Brig 4/16--Blue-winged Teal, Short-billed Dowitcher, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Barn Swallow, Marsh Wren, Brown Thrasher

Blue-winged Teal

Ack! We got home to the news that Brig was shutting down for at least 6 weeks to improve the road and reinforce the dikes. Sunday would be the last day it was fully open, so on Saturday, Shari & I met up with our buddy Bob Auster for one last go-round.

We weren't even in the refuge proper when we got our first FOY, a Blue-winged Teal in the entrance pond.

The terns have returned, at least the Caspian and Forster's species. We saw lots of the latter, only a couple of the former.  Mixed in with a large flock of Dunlin, I espied, on our 2nd circuit, our first Short-billed Dowitchers of the year, and at the exit ponds, another birder pointed out the song of a Marsh Wren. A couple of Barn Swallows over the dikes and a quick glance at a Brown Thrasher just before the exit filled out the FOY list.

It is going to be a difficult spring without Brig, especially for shore birds. I'm hoping that "6 weeks" construction schedule is not a typical contractor's six weeks which can turn to ten or twelve, but a schedule that is based on a real calendar.

Our last trip there for a while netted 52 species.
Snow Goose  3
Brant  50
Canada Goose  100
Mute Swan  2
Wood Duck  3
Gadwall  3
American Black Duck  15
Mallard  12
Blue-winged Teal  6
Northern Shoveler  30
Green-winged Teal  20
Bufflehead  12
Double-crested Cormorant  15
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  20
Snowy Egret  30
Turkey Vulture  4
Osprey  15
Northern Harrier  1
American Coot  4
American Oystercatcher  4
Black-bellied Plover  6
Greater Yellowlegs  25
Lesser Yellowlegs  5
Dunlin  250
Short-billed Dowitcher  2
Ring-billed Gull  1
Herring Gull  100
Great Black-backed Gull  5
Caspian Tern  2Forster's Tern  20
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1     Heard
Peregrine Falcon  1
Fish Crow  10
Purple Martin  1
Tree Swallow  15
Barn Swallow  2
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
Marsh Wren  1     Heard, exit ponds
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Brown Thrasher  1
Pine Warbler  1     Heard
Yellow-rumped Warbler  4
Chipping Sparrow  2     Heard
Song Sparrow  5
Eastern Towhee  1     Heard
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  25
Brown-headed Cowbird  10
House Finch  1     Heard
American Goldfinch  2     Heard

Bamber Lake 4/15--Purple Martin

There are a number of Purple Martin houses around the county; there's a large complex about a mile from our house. Despite that, they're not an easy bird to find--the martins are picky about their accommodations. So on the way back from Cattus Island, I made a little detour over to Bamber Lake where I'd seen the birds listed. At first, no luck, but as I was getting back into the car I gave the sky one more scan, and through my floaters saw a few dark, large swallows above. I walked backed down to the shoreline and watched them long enough to assure myself that were, indeed, Purple Martins. The 2nd year bird of the day, and of course, 2nd year bird for the county too.

Cattus Island 4/15--Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

In March, when Pete was telling me what wonderful birds we'd see in T&T, I said, "Yes, Pete, but they're not Ocean County birds." Today, after a day of rest (we got home at 3 A.M. the previous morning), I headed out to start finding some of the birds that had returned during our vacation.

I wasn't out of the parking lot, I was barely out of the car, before I heard, then quickly saw, my FOY Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, zipping around the branches of a tree. Too fast to get a picture there, but I thought there might be others more cooperative. Nope. Only the one I saw and the one I heard behind me in the parking lot.

My first Ocean County list for the month:
31 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose  2
Mallard  1
Bufflehead  8
Great Egret  3
Snowy Egret  1
Little Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  1
Osprey  7
Herring Gull  10
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1     Heard
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Blue Jay  2     Heard
American Crow  1
Fish Crow  2
crow sp.  3
Tree Swallow  9
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  1     Heard
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  2
American Robin  2
Pine Warbler  2     Heard
Song Sparrow  3
Eastern Towhee  2     Heard
Northern Cardinal  1     Heard
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
American Goldfinch  2     Heard

Ft. Lauderdale 4/1--White Ibis

Because we couldn't make good, same day connections to Port of Spain, we stayed overnight in Ft. Lauderdale (technically, Davies), arriving late afternoon. The Holiday Inn Express we stayed at was pretty isolated in terms of places to eat (the not-too-distant Ruby Tuesday's Shari found on the Internet had turned into a McDonald's), so we had to settle for the Waffle House next door where we had a decent, diner-type meal. Walking back through the adjacent parking lots, we doves or pigeons sitting atop the 5-story hotel, but couldn't make them out naked eye, so I went upstairs to get our binoculars. Never did a get a decent look at those birds, but we did see a flock of 10 White Ibises fly overhead. Look for one bird, find another.

