Sula sula

Three seen on Little Tobago on 11th

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster

Three seen near Blue Waters Inn on 10^th and many on Little Tobago on 11^th with one at Courland Bay on 12th

Anhinga / American Darter Anhinga anhinga

Two seen on 9^th at Waterloo and singles seen on 12^th at Buccoo marsh and Courland bay

Olivaceous / Neotropical Cormorant Phalacrocorax olivaceus

Recorded on 9^th at Trincity, Waterloo and Caroni Swamp

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Recorded on seven days from Blachisseuse on 4^th to 14^th on Tobago plus one on Antigua

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens

Recorded on nine days from 4^th to 14^th

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

One seen on 9^th at Caroni swamp

Cocoi / White-necked Heron Ardea cocoi

Two seen on 6^th at Aripo

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Recorded on eight days from 6^th to 14^th plus twenty plus on Antigua

Great [White] Egret Egretta alba

Seen on four days, 6^th at Aripo and Nariva, 7^th and Waller Field, 9^th at Trincity and 12^th at Buccoo marsh

Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor

Thirty plus seen at Caroni swamp on 9th

Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea

Recorded on six days from 9^th to 14th

Snowy Egret Egretta thula

Many seen on 9^th at Waterloo and Caroni swamp

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

One seen at Trincity on 9th

Striated Heron Butorides striatus

Recorded on five days from 6^th to 9^th from Aripo, Nariva to Trincity with one on 14^th at Blue Waters Inn

Yellow-crowned Night-heron Nyctanassa violacea

Seen at Caroni swamp on 9^th and an adult and immature seen at Blue Waters Inn on four days from 10^th to 14th

Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis

One seen at Trincity on 9th

Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber

Seen at Caroni swamp on 9^th, close singles seen and one thousand five hundred coming in to roost

Black-bellied Whistling-duck Dendrocygna autumnalis

Thirty plus seen at Buccoo marsh on 12th

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors

One seen at Buccoo marsh on 12^th

[American] Black Vulture Coragyps atratus

Recorded on every day in Trinidad from 3^rd to 10th

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Recorded on every day in Trinidad from 3^rd to 10th

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Recorded in Trinidad at Waterloo and Caroni swamp on 9^th and singles in Tobago from 10^th to 13^th

Grey-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis

Two and one at Asa Wright and Lalaja Trace on 5th

American Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus

Three very early migratory birds at Lalaja Trace on 5th

Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii

One pair at a nest on the way to Aripo and another singleton at Manzanilla on 6^th with another on 7^th at Waller Field

Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea

One at Aripo/Arena on 8th

White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis

Two at Asa Wright on 3^rd and one on the return from Blanchisseuse on 4th

Common Black-hawk Buteogallus anthracinus

Singles seen on 3^rd and 4^th at Asa Wright and the road to Blanchisseuse and two on 6^th at Nariva area

Great Black-hawk Buteogallus urubitinga

One seen flying over the Tobago rain forest on 13^th and one at Blue Waters Inn on 14th

Savannah Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis

Ones and twos seen on 6^th, 7^th and 8^th at Aripo, Nariva and Waller Field

Grey Hawk Asturina plagiata

One seen in the Nariva area on 6th

Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus

Singles seen on 4^th and 5^th at Blanchisseuse and Lalaja Trace and Asa Wright with pairs at Blue Waters Inn on 11^th and 14th

Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus

One seen near Blanchisseuse on 4th

Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus

One on 4^th at Aripo, two on 8^th at Aripo/Waller Field and one at Trincity on 9th

Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus

One seen well in flight being harassed by a Broad-winged Hawk at Blue Waters Inn on 14^th

Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens

One seen extremely well perched and flying at Waller Field on 8^th, the first for Trinidad

Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima

A pair seen very well at Manzanilla/Nariva area on 6^th, three more on 8^th at Aripo and singles at Trincity and near Trinidad airport on 9^th and 10th

Merlin Falco columbarius

Singles seen on 7^th at Asa Wright and another single on 11^th at Blue Waters Inn

Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis

A single seen briefly in flight near Waller Field on 8th

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

A single seen on 9^th at Caroni swamp

Rufous-vented Chachalaca Ortalis ruficauda

Many seen very well at Blue Waters Inn from 10^th to 14th

[American] Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica

Two seen at Nariva on 6^th and five plus on 9^th at Trincity

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Five plus seen at Trincity on 9^th and again at Buccoo marsh on 12th

Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana

Seen at Nariva and Aripo on 6^th and 7^th and again on 9^th at Caroni swamp

Black-necked / S.American Stilt Himantopus mexicanus

Fourteen seen at Trincity on 9th

Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis

Six seen at Trinidad airport on 2^nd and then recorded on six days from 6^th to 12^th at Aripo, Trincity and Buccoo marsh

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus

Twelve seen at Waterloo on 9th

Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus

Twenty plus seen at Waterloo on 9^th and a singleton on 12th at Buccoo marsh

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca

One at Aripo on 8^th, ten plus at Waterloo on 9^th and four plus at Buccoo marsh on 12th

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes

A singleton at Buccoo marsh on 12th

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria

Three at Aripo on 6^th another at Aripo on 8^th and two at Buccoo marsh on 12th

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia

One at Nariva area on 6^th, again at Trincity on 9^th, twos at Blue Waters Inn and Buccoo marsh on 11^th and 12^th and one at Blue Waters Inn on 14th

Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

Many seen at Waterloo on 9th

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Two on the Nariva beach on 6^th, and recorded on six days from 9^th to 14^th with a maxima of twenty all at Blue Waters Inn

Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla

Twenty two plus at Waterloo on 9th

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla

Four at Aripo on 6th

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla

One thousand plus at Waterloo on 9^th and a few at Courland Bay on 12^th

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

Three seen at Waterloo on 9th

Royal Tern Sterna maxima

Six plus seen at Courland Bay on 12^th and a few seen in Antigua on 15th

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Four seen at Courland Bay on 12th

Black Skimmer Rynchops niger

At least fifty seen at Waterloo on 9th

Scaled Pigeon Columba speciosa

One seen at Asa Wright on3rd and 7th

Pale-vented Pigeon Columba cayennensis

Recorded in Tobago mostly at Blue Waters Inn from 11^th to 14th

Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata

Two plus at Caroni swamp on 9^th and at Buccoo marsh and Grafton estate on 12^th

Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita

A few seen on Antigua on 15th

Common Ground-dove Columbina passerina

Two seen on 8^th at Aripo

Plain-breasted Ground-dove Columbina minuta

Two seen on 8^th at Aripo

Ruddy Ground-dove Columbina talpacoti

Recorded on ten days from 3^rd to13th in Trinidad and Tobago

White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi

Recorded in Tobago mainly at Blue Waters Inn from 10^th to 14th

Grey-fronted Dove Leptotila rufaxilla

Singles recorded from 3^rd to 10^th in Trinidad at Asa Wright

Ruddy Quail-dove Geotrygon montana

A female seen at Asa Wright from 3^rd to 10th

Red-bellied Macaw Ara manilata

One hundred and fifty seen coming to roost at Nariva on 6^th and twelve plus at Aripo on 8th

Green-rumped Parrotlet Forpus passerinus

Two seen at Arena on 8^th and two plus two seen at Buccoo marsh on 12th

Lilac-tailed Parrotlet Touit batavica

Flight views of fourteen at Waller Field on 8th

Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus

A pair seen at Asa Wright on 3^rd and 4th

Yellow-crowned Parrot Amazona ochrocephala

Two seen coming to roost at Nariva on 6^th. This parrot has been re released and is now breeding in the area

Orange-winged Parrot Amazona amazonica

Recorded on eleven days from Asa Wright and sites in Trinidad to sites in Tobago

Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana

One heard at Asa Wright on 3rd

Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani

Recorded on nine days from 4^th to 10^th in Trinidad and on 12^th and 13^th in Tobago

Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia

One seen on the road returning from Blanchisseuse on 4^th and heard on 8^th at Aripo

Tropical Screech-owl Otus choliba

One seen on 7^th at Waller Field

Ferruginous Pygmy-owl Glaucidium brasilianum

Two seen at Asa Wright on 3^rd and heard on 5^th and 6^th at Asa Wright

Oilbird Steatornis caripensis

A few seen on 7^th at Asa Wright. There is a total of one hundred and thirty four birds in the cave

Common / Grey Potoo Nyctibius griseus

One seen very well close to the road from Blanchisseuse on 4th

Semi-collared/Short-tailed Nighthawk Lurocalis semitorquatus

One seen on four days at Asa Wright from 3^rd to 6th

Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis

Up to twelve seen at Waller Field on 7th

White-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus cayennensis

Up to ten seen at Waller Field on 7th

Band-rumped Swift Chaetura spinicauda

Recorded on three days on the road to Blanchisseuse on 4^th, at Asa Wright on 6^th and at Waller Field on 7th

Grey-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris

Recorded on three days at Asa Wright on 3^rd on the road to Blanchisseuse on 4^th and at Aripo on 6th

Short-tailed Swift Chaetura brachyura

At Blanchisseuse on 4^th, at Caroni swamp on 9^th, near the airport on 10^th and at Blue Waters Inn from 11^th to 13th

Fork-tailed Palm-swift Tachornis squamata

Twenty plus at Waller Field on 8th

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis

Singles recorded at Asa Wright on 3^rd and 4th

Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsuta

Pairs at Gilpin Trace and in the mountains in Tobago on 13th

Little Hermit Phaethornis longuemareus

Singles recorded on four days at Asa Wright, Blanchisseuse, Lalaja Trace and Asa Wright on 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 8th

White-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus ensipennis

Four plus at Gilpin Trace on 13th

White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora

Recorded on nine days at Asa Wright and at Gilpin Trace in Tobago on 13th

Black-throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis

Recorded on eleven days at Asa Wright from 3^rd and at Blue Waters Inn

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus

This stunning bird seen three on 8^th at Waller Field, a superb male on Little Tobago on 11^th and at Blue Waters Inn on 12^th and a pair on 14th

Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus

Seen at Asa Wright from 3^rd to 7^th and on 10th

Blue-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes notatus

Seen on three days at Asa Wright with a maxima of four from 4^th to 6th

White-tailed Goldenthroat Polytmus guainumbi

A pair seen at Waller Field on 8^th, this is a rare hummingbird

White-chested Emerald Amazilia chionopectus

Seen on three days at Asa Wright on 5^th, 6^th and 8^th

Copper-rumped Hummingbird Amazilia tobaci

Recorded at Asa Wright and other sites including Tobago on eleven days from 3^rd to 13th

Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris

One seen at Asa Wright on 3^rd

Green-throated Carib