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Masked Duck male on Bayfield Pond in Barbados. Note that the male is ‘moulting’ his tail feathers, i.e. growing new ones, which happens on an annual basis. of the t e r birExpert advice to helpd you appreciatew oura region’st beautifulc .h issue: In this issue we focus on Barbados MAsked duck (Nomonyx dominicus) by John W e b s , all by How to spot it: This small, chunky, My best birding moment ‘stiff-tailed’ duck is well known for its ability Barbadian Dr John L Webster is a dedicated birdwatcher and to hide in the vegetation in ponds. The male, passionate bird photographer. He also leads birdwatching/ in full breeding plumage, is quite distinctive photography tours in Barbados ([email protected]) and beautiful, with a black-tipped, brilliant blue “I had been searching for some time, knew the bill on a black masked face with a thin white unsuccessfully, for the Masked Duck duck and her brood were on eye-ring. The head and body are reddish-brown

in various ponds around Barbados. the pond, and that she would not fly with black streaks on the back and sides. White s o f male a n d female M as k ed D uc Then suddenly, one morning, I away and leave them... I just had to wing patches are visible in flight.T he female is a Photo discovered four males in their full be patient and wait!! After over an mottled brown overall. She has a blue-grey bill breeding plumage, with their striking hour, through careful observation, blue bills, relaxing peacefully on the I discovered the hen’s location on a buffy face, with a dark cap, black eye stripe pond at Bayfield, St Philip. and carefully and quietly moved and cheek stripe. Both sexes have a long, wedge- WOODBOURNE SHOREBIRD A typical view of the wide I was thrilled to have finally closer, in order not to startle her, shaped tail, sometimes held upright. Tail feathers REFUGE: Located at Woodbourne variety of birds that can 1 be seen at Woodbourne located them, but there was not a until I could literally peep through are black in the male and brown in the female. in the parish of Christ Church in the Shorebird Refuge female in sight. I took many photos the grass at her and her brood... Where to find it: Masked Ducks are SE of the island, and surrounded of the males and went home with the a typical stalker! Eventually she usually found in shallow freshwater ponds by the ‘oilfields’ of Barbados, determination to return to seek out trusted me and allowed me to with reeds and rushes, and other dense and Top 3 Hotspots: Woordbourne Shorebird Refuge the female. Next morning by 6am I approach to within ten feet, while was on site. As I drove up, I spotted she tended her little ones, and low aquatic vegetation. Males can sometimes is the firstS horebird Refuge of its a hen with a brood of newly hatched bathed and preened herself. Several be seen sleeping in open areas of the pond Barbados kinds established on the island. The ducklings. She quickly led her young hundred photos later I quietly with their heads tucked into a wing. Females, The location of Barbados, 100 site of a former shooting swamp, charges into and through the maze slipped away, with a great sense however, are more secretive, particularly if they the area has been leased by Birdlife

miles to the east of the Caribbean . of water lily leaves and flowers and of satisfaction, having been able to have a brood of ducklings, and tend to conceal archipelago, places the 166 sq mile International and rehabilitated as a disappeared from sight! Therein, observe and photograph a rarely ’)

themselves among the vegetation. They are island closer to the Southern Flyway refuge for migrating shorebirds and g , www started a game of cat and mouse. I seen event.” cie ty y th e So usually most active in the dawn or dusk hours. of shorebirds migrating annually waterfowl, which use the site as stopover and Overlooking the Chancery WhAT DOES IT EAT? They are diving from North to . It wintering habitat during their long migrations. also makes it the first of the islands Lane Swamp wetland area ducks and dive frequently when feeding, to seek in the chain that vagrant birds A great variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, herons C a r i bb ea n.or out vegetative material such as leaves, roots and and egrets can be observed at this location,

from Europe, Asia and Africa will . Bi r ds with their stout bills. They will also feed dependent on the time of the year. It is also the a r i bb ea n Bi r ds c h f or ‘C encounter. This therefore accounts C a r i bb ea n ( f or me r l on small and . for the 265 bird species recorded on only location at which night herons have been GLOBAL THREATS: The Masked Duck the island, whereas there are only known to breed in Barbados. y Ref: http:// 46 resident species. on, Bi r ds is found in northern South America, Central shorebirdconservationtrust.wordpress.com/ book ( sea r ace America and the Caribbean. It is known as BAYFIELD POND: This is a small pond, CHANCERY LANE SWAMP: Located on View of Bayfield Pond, home a rare, but regular, vagrant in the southern located in the heart of the village of Bayfield the SE coast, this is one of only two natural of the Masked Duck in Barbados. 2 3 w us on F o . Whereas the global population in the parish of St Philip on the east coast of the wetlands remaining on Barbados. Various y o f C a r i bb ea), www n Bi r ds e n s t e r a n d L isa Sor

of this bird has not been island. It is considered the home of the Masked migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, herons and g . Fo ll

precisely determined, it Duck in Barbados. It is surrounded by reeds and egrets can be seen here. Several resident species .or t e r

does not show signs grasses and has a substantial growth of water including Yellow Warblers and Yellow Grassland ud t i on a n d St a of decline and lilies covering much of the pond. Green Herons, Finches are also found in surrounding grassland o John W e b s Masked Duck female with a brood of downy ducklings on is considered Common Gallinules, Snowy Egrets and various areas. It’s the only location in which a Smooth- Bayfield Pond in Barbados stable. shorebirds can also be seen at this location. billed Ani has been seen, two years ago. se rv f or th e Con ca r i bb ea nb i r di n g tr ail IMAGES: John L W e b s IMAGES: M any th an ks t

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