thebahamasweekly.com - Birding With Erika Gates Certified Bahamas Birding Guide

From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Birding With Erika Gates Certified Bahamas Birding Guide
By Erika Gates
Nov 10, 2012 - 9:39:30 PM

Hello Birders!

Freeport, Bahamas - Our November Fieldtrip this past Saturday at Garden of the Groves gave us the opportunity to welcome many of our fall migrants like Ovenbirds, Black and White Warbler, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, Prairie and Palm Warbler and Black-throated blue Warbler. A Sora and Wilson's Snipe were also observed that same morning at the little wetland near Island Seas Resort.

The highlight of the morning came for those that decided to join meto check on the survival of a tiny Bahama Woodstar nest after hurricane Sandy near the resort! The two youngsters were fine and thelittle nest was solidly "cemented" on a Casuarina branch and had not budged throughout the storm! One of our group's star photographers, Chuck Seidel, managed to get this beautiful picture when mom arrived for a feeding session!

We had been lucky, indeed, when I came back the following day the little ones had fledged and were perched high up in the tree with their mother being busy bringing their breakfast!

Talking about busy - we are getting busy to organize this year's annual Christmas Bird Count which is scheduled for Saturday, December 29th! Please send me a quick e-mail if you intend to participate. The orientation will take place Friday evening at Garden of the Groves at 6 pm. Count day will be all day Saturday with the "Tally Rally" and dinner at the Garden immediately following the count! Please indicate if you would like to record, have a car available or just like to come along to enjoy the birds!

Come out with us!

About the Author:

Erika Gates is the owner of Kayak Nature Tours (one of the first Eco-Tour businesses in The Bahamas); co-founder of the Ecotourism Association; a published writer; and a Cacique award winner! She can be reached at gbntours@hotmail.com