TRINIDAD & TOBAGO NOVEMBER 8-18, 2001 OTUS ASIO TOURS Leaders: Jan Hansen, Jogie Ramlal and Adolphus James
BIRD LIST AWNC = Asa Wright Nature Center; Tr = Trinidad; To = Tobago; BR = Blanchisseuse Road; WF = Waller Field; AS = Aripo Savannah; AF= Arena Forest, (*)=heard only; Boldface = uncommon or of special interest *Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui; heard at AWNC Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus; TR (6 at Trincity), To (1 at Bon Accord WTP) Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus; To (40-50 on Little Tobago incl. one on nest within 3 feet) Brown Booby Sula leucogaster; To (10-15 on Little Tobago) Red-footed Booby Sula sula; To (one on nest in the scope on Little Tobago) Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis; Tr and To Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus; Tr (a few flying to roost in Caroni Swamp) Anhinga Anhinga anhinga; Tr (2 in Caroni Swamp), To (4-6 at Bon Accord WTP) Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnfiicens; Tr and To Pinnated Bittern Botaurus pinnatus; Tr (one in Nariva Swamp) Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias; Tr (one distant flying bird in Caroni) Great Egret Ardea alba; Tr (a few in Caroni), To (one at Bon Accord WTP) Snowy Egret Egretta thula; Tr (fairly common at Caroni) Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea; Tr and To Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor; Tr (Caroni Swamp only), To (a few at Bucco Marsh) Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis; Tr and To (abundant on both islands) Green Heron Butorides virescens; To (one at Bon Accord WTP) Striated Heron Butorides striatus; Tr (a few at Nariva and Caroni) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea; Tr (10-15 in Caroni), To (one near Blue Waters Inn) Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus rubber; Tr (1000+ seen flying to roost in Caroni—a glorious sight) Black Vulture Coragyps atratus; Tr (Ubiquitous—many found at WF by Chuck!) Turkey Vulture Cathartesaura; Tr and To Black-bellied Whistling Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis; Tr (one in Caroni), To (a few at Bucco Marsh) Blue-winged Teal Anas discors; To ( a few at Bon Accord WTP and Bucco Marsh) White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis; To (6-8 at Bon Accord WTP) Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis; To (one at Bon Accord WTP—very rare) Osprey Pandion haliaetus; Tr and To Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis; Tr (one soaring on BR—seen only by Joan and Mahase) Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii; Tr (great scope studies near Nariva, another at AS) Long-winged Harrier Circus buffoni; Tr (brief but spectacular view at Nariva) White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis; Tr (several perched and soaring birds) Gray Hawk Asturina nitida; Tr (fairly common) Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus; Tr (seen most days) Savannah Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis; Tr (many excellent looks at Nariva, WF and AS) Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus; Tr and To Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus; Tr (one on AS and another along BR) Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus; Tr (one distant soaring bird along BR) Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus; Tr (fantastic views of a bird at the nest at AWNC) Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima; Tr (fairly common near Nariva, also at the airport and AS) Merlin Falco columbarius; Tr and To Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus; Tr and To Rufous-vented Chachalaca Ortalis ruficauda; To (common and noisy) Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica; Tr (a few at Nariva and Trincity)
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropous; Tr and To Limkin Aramus guarauna; Tr (one seen at Nariva) Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis; Tr and To (incuding several on runway at WF) Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus; Tr (a few near Caroni) Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus; Tr (10-15 near Caroni) Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana; Tr and To Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca; Tr and To Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes; Tr and To Willet Catoptrophorous semipalmatus; Tr (on at Caroni), To (one near Blue Waters Inn) Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia; Tr and To (the commonest sandpiper of the trip) Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres; To (25+ at the Blue Waters Inn—some on barstools!) Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri; Tr (15-20 roosting in Caroni) Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla; Tr (10-15 near Caroni) Royal Tern Sterna maxima; To (30+ roosting on the pier in Scarborough Harbor) Yellow-billed Tern Sterna supercilaris; Tr (2 at Trncity—excellent views) Black Skimmer Rynchops niger; Tr (one roosting on mudflats near Caroni) Pale-vented Pigeon Columba cayennensis; To (fairly common around the Blue Waters Inn) Scaled Pigeon Columba speciosa; Tr (excellent scope views from verandah at AWNC, also along BR) Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata; To (a few near the feeders at Grafton Estate) Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti; Tr and To (very common) White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi; Tr (heard at AWNC), To (fairly common) Gray-fronted Dove Leptotila rufaxilla; Tr (several seen along the trails and at the feeders at AWNC) Red-bellied Macaw Ara manilata; Tr (20-30 seen flying to roost at in moriche palms at WF) Green-rumped Parrotlet Forpus passerinus; Tr (excellent studies near Nariva and at WF) Lilac-tailed Parrotlet Touit batavica; Tr (seen almost daily from the verandah at AWNC) Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus; Tr (several seen along BR) Orange-winged Parrot Amazona amazonica; Tr and To (the common parrot of both islands) Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani; Tr and To Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum; Tr (finally seen by all in the bamboo roost at AWNC) Short-tailed Nighthawk Lurocalis semitorquatus; Tr (seen most evenings from the verandah at AWNC) Common