Birds Of Tobago: 2015

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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