One of the challenges doing the Bird A Day contest comes with travel days. Hard to find a bird to list in an airport or from an airplane. I had planned to take one of my backyard birds out of the "bank" but the White Ibises were a happy surprise and I used that species. Certainly better than wasting a Chipping Sparrow.

Boat-tailed Grackles were also flying around, which I found slightly odd, since in NJ they're never out of sight of salt water and we were a fair distance from the ocean.

Trinidad and Tobago Index & List

TRINIDAD MOTMOT
One of the two endemic species on the islands

We spent April 2nd through the 13th birding Trinidad and Tobago, led by Kim Risen of NatureScape Tours. The other two members of our little group were Lon & Peggy Baumgardt (my brother from another mother and Shari's sister from a different mister). This was the fulfillment of a long-time desire of mine to bird these islands, where the birds are considered South American species rather than West Indies. The weather was excellent, never much hotter or more humid, than a July day in New Jersey. We had perhaps one half day of rain, which didn't interfere with our birding.

It was a lot of traveling around the islands, staying in five different places. I've organized the blog by the many locations we birded. Specific entries are linked below:
Caroni Rice Fields 4/2--9 Life Birds, 6 Year Birds
Piarco 4/2--GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN, RED-BREASTED MEADOWLARK
Aripo Livestock Station 4/3--29 Life Birds, 7 Year Birds
Caroni Swamp 4/3--9 Life Birds, 2 Year Birds
Arena Forest Reserve 4/4--10 Life Birds, 1 Year Bird
Yrette 4/4--6 Life Hummingbirds & a Honeycreeper
Grand Riviere 4/4-4/5--12 Life Birds, 2 Year Birds
Asa Wright Nature Centre 4/5-4/8--21 Life Birds

Waller Field 4/6--LITTLE TINAMOU, FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT, SULPHURY FLYCATCHER, RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN, + MASKED YELLOWTHROAT

Aripo Livestock Station 4/6--COMMON PAURAQUE, WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJAR

Blanchisseuse Road 4/7--16 Life Birds

Asa Wright Nature Centre 4/8--OILBIRDS

Cuffie River Lodge 4/8-4/10--7 Life Birds, 2 Year Birds

Gilpin Trace 4/10--WHITE-TAILED SABREWING, BLUE-BACKED MANIKIN, YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSH

Little Tobago Island 4/11--RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD, RED-FOOTED BOOBY

Piarco International Airport 4/13--SAFFRON FINCH

For the trip we had 171 species with 134 life birds. 

Key to the list: LIFE BIRD, Year Bird, rarity

Species              First Sighting

LITTLE TINAMOU   Waller Field

RUFOUS-VENTED CHACHALACA   Cuffie River Nature Resort

TRINIDAD PIPING-GUAN   Grande Riviere

RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD   Little Tobago Island

Magnificent Frigatebird   Arena Forest Reserve

Brown Booby   Blue Waters Inn

RED-FOOTED BOOBY   Little Tobago Island

Anhinga   Caroni Swamp

Brown Pelican   Paria Main Road, San Souci

Great Blue Heron   Holiday Inn Express Piarco

Great Egret   Caroni rice fields

Snowy Egret   Caroni rice fields

Little Blue Heron   Caroni rice fields

Tricolored Heron   Caroni Swamp

Cattle Egret   Caroni rice fields

STRIATED HERON   Caroni Swamp

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron   Caroni rice fields

SCARLET IBIS   Caroni rice fields

Black Vulture   Caroni rice fields

Turkey Vulture   Caroni rice fields

Osprey   Caroni rice fields

GRAY-HEADED KITE   Grande Riviere

Snail Kite   Caroni rice fields

PLUMBEOUS KITE   Arena Forest Reserve

COMMON BLACK HAWK   Paria Main Road, Grand Riviere

SAVANNA HAWK   Aripo Livestock Station

Broad-winged Hawk   Cuffie River Nature Resort

MANGROVE RAIL   Caroni rice fields

SOUTHERN LAPWING   Aripo Livestock Station

Semipalmated Plover   Caroni Swamp

WATTLED JACANA   Aripo Livestock Station

Spotted Sandpiper   Aripo Livestock Station

Greater Yellowlegs   Caroni Swamp

Willet   Little Tobago Island

Ruddy Turnstone   Blue Waters Inn

Laughing Gull   Castara Bay

Royal Tern   Castara Bay

Rock Pigeon   Caroni rice fields

PALE-VENTED PIGEON   Arena Forest Reserve

SCALED PIGEON   Asa Wright Nature Centre

RUDDY GROUND-DOVE   Caroni rice fields

White-tipped Dove   Mt. Plaisir Estate

GRAY-FRONTED DOVE   Asa Wright Nature Centre

STRIPED CUCKOO   Aripo Livestock Station

GREATER ANI   Caroni rice fields

Smooth-billed Ani   Caroni rice fields

TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL   Caroni Swamp

FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL   Mt. Plaisir Estate

COMMON PAURAQUE   Aripo Livestock Station

WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJAR   Aripo Livestock Station

