Divali on the Cat’s Hill Road 2009.10.17

Highlights: Blackpoll Warbler

With the official hunting season in Trinidad and Tobago currently in progress, the Cat’s Hill area is busier than usual with hunters. However we took the chance to go there today as it was Divali and I had hoped some hunters would spend the day at home. It did in fact turn out to be relatively quiet there but all the hunting camps showed signs of recent activity. Teak is being harvested despite the ground being soaked with the rains and the paths through the teak fields have been thoroughly chewed up by the tractors. Surprisingly, these teak trees support several species of orchids. As has been said before on this website, teak plantations are usually dry and devoid of life but the thick patches of moss attest to the moisture levels present here and a quick search of the felled trees can yield specimens of Oncidium altissimum (the Brown Bee), Ornithocephalus gladiatus, Epidendrum nocturnum, Rodriguezia lanceolata (the Coralito), Polystachya concreta and the bizarre leafless orchid, Campylocentrum pachyrrhizum. I have seen occasional specimens of Epidendrum fragrans or Catasetum macrocarpum here as well.

At about 8:00 am, whilst searching among the branches for birds, Dave and I spotted a small drab green warbler. Like most warblers in non-breeding plumage it was rather nondescript but key markings, like streaking on its head and back, broken eye-ring, two white wing bars and flesh coloured legs, identified it as a Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata).

We followed it for quite some time until it was joined by a second Blackpoll Warbler feeding on small caterpillars in the grass. These warblers are winter migrants from North America, avoiding the cold by migrating to South America. Other than three migrant warblers (Yellow warbler, Northern Waterthrush and the American Redstart) and our three native warblers (Tropical Parula, Masked Yellowthroat and Orange-crowned Warbler) warblers are really rare sightings in Trinidad and Tobago. After about 20 minutes they flew off, leaving us to continue on our way along the Cat’s Hill road.

As we exited the teak plantations and entered the forested area of Cat’s Hill we came across an immature raptor perched on a Hogplum tree (Spondias sp) but could not positively identify it before it flew off. Immature raptors can be tricky and the identity of this one will remain a mystery. Further along, we paused beside a small forest pond where several swifts skimmed the water surface, drinking on the wing. Dave pointed out the narrow band on their rump which identified them as Band-rumped Swifts (Chaetura spinicaudus). While Dave was busy with the swifts, I was checking out a nearby fallen branch which yielded several specimens of Campylocentrum micranthum (an orchid) and Tillandsia anceps (a bromeliad).

On the way back we had one final surprise as a large ocelot sprinted across the road providing a brief look at this rarely seen forest animal.