Birds Of Tobago

Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana

Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Tobago

One normally sees the Fork-tailed Flycatcher around dusk flying back towards the mainland, as it is a daily visitor from South America. Usually found in groups I came across this group feeding in a bamboo patch along with Caribbean Martins, swifts & other flycatchers taking advantage of flying ants hatching from the damp bamboo.

See details of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher

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Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus Plymouth, Tobago

Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus Plymouth Tobago

Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus

Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus Plymouth, Tobago

Common Black Hawk (click for larger pic)

A not so common sighting of this raptor near Plymouth in Tobago today, I was fortunate to photograph the bird complete with its catch, an opossum Didelphis marsupialis know locally as Manicou, which is equally unusual as the Black Hawk is known more for eating crab than mammals,
even Richard Ffrench in his guide to the birds of Trinidad & Tobago states that he has only knowledge of a crab diet.

Buteogallus anthracinus Common Black Hawk

With myself below and the constant harassment above of Tropical Kingbirds Tyrannus melancholicus which on more than one pass made physical contact with the hawk in an attempt to protect their nest only a few branches away, the common black hawk had little chance to settle and quickly took off for quieter surroundings. A rare encounter of this marvelous raptor.

Feather markings on a Common Black Hawk

Common Black Hawk with Mammal Prey

Tropical Kingbird harassing Black Hawk

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Adult Nightjar Common Pauraque close up

Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) Adult

Detailed close up photo of the Common Pauraque

I was fortunate to run across this adult nightjar during an afternoon walk so able to capture it in good light conditions having been disturbed from thicket by cows. The detailed feathering pattern makes it near impossible to see on the woodland floor where it rests during the day.

See details of the Common Pauraque

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Bare-eyed Thrush (Turdus nudigenis) Birds of Trinidad & Tobago

Bare-eyed Thrush (Turdus nudigenis) Birds of Trinidad & Tobago. A common resident on both Islands this delightful singer can be found in suburban areas as well as more natural habitats. A regular bird table visitor when one has a bird table, but in a garden with five cats it's not such a good idea.

Location : At home, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies.
Photo : Samsung Pro815
Photographer : Robert Brent

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Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus)

The Brown-crested Flycatcher like all tyrant flycatchers is an entertaining bird to watch as they twist and flutter around catching flying insects on the wing. Nests are built in tree cavities, and this pair found a lovely nesting site right next to the waters edge.

Location : Kilgwyn Mangrove, Bon Accord, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies.
Photo : Samsung Pro815
Photographer : Robert Brent

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Birds of Tobago : Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)

Birds of Tobago : Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor). This is a fairly common resident throughout the West Indies but considered rare for Trinidad & Tobago according to Richard Ffrench. This lovely Cuckoo has a delightful low pitched guttural call that I find a beautiful sound. The Mangrove Cuckoo can be found in light forest and scrub at lower levels, generally not know at higher altitudes.

Location : Kilgwyn Mangrove, Bon Accord, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies.
Photo : Samsung Pro815
Photographer : Robert Brent

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Barred-Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) A perched female

This is a very trusting Antshrike that is quite happy with being close to humans, well so long as you keep a respectful distance, usually seen in pairs, they will happily chatter and chuckle away as they feed, the constant calling keeping the pair aware of where each other is, it is normal for the male to lead, the female bird coming along not too far behind her mate, both share nest duties and bringing up the young.

Photography : Samsung Pro815 digital bridge camera
Location : Kilgwyn Mangrove woodland, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

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Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) juvenile birds in grassland

Juvenile blue-black Grassquits start a mottled brown, females remain brown, while males turn black all over, the juvenile bird pictured resting on the bush is showing the first signs of such a change on his belly. These delightful seed eaters are common around Tobago, and a bird to make itself know with it's fairly loud calls and singing voice, frequently found in suburban areas, but as always, so much nicer to photograph them in more natural surroundings.

Photography : Samsung Pro815 digital bridge camera
Location : Kilgwyn Mangrove woodland, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

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Copper-rumped Hummingbird (Amazilia tobaci) feeding on wild sage

The copper-rumped Hummingbird (Amazilia tobaci) is a common hummingbird here in Tobago and can be found abundantly in suburban areas, but it is always nice when one captures them in the countryside, this hummingbird was visiting a patch of wild sage, it's beak tipped with bright yellow pollen from the dainty flowers

Photography : Samsung Pro815 digital bridge camera
Location : vacant field near Bon Accord (suburb), South West Tobago, West Indies

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Migrant shorebirds - Sanderlings (Calidris alba) in Trinidad & Tobago

Migrant shorebirds I find to be delightful, really enjoy photographing them and just being around them. Shorebirds such as the Sanderling generally work their way down the East coast of America, those that land up in Tobago mostly make the flight in single leg, some however stop over in the Lesser Antilles. Sanderlings are often seen in small groups here and quite a large number appear to move with loose flocks of various other shorebirds such as Ruddy Turnstones, Black bellied plovers and of course other Sandpipers.

Photography : Samsung Pro815 digital bridge camera
Location : Pigeon point beach, South Western Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago West Indies

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