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Dcb Good Bird Guide , ABACO BIRD RECORD, commenced Feb 2010 (Page references are to Bruce Hallett’s ‘Birds of the Bahamas’ in the library) A QUICK GUIDE TO SOME OF THE BIRDLIFE AT DCB AND ELSEWHERE ON ABACO (Page references are to Bruce Hallett’s ‘Birds of the Bahamas’ in the library) The main identifications are as certain as an amateur (me) might wish - mostly by sight and sound (with the help of Hallett’s book), some by photo for later ID, some simply by being told. Some IDs are qualified in the comments – e.g. too many heron / egret / plover types and colourings to be sure which. Apologies to any proper ornithologists – feel free to correct or add / subtract info. KS Feb 2010 SPECIES LOCATION COMMENT PAGE ID / DATE IMAGE Bananaquit DCB That small chirpy thing that is so hard to see in 199 KS/Feb 10 the bushes… Western Spindalis [Tanager] DCB In trees along the drive (Hallett’s cover bird) 200 KS/Feb 10 (aka Bahama Finch) Cuban Emerald Hummingbird DCB Often seen in bushes below pool – and 143 KS/Feb 10 thankfully outside Room 1 Bahama Woodstar Hole-in-the-Wall Rare where Cuban Emeralds are. Trip not for 145 KS/Feb 10 Hummingbird faint-hearted – 30 miles return on rough track. It gradually gets worse (totally unsuitable for car). Photo of female; males have purple throat Turkey Vulture DCB / Ubiquitous Ever-present, sometimes wheeling around over 119 KS/Feb 10 the bay in flocks of 20 or so. Graceful in flight, less glamorous close up White-Tailed Tropicbird Sandy Point Seen flying with Frigatebirds 39 KS/Feb 10 Magnificent Frigatebird DCB / Sandy Point Males have inflatable red neck pouches – an 46 KS/Feb 10 aka Man o’ War Bird impressive courting device Osprey DCB Seen mainly above the small bay at south end of 120 KS/Feb 10 beach – on one occasion diving, catching a fish and flying past the Club with it held as in photo Ovenbird DCB / ubiquitous Plenty of these, mostly foraging on the ground 197 KS/Feb 10 (Golden-crowned Thrush) among the bushes American Kestrel DCB On a post in the service drive 122 KS/Feb 10 Smooth-billed Ani Sandy Point area Seen in groups of 4 or 5 137 KS/Feb 10 (aka Cemetery Bird) American Oystercatcher Sandy Point Not sure how they differ from European ones – 78 KS/Feb 10 accent, maybe Northern Mockingbird Marsh Harbour / Varied and melodious songs 169 KS/Feb 10 Hope Town Common Ground Dove DCB / Ubiquitous Very small and pretty, rufous wings in flight. 131 KS/Feb 10 (aka Tobacco Dove) Eurasian Collared-Dove DCB / Ubiquitous Introduced species – seem skinnier than 127 KS/Feb 10 European ones Mourning Dove DCB / Ubiquitous Plenty around – especially in Hope Town 130 KS/Feb 10 Belted Kingfisher Marls Much larger than European – not as colourful, 147 KS/Feb 10 unmistakeable hairstyle White Egret Marls Two sizes seen: presumably Great and the 50 / 51 KS/Feb 10 smaller Snowy (or perhaps Cattle); or maybe adults and juveniles Double-crested Cormorant Marls Presumably ‘double-crested’ version, as no 45 KS/Feb 10 others seem to visit north Bahamas Wilson’s (Common) Snipe Marls, Crossing Seen in flocks in the mangroves, quite far out 90 KS/Feb 10 Rocks from mainland Bahama Swallow DCB / Elsewhere Seems a bit more like a martin; shorter tail than 161 KS/Feb 10 European swallows West Indian Woodpecker DCB In bushes on north side of Club (by Room 1) one 148 KS/Feb 10 morning - noisy Hairy Woodpecker National Park Seen in pinewoods during a picnic down a track 150 KS/Feb10 (to recover from hairy Hole-in-the-Wall drive) Red Tailed Hawk National Park Seen flying quite close to us, tail very visible 121 KS/Feb 10 Loggerhead Kingbird National Park 2 or 3 seen on branches quite high up in the 155 KS/Feb10 pinewoods Gray Catbird National Park Black cap and brown under tail unmistakeable 172 KS/Feb10 Terns Crossing Rocks Seen from skiff quite far out, diving and 103 - KS/Feb 10 smashing tern-like into the sea – but no idea 116 which of several possible tern species these were Plover (?) / Sandpiper (?) DCB beach One of the ‘peeps’ running around on the beach 72 - 95 KS/Feb 10 in small groups. Easy to rule out candidates, hard to ID positively. (KS photo) Great Blue Heron Marls, Crossing Two distinct sizes, large & medium, seen. Of the 47, 49, KS/Feb 10 Little Blue Heron Rocks, Cherokee heron candidates, these seem most likely. [The 52 brown necked version as on p 47 seen several times at the edge of mangroves] NOT IDENTIFIABLE (by me) Warblery Things Everywhere Various small pointy-beaked unassuming birds, grey / brown backs, yellowish bibs / fronts. Palm Warbler? Tentative ID of Palm Warbler in National Park - 192 distinctive bright yellow tail flash Duck, Gulls All at sea… I’m useless with duck, gulls etc, so have not even tried. They all seemed familiar, somehow (I know there were teal on the Marls). Sorry. HEARD BUT NOT SEEN Abaco / Bahama Parrot DCB Heard one morning and the same evening in the 134 KS/Feb 10 (endemic subspecies of Cuban scrub between the road and the Club. Parrot. Ground-nesting) Disappointing not to see one (none seen when we were in the National Park / parrot reserve) MISC. CREATURES Curly Tails DCB / Elsewhere Cute! Hummingbird Moths DCB Seen at dusk / early evening around the flowers outside the bedrooms (drive side) Fireflies DCB At night, glowing around the pool area in the grass and bushes --------------------------------------- ------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------- -------------- ------------------------ .
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