10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2021

The very last Sunday of the decade heralded our final CBC – with group sizes limited to five persons. For the fifth year in a row, I was assigned the prolific and well-known Aripo Livestock Station at the foothills of Trinidad’s Northern Range. In spite of its name, the Trinidad Euphonia is not endemic to Trinidad.

Trinidad 264

Trinidad Livestock Groups Eagles 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2020

It was late December, 2012, and I slotted into a sizable group under the joint leadership of two highly respected birders. As prolific as the area was, the group was on the move. The group was significantly smaller, only myself and one other person. Trinidad Lancehead , or Fer-de-lance. “Tayra”, he whispered.

Trinidad 181

Trinidad Livestock 2015 Groups 181

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2022

I’ve been leading a small but faithful group on Trinidad for several years to count birds within a livestock farm that is generally restricted to the public (you can read about some of those shenanigans here ); this was the first time I was to embark on a CBC on the smaller island of Tobago. Anyway, I digress.

Falcons 251

Falcons Trinidad Ducks Groups 251

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2020

Just under a fortnight ago, I saw a report on the local bird alert of a sighting of a group of approximately 20 Nacunda Nighthawks at a wetland not more than 20 minutes from where I live. Farmers keep their livestock in this wetland also. Especially as we were at the time about to experience a rapidly advancing tropical storm.

Livestock 227

Livestock Ducks ALA illegal 227