Pauraque Nyctidromusalbicollis; Tr (several during night trip to WF) White-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus cayennensis; Tr (30-40 at WF), To (scope views at Bucco Marsh) Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus; Tr (one in scope at WF—always a treat!) Oilbird Steatornis caripensis; Tr (8-12 in Dunston Cave at AWNC) Short-tailed Swift Chaetura brachyura; Tr and To ( a few on both islands) Band-rumped Swift Chaetura spinicauda; Tr ( a few over clearings at AWNC) Gray-rumped Swift Chaetura chinereiventris; Tr and To (the commonest swift of the trip) Fork-tailed Palm-Swift Tachornis squamata; Tr (fairly common at WF and AS) Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsute; Tr and To (fairly common on both islands) Green Hermit Phaethornis guy; Tr (uncommon but eventually seen well by most from verandah and along the trails at AWNC) Little Hermit Phaethornis longuemareus; Tr (a few seen along the trails at AWNC) White-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus ensipennis; To (excellent close range studies by all along Gilpin Trace) White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora; Tr (one seen by a few from the verandah at AWNC-a very brief visit) Black-throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis; Tr (one male seen by a few at AWNC) Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus; Tr (daily at AWNC—the male especially splendid) Blue-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes notatus; Tr (only a few around AWNC—not at the feeders) Blue-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon mellisugus; Tr (excellent studies by most at AWNC—uncommon) White-chested Emerald Amazilia chionopectus; Tr (very common at AWNC) Copper-rumped Hummingbird Amazilia tobaci; Tr and To (very common throughout) Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris; Tr (daily in bushes off verandah at AWNC) White-tailed Trogon Trogon viridis; Tr (one seen by all along BR) Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus; Tr (excellent scope studies from the verandah at AWNC) Collared Trogon Trogon collaris; Tr and To (best views on the last day in the Tobago highlands)
Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota; Tr and To (common but always spectacular) Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata; Tr (2 at Trincity) Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle Americana; To (found by Don near the Blue Waters Inn) Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda; Tr and To (most common on Tobago—the favorite of many) Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus; Tr (good scope studies from the verandah at AWNC) Red-crowned Woodpecker Melanerpes rubricapillus; To (several at Bucco Marsh and in the highlands) Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubiginosus; Tr (several at AWNC and another along BR) Chestnut Woodpecker Celeus elegans; Tr (this interesting picid was eventually seen by everyone along The Discovery Trail at AWNC) Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus; Tr (scope views of a pair on BR above Arima, also at AWNC) Stripe-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis cinnamomea; Tr and To (best views on Gilpin Trace) Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomea; Tr (seen well at Nariva and Trincity) Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans; Tr (seen well at AWNC, also along BR) Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa; Tr (several at AWNC an along BR) Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans; Tr and To (the most common woodcreeper) Great Antshrike Taraba major; Tr (both males and females seen daily at the feeders at AWNC) Black-crested Antshrike Sakesphorus canadensis; Tr (a pair seen near Nariva, another at WF) Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus; Tr and To (common but another favorite) Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis; Tr (several seen at AWNC), To (one along Gilpin Trace) White-flanked Antwren Myrmotherula axillaris; ; Tr (seen several times at AWNC) White-fringed Antwren Formicvora grisea; To (Grafton Estate and near the Blue Waters Inn) White-bellied Antbird Myrmeciza longipes; Tr (nice looks of a well hidden male at AF) *Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis; Tr (heard several times at AWNC) Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum; (seen along BR and at WF) Forest Elaenia Myiopagis gaimardii; Tr (seen many times at AWNC and along BR) Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster; Tr and To (common in open areas) Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleaginous; Tr and To Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant Myiornis ecaudatus; Tr (unfortunately seen by only a few at AF) Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens; Tr (seen several times along the trails at AWNC) Yellow-breasted Flycatcher Tolmomyias flaviventris; Tr and To White-throated Spadebill Platyrinchus mystaceus; To (excellent views of this difficult to see forest elfin in the Tobago highlands—unfortunately not everyone was present) Fuscous Flycatcher Cnemotriccus fuscatus; To (seen well along Gilpin Trace) Bran-colored Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus; Tr (very fine views of this uncommon species at WF) Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi; Tr (seen at AWNC and along BR) Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus; Tr (quite common) Euler’s Flycatcher Lathrotriccus euleri; Tr (one seen along the Discovery Trail at AWNC) Pied Water-Tyrant Fluvicola pica; Tr (common in wet marshy habitat) White-headed Marsh-Tyrant Arundinicola leucocephala; Tr (same as previous species) *Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus; Tr (heard one morning along Discovery Trail at AWNC) *Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer; Tr (heard at AWNC and along BR) Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus; Tr and To (most common on Tobago) Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus: Tr (noisy and conspicuous throughout the island) Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitantua; Tr (a few at AWNC) Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculates; Tr (scope views from the verandah at AWNC) Sulphury Flycatcher Tyrannopsis sulphurea; Tr (scope studies of this peculiar tyrannid at WF) Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus; Tr and To (abundant) Gray Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis; Tr and To ( a few on both islands) Black-tailed Tityra Tityra cayana; Tr (2 at WF) Bearded Bellbird Procnias averano; Tr (seen well by all on the first morning at AWNC) White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus; Tr (seen displaying on the lek at AWNC) Blue-backed Manakin Chiroxiphia pareola; To (seen well by all along Gilpin Trace) Golden-headed Manakin Pipra erythrocephala; Tr (seen well by all at AWNC and along BR) Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus; To (a very surprising encounter at Bucco Marsh-seen and heard very well) Scrub Greenlet Hylophilus flavipes; To (seen well at Bucco Marsh and on Little Tobago)