COMMON POTOO   Caroni Swamp

OILBIRD   Asa Wright Nature Centre

SHORT-TAILED SWIFT   Caroni Swamp

BAND-RUMPED SWIFT   Aripo Livestock Station

GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT   Cuffie River Nature Resort

FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT   Waller Field

WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN   Yrette

RUFOUS-BREASTED HERMIT   Yrette

GREEN HERMIT   Yrette

RUBY-TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRD   Aripo Livestock Station

GREEN-THROATED MANGO   Caroni Swamp

BLACK-THROATED MANGO   Aripo Livestock Station

TUFTED COQUETTE   Asa Wright Nature Centre

LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT   Yrette

BLUE-TAILED EMERALD   Aripo Livestock Station

BLUE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE   Yrette

WHITE-TAILED SABREWING   Gilpin Trace

WHITE-CHESTED EMERALD   Aripo Livestock Station

COPPER-RUMPED HUMMINGBIRD   Yrette

GREEN-BACKED TROGON   Blanchisseuse Rd

GUIANAN TROGON   Grande Riviere

COLLARED TROGON   Asa Wright Nature Centre

TRINIDAD MOTMOT   Asa Wright Nature Centre

AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER   Caroni Swamp

RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR   Blanchisseuse Rd

CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN   Arena Forest Reserve

RED-CROWNED WOODPECKER   Cuffie River Nature Resort

RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER   Asa Wright Nature Centre

GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER   Blanchisseuse Rd

CHESTNUT WOODPECKER   Blanchisseuse Rd

LINEATED WOODPECKER   Aripo Livestock Station

YELLOW-headed Caracara   Aripo Livestock Station

BAT FALCON   Arena Forest Reserve

LILAC-TAILED PARROTLET   Blanchisseuse Rd

BLUE-HEADED PARROT   Blanchisseuse Rd

ORANGE-WINGED PARROT   Aripo Livestock Station

GREEN-RUMPED PARROTLET   Aripo Livestock Station

GREAT ANTSHRIKE   Aripo Livestock Station

BLACK-CRESTED ANTSHRIKE   Caroni Swamp

BARRED ANTSHRIKE   Aripo Livestock Station

WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN   Blanchisseuse Rd

WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN   Cuffie River Nature Resort

WHITE-BELLIED ANTBIRD   Blanchisseuse Rd

BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH   Blanchisseuse Rd

PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER   Blanchisseuse Rd

COCOA WOODCREEPER   Asa Wright Nature Centre

STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER   Caroni Swamp

STREAKED XENOPS   Asa Wright Nature Centre

YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL   Aripo Livestock Station

PALE-BREASTED SPINETAIL   Grande Riviere

STRIPE-BREASTED SPINETAIL   Asa Wright Nature Centre

FOREST ELAENIA   Asa Wright Nature Centre

YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA   Aripo Livestock Station

OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER   Asa Wright Nature Centre

SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER   Blanchisseuse Rd

YELLOW-BREASTED FLYCATCHER   Caroni Swamp

EULER'S FLYCATCHER   Blanchisseuse Rd

TROPICAL PEWEE   Blanchisseuse Rd

PIED WATER-TYRANT   Aripo Livestock Station

WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT   Aripo Livestock Station

BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA   Asa Wright Nature Centre

DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER   Blanchisseuse Rd

VENEZUELAN FLYCATCHER   Cuffie River Nature Resort

Brown-crested Flycatcher   Cuffie River Nature Resort

Great Kiskadee   Caroni rice fields

BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER   Arena Forest Reserve

STREAKED FLYCATCHER   Aripo Livestock Station

PIRATIC FLYCATCHER   Grande Riviere

SULPHURY FLYCATCHER   Waller Field

TROPICAL KINGBIRD   Caroni rice fields

Gray Kingbird   Aripo Livestock Station

Fork-tailed Flycatcher   Aripo Livestock Station

BEARDED BELLBIRD   Asa Wright Nature Centre

BLUE-BACKED MANAKIN   Gilpin Trace

WHITE-BEARDED MANAKIN   Asa Wright Nature Centre

GOLDEN-HEADED MANAKIN   Asa Wright Nature Centre

BLACK-TAILED TITYRA   Arena Forest Reserve

Red-eyed Vireo   Aripo Livestock Station

GOLDEN-FRONTED GREENLET   Asa Wright Nature Centre

RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE   Arena Forest Reserve

SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW   Aripo Livestock Station

