Itinerary:
March 14--Asa Wright Nature Center
March 15--Blanchisseuse Road
March 16--Agric. Research Center, Nariva Swamp
March 17--Oilbird Cave, free afternoon
March 18--Wallerfield, Arena Forest/Dam
March 19--Lalaja Rd./Trincity Ponds/Caroni Swamp
March 20--Tobago: Airport, Grafton, Buccoo Marsh
March 21--Gilpin Trace, Tobago Highlands
March 22--Little Tobago Island
Total Number of Species = 204, including 7 heard only
How that compares with previous trips:
August 1992 (many migrant N.A. shorebirds)
218
March 1992
200
February 1991
180
March 1990
182
September 1990 (many migrant N.A. shorebirds)
215
March 1990
182
November 1989
184
February 1988
189
September 1987
205
Bird Species of Particular Note:
Leach's Petrel: A species rarely seen from shore, observed flying over the surf
off Manzanilla Beach, Nariva.
Red-billed Tropicbird: Several chicks on the ground; great photo opportunities.
Scarlet Ibis: Largest flocks seen in recent years, observed in Caroni Swamp.
Masked Duck: Two females. First time seen on any Peregrine tour and the first record for Tobago. A lifer for the leader.
Ruddy Turnstone: Exceptionally large flock (41) seen along roadside near Nariva
Swamp.
Common Barn-Owl: A common but rarely seen species; flushed from an abandoned
house near the Arena Forest.
Common Potoo: A good look at this bizarre nocturnal goatsucker on our boat trip
into the Caroni Swamp.
Oilbird: A unique species seen deep within Guacharo Cave.
Brown Violet-ear: Seen on three consecutive days at Asa Wright, this species is very irregular in Trinidad and often is not seen at all during the course of a year.
White-tailed Sabrewing: Many good looks at this exceedingly rare species along Gilpin Trace, Tobago (estimated 20-40 individuals at most exist on Tobago). Especially good looks by Helen as she waited for the group.
Red-rumped Woodpecker: Rarely seen species, observed several times during our trip.
Streaked-headed Woodcreeper: A very close encounter with a pair in mangroves along Bush-Bush Creek, Nariva.
Silvered Antbird: Normally a difficult species to see, a pair was observed on mangrove roots along Bush-Bush Creek.
Sulphury Flyctcher: A very rare species, seen twice on our trip (!); four individuals seen at Wallerfield and another seen along Bush-Bush Creek. A lifer for the leader.
Yellow-legged Thrush: Males and females of this retiring, canopy-loving species were observed along Blanchisseuse Road and along Gilpin Trace, Tobago.
Other Wildlife Observations of Note:
Agoutis, squirrels, speckled caiman, fer-de-lance (dead on Blanchisseuse Road), Microptera bats, Anableps (four-eyed fish), Calistethis (tiny black cricket frogs), Tegu, Ameiva, and Iguana lizards, geckos, and chocolate-colored "manicou" and other kinds of land crabs. Also zebu cattle and water buffalo.
Remember our local guides Jogie Ramlal, Kenny Calderon, Winston Nanan, and Adolphus James. Remember the steel band, provided through the generosity of Bill Buck. And don't forget the food -- spicy dishes of chicken and beef, breadfruit casserole, whipped eggplant, okra, callaloo soup, curried dishes of all sorts, Carib and Stag beer, and rum punch made with Vat 19 and Old Oak rum.
