March 30th, 2011 — Trip Reports
Colour! Energy! Movement! Excitement! These are all words that describe the yearly Carnival festival for which Trinidad and Tobago is well known. But they can also describe another well known feature of our country – our hummingbirds. So I suppose I was celebrating a different kind of Carnival when I took advantage of the day [...]
March 29th, 2011 — Observations
An adult Rufous Crab Hawk (Buteogallus aequinoctialis) was observed at Los Gallos Swamp in Icacos in late March. This species has been seen frequently at this tower since 2009 and my sightings here are as follows: 23 August 2009 – 1 bird 21 September 2009 – 1 bird 30 May 2010 – 2 birds mating [...]
February 25th, 2011 — Quick Guides
The wetlands of Trinidad and Tobago are inhabited by several bird species, many of which are easy to observe. This summary will highlight those common species that frequent wetlands, specifically open marsh and river environments. Mangrove dwelling species will be dealt with separately. The species listed below can also be found in habitats that mimic [...]
February 24th, 2011 — Observations
During the month of February, several interesting gulls were present at Orange Valley in Central Trinidad. At least three individual Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis), two Franklin’s Gulls (Larus pipixcan) and a Common Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) were reported by observers (see photograph captions). These gulls are rare winter visitors from North America with a few [...]
January 2nd, 2011 — Trip Reports
Every year a curious thing happens around Christmas time. All over the world birdwatchers are going out into the field, notebooks and clipboards in hand, to count birds. And they are not looking to count particularly rare or breeding birds. They are looking for ANY birds. The Christmas bird count has its origins in North [...]
November 30th, 2010 — Quick Guides
Several of Trinidad’s common butterfly species can be found in open gardens and scrubland. They have fewer environmental requirements than other specialised species and this allow them to thrive almost anywhere flowering plants are found. Many common butterflies have acquired local names, some as colourful as the butterflies they represent. Scarlet Peacock (Anartia amathea amathea) The Scarlet Peacock [...]
October 30th, 2010 — Trip Reports
I have always been partial to marshland. Forests and woodlands, while biologically endowed in their own unique ways, are sometimes a bit too much for me. Unless you are to limit yourself to one specific interest, butterfly photography for instance, too much time is spent hurriedly looking at the ground, up in the tree canopy [...]
October 29th, 2010 — Observations
In the month of October a Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus pallidicaudus) was seen in the Caroni Rice Fields. The bird was perched on an elevated bank of dirt in a harvested field. This is just the second documented report form Trinidad and Tobago. The first documented record was of two birds in 2001, also in [...]
October 28th, 2010 — Conservation
The route of the proposed San Fernando to Point Fortin highway was disclosed in October. According to NIDCO, the proposed highway will be comprised of 6 segments: 1) Golconda (end of current highway) to Debe 2) Debe to San Francique 3) San Francique to Siparia Road 4) Siparia Road to Delhi Road (Fyzabad) 5) Delhi [...]
September 30th, 2010 — Quick Guides
People in Trinidad routinely come into contact with several of our common birds but few actually take the time to learn more about them. The birds listed here are all well suited to life in residential and urban areas in addition to their natural habitat. Many are generalists, meaning that they can survive on a [...]
