Critter News

MAY 16, 2009

Three corrupt police officers in Trinidad and Tobago robbed a couple of Venezuelan wildlife smugglers and were subsequently arrested themselves. Over 1,000 animals were rescued, including 500 bull finches and 300 picoplats, The rescued wildlife also included monkeys, parrots, macaws and other species from Venezuela.

Trinidad 100

Trinidad Rescue Wildlife Venezuela 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2012

The island paradise of Trinidad boasts three bands of mountains running east to west. But Blue-headed Parrots were certainly special, as were raptors like Short-tailed Hawk and Common Black-hawk among the endless vultures. I blame Larry, who took pains to prepare us to not see Trinidad’s only non-motmot endemic.

Trinidad 161

Trinidad Stud Turkey Shelters 161

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago. 47 Trinidad Piping-Guan – Pipile pipile.

Woodpeckers 175

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 175

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2020

The Trinidad Motmot is the only endemic species on the island. I refrain from placing a timestamp on the couple hundred yards of gentle descent into Cuffie River, as it is highly likely one may be distracted by one or two Rufous-tailed Jacamars sallying into the roadway, or a Trinidad Motmot observing the observer from the adjacent bamboo.

Trinidad 163

Trinidad Parrots Species Hunting 163

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2024

Mealy Parrots made their presence known, and we were treated with excellent views of Blue-headed Parrot that flew into a tree we were already examining. Familiar, but beautiful regardless: Blue-headed Parrot Another small parrot species landed on a tree in the distance. Meanwhile, the forest edge was awash with birds.

Guyana 198

Guyana Parrots Trinidad Woodpeckers 198

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list. As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list.

2020 211

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 211

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

9 beats submitted 140 checklists from 7 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago) during October to account for 585 species. 269 White-crowned Parrot – Pionus senilis. 270 Red-lored Parrot – Amazona autumnalis. 271 White-fronted Parrot – Amazona albifrons.

Woodpeckers 223

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 223

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2020

However, 10 beats from 7 countries were able to submit some 127 checklists containing 597 birds from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica). 49 Brown-hooded Parrot – Pyrilia haematotis. 104 Yellow-crowned Parrot – Amazona ochrocephala. Nice distancing. That’s better.

2020 169

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 169

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2022

It may seem like an unnecessarily recurring theme in my posts about birding within Trinidad & Tobago, but the more I write on the subject the more it becomes apparent that the number three must have some significance, somewhere. The three main peaks of the Trinity Hills are what gave it its name, and by extension the island of Trinidad.

Trinidad 235

Trinidad Birds Tigers Groups 235

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

8 countries were birded by 11 beats and I am delighted to include Faraaz and Trinidad and Tobago in those stats. White-fronted Parrot – Amazona albifrons. Orange-winged Parrot – Amazona amazonica. Do you think that the pish is muted, dispersed or in some other way deprived of its urgency?

2020 153

2020 Blackbirds Sparrows Woodpeckers 153

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2022

While the combination of the words “coast” and “forest” may conjure images of tidal mudflats and mangroves or even coconut trees, the northern coastline of Trinidad features tropical rainforest that plunges steeply into the bejeweled waters of the Caribbean Sea. It almost looks as if the bird is underwater!

Trinidad 261

Trinidad Woodpeckers Bats Venezuela 261

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2022

At the top, we rounded a corner and found not only the sun in all its glory, but Orange-winged Parrots and what seemed to be an ever-increasing number of Guianan Trogons. A member of the “trilling” (and thrilling) subspecies group of the Long-billed Gnatwren is present throughout Trinidad, and is yet another headache-inducing species.

Trinidad 228

Trinidad Squirrels Birds Groups 228

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2021

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. Both White-bearded and Golden-headed Manakins were calling consistently, as well as Violaceous and Trinidad Euphonias. The constant twittering of Bananaquits distracted many an ear.

Trinidad 264

Trinidad Livestock Groups Eagles 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

The list for the year has reached 1276 and the life list has been stretched to 4066 with red ticks from China, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, thanks to Kai, Claire and Grant and Faraaz respectively. 9 