Golden-fronted Greenlet Hylophilus aurantiifrons; Tr (fairly common) Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis; Tr (heard daily at AWNC, seen well several times) Carribean Martin Progne dominicensis; To (one distant, disappointing view at Bucco Marsh) Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea; Tr (several perched on snag were seen through scope above Arima on BR) White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer; Tr (a few on the raod to Nariva and at AS) Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis; Tr (along BR and at AS) Rufous-Breasted Wren Thryothorus rutilus; Tr and To ( heard more than seen but eventually everyone had fine views) House Wren Troglodytes aedon; Tr and To *Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus; Tr (heard along the Discovery Trail at AWNC) Yellow-legged Thrush Platycichla flavipes; Tr (several along BR), To (great views along Gilpin Trace) Cocoa Thrush Turdus fumigatus; Tr (very common around AWNC) Bare-eyed Robin Turdus nudigensis; Tr and To White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis; Tr and To (less common than previous 2 species but seen by all) Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus; Tr and To Tropical Parula Parula pitiayumi; Tr (seen along BR and at AWNC) Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia; Tr and To (uncommon) Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata; Tr and To Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca; Tr (1 along BR—very rare) American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla; Tr and To Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea; Tr (1 from the boat at Caroni), To (1 at Bucco Marsh) Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis; Tr and To (the most common migrant warbler) Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus; Tr (seen well at AWNC and along BR) Bananaquit Coereba flaveola; Tr and To (the most abundant bird of the trip—and Don’s favorite!) Bicolored Conebill Conirostrum bicolor; Tr (seen at close range from the boat at Caroni) White-shouldered Tanager Tachyphonus luctuosus; Tr (a few seen on most days—uncommon) White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus; Tr and To (very common at AWNC feeders) Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica; Tr (several seen along trails at AWNC) Summer Tanager Piranga rubra; Tr (1 seen along BR—an uncommon visitor) Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo; Tr (very common at AWNC feeders) Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus; Tr and To (abundant) Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum; Tr and To (second in abundance only to the Bananaquit) Violaceus Euphonia Euphonia violacea Tr and To (always a gem) Turquoise Tanager Tangara mexicana; Tr (AWNC and along BR—many fine views) Speckled Tanager Tangara guttata; Tr (nice views along BR) Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola; Tr (common but beautiful everytime!) Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana; Tr (a few along BR and at AWNC) Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza; Tr (a highlight at the AWNC feeders!) Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeruleus; Tr (see above species!) Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus; Tr (seen by a few along BR) Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia javarina; Tr and To (common to abundant in grass fields) Black-faced Grassquit Tiaris bicolor; To (common along roadsides) Red-capped Cardinal Paroaria gularis; Tr (2 fleeting glimpses from the boat at Caroni—unfortunately these were seen by only a few and this was one of the biggest disappointments of the trip) Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens; Tr (most easily seen around AWNC) Yellow-hooded Blackbird Agelaius icterocephalus; Tr (Nice looks at Nariva and at Trincity) Red-breasted Blackbird Sturnella militaris; Tr (seen well on the wires at Nariva, also at AS) Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris; Tr and To (common in towns and villages) Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis; Tr and To Giant Cowbird Scaphidura oryzivora; Tr (a few at Nariva, a few more along BR) Moriche Oriole Icterus chrysocephalus; Tr (2 in the scope at WF—probably the rarest resident TT species seen during the trip) Yellow Oriole Icterus nigrogularis; Tr (a few seen daily) Yellow-rumped Cacique Cacicus cela; Tr (seen best at nesting colony on AS, a few in flight near Nariva) Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus Tr and to
INTRODUCED Rock Dove Columba domestica; introduced, seen in cities and towns Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild; introduced, a few seen at Trincity
The following birds were seen on Nov. 8th during the morning pre-trip excursion in Miami. Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Anhinga Great Egret Snowy Egret White Ibis Turkey Vulture Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Merlin American Kestrel Common Moorhen American Coot Rock Dove Mourning Dove White-winged Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove White-crowned Pigeon Monk Parakeet Yellow-chevroned Parakeet Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Blue Jay Fish Crow Red-whiskered Bulbul Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Loggerhead Shrike European Starling Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Prairie Warbler Palm Warbler Black-and-White Warbler American Redstart Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle House Sparrow