It was another fantastic day in Vieques for the third VCHT Bird Walk of the 2024/2025 season!
Six members of the VCHT Birding Team, Marie, Teresa, Daphne, Chuck, Rob, and Mike, were greeted by 32 birders with varying experience levels on a cool (ish) and calm morning. We missed Olga and Pinto, but we know they will return soon to join us!
Having Daphne Gemmill join us again was terrific, as she is the expert on the birds of Vieques, and published, too!
It was exciting to see all the cars lined up at 7:30 a.m. just past the entrance to Sun Bay, where we introduced the Birding Team, shared our volunteer roles with the Trust, discussed avian conservation, the importance of our birds and their habitat, and discussed our birding excursion for the day.
Once everyone was registered, the team pointed out several birds in and around the entrance to Sun Bay. Right from the start, it was apparent that we weren't alone. Several experienced birders also pointed out the birds they knew, and binoculars moved fast and furiously as our guests made numerous avian identifications. A special treat was the Monk Parakeets, which are growing in number on the island.
A second treat was that a dozen or more members of the Sierra Club joined us—there seemed to be many of them! We were happy to have them, and they shared our enthusiasm for conservation and learning about the different species of birds on the island.
During our time at the entrance to Sun Bay, we observed eight species of birds, including White-winged doves, Western Cattle-Egrets, Monk Parakeets, Gray Kingbirds, Antillean Grackles, a Pearly-eyed Thrasher, and a Northern Mockingbird.
After leaving the entrance to Sun Bay, we drove to the end of the beach, where we divided into two teams. We talked about the two areas we were going to bird: the south side of the lagoon, also called the Salitral and the freshwater pond.
At the freshwater pond, there were a lot of birds, and there was a lot of discussion about the birds there. Andy spotted a Sora, apparently only the ninth sighting in Vieques since 1935. Along the way, the group saw or heard a Zenaida Dove, a Mangrove Cuckoo, a Caribbean Elaenia, an American Redstart, an Adelaids's Warbler, and several Bananaquits, Yellow Warblers, and American Oystercatchers. At the pond, birders were given a rare glimpse of a Sora, the more common Black-necked Stilts, a Spotted Sandpiper, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Soaring above were Brown Pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebirds, and a lonely Royal Tern.
At the lagoon, we discovered that a special guest had joined the group. Dr. Karen Bell confessed that it was her first bird walk, and she was amazed and intrigued at what she saw. Karen is a member of the Trust's Board of Directors, so it was exciting to have her present.
At Laguna Sombe, 15 species were observed, including Blue-winged Teals, White-Cheeked Pintails, Clapper Rails (three, an unusual sight), Black-necked Stilts, Semipalmated Plovers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstones, Stilt Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Royal Terns, Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and Brown Pelicans. The group was treated to a magnificent Magnificent Frigatebird soaring overhead as well. It was very exciting for the VCHT Building Team to have so many experienced birders helping with the spotting and the counting!
After the first group left for the freshwater pond, the second group added another Brown Pelican, a Black-Bellied Plover, a Belted Kingfisher, and an Adelaide's Warbler to the lagoon count.
As we packed to head home, we said goodbye to Daphne. She was headed back to Washington, D.C., presumably for some arcane task like tallying birds! She would've been more than welcome to stay in Vieques, as we learn so much from her experience and mentoring.
All in all, it was an excellent day for birdwatching. Even though the lagoon's water level was lower than usual, everyone in attendance observed a variety of bird species. It was a joy to host visitors from across the United States and beyond.
If you would like to support the work of the VCHT Birding Team as we work to protect our birds and their habitat on Vieques, please donate today using the link below:
In closing, the VCHT Birding Team reminds you that our birds are in trouble. Nearly 3 billion birds have been lost since 1970, and habitat loss is at an all-time high. Read more using these links (https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back and https://www.3billionbirds.org).
Please do what you can to support bird conservation and donate to support our work in Vieques!
If you would like to become a member of the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, please follow this link:
Remaining Bird Walks This Season
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
All VCHT Bird Walks start at 7:30 a.m. and depart from just inside the main gate to Sun Bay. You will find us parked along the sidewalk on the right-hand side of the road!
The 126th Vieques Audubon Christmas Bird Count will occur on January 3, 2026. You are welcome to join us! Email vcht.birding.team@gmail.com to let us know you will be attending!
You are also welcome to check out our baby bird web presence at cbc.saldelmar.info and vcht.saldelmar.info. Please remember that these pages are ALWAYS a work in progress!
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