CARIBBEAN MARTIN   Cuffie River Nature Resort

GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN   Holiday Inn Express Piarco

WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW   Caroni rice fields

House Wren   Aripo Livestock Station

RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN   Waller Field

YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSH   Gilpin Trace

COCOA THRUSH   Asa Wright Nature Centre

SPECTACLED THRUSH   Grande Riviere

WHITE-NECKED THRUSH   Blanchisseuse Rd

TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD   Caroni rice fields

Northern Waterthrush   Caroni rice fields

MASKED YELLOWTHROAT   Aripo Savannah

TROPICAL PARULA   Grande Riviere

GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER   Asa Wright Nature Centre

MASKED CARDINAL   Caroni rice fields

WHITE-LINED TANAGER   Aripo Livestock Station

SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER   Grande Riviere

BLUE-GRAY TANAGER   Aripo Livestock Station

PALM TANAGER   Aripo Livestock Station

TURQUOISE TANAGER   Grande Riviere

BAY-HEADED TANAGER   Asa Wright Nature Centre

PURPLE HONEYCREEPER   Yrette

RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER   Cuffie River Nature Resort

GREEN HONEYCREEPER   Arena Forest Reserve

SAFFRON FINCH   Piarco International Airport

GRASSLAND YELLOW-FINCH   Aripo Livestock Station

BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT   Aripo Livestock Station

Bananaquit   Aripo Livestock Station

Black-faced Grassquit   Delaford

GRAYISH SALTATOR   Aripo Livestock Station

RED-CROWNED ANT-TANAGER   Asa Wright Nature Centre

RED-BREASTED MEADOWLARK   Holiday Inn Express Piarco

CARIB GRACKLE   Caroni rice fields

Shiny Cowbird   Aripo Livestock Station

GIANT COWBIRD   Grande Riviere

YELLOW ORIOLE   Aripo Livestock Station

YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE   Arena Forest Reserve

CRESTED OROPENDOLA   Arena Forest Reserve

TRINIDAD EUPHONIA   Blanchisseuse Rd

VIOLACEOUS EUPHONIA   Aripo Livestock Station

Caroni Rice Fields 4/2--9 Life Birds, 6 Year Birds

SCARLET IBIS
(as if you couldn't tell)
Photo: Shari Zirlin

After picking us up at the airport and taking us to the hotel to get settled in, Kim took Lon, Peggy & us to explore the Caroni Rice Fields and the road along the canal of the Caroni Swamp, a short ride to the west. I think our first official life bird may have been TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD at the airport, but I'm counting GREATER ANI which we found on a wire above the road. I was feeling a bit dazed to be birding so soon after traveling. It always takes me a while to incorporate the idea that the I'm here, actually at the there I've been heading to.

MASKED CARDINAL

We saw a number of RUDDY GROUND-DOVES which I at first mixed up with the Common Ground Doves we've seen in the south, but turned out to be lifers. At the entrance to the Coroni Swamp we saw MASKED CARDINAL (juvenile) eating a banana, and while walking along the canal, Kim spotted, deep in the mangroves, a stunning SCARLET IBIS, looking like a stop light in the green forest. 

We also heard what sounded sort of like a Clapper Rail, only a little slower, and up until recently, it was a Clapper Rail but the rail complex has undergone some taxonomical reordering, so this bird turned out to be another lifer, MANGROVE RAIL (appropriately enough in the mangroves).

Earlier, in one of the fields, we had our first rarity, a Snail Kite (have seen them in Florida), which apparently doesn't visit the area that often at that time of year. We went back a day later, re-found the bird and Kim photographed it for the record.

9 life birds, 6 year birds, and our suitcases weren't even unpacked. A great start.

22 species
Great Egret  10
Snowy Egret  5
Little Blue Heron  6
Cattle Egret  6
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  1
SCARLET IBIS  1
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  3
Osprey  2
Snail Kite  1     
MANGROVE RAIL 1
Rock Pigeon  200
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE 6
GREATER ANI 3
Smooth-billed Ani  10
Great Kiskadee  1
TROPICAL KINGBIRD 1
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW 12
TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD  3
Northern Waterthrush  1
MASKED CARDINAL 1
CARIB GRACKLE 5

Piarco 4/2--GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN, RED-BREASTED MEADOWLARK

On the way to the Holiday Inn Express in Piarco
Photo: Shari Zirlin

Before stopping off at the hotel, Kim made a quick spin around the surrounding grasslands (the hotel looks like Big House on the Prairie), where we quickly picked up a number of RED-BREASTED MEADOWLARKS (formerly called "blackbird") and flying in the gloaming, our first GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN. Quite a first half-day of birding; just a taste of what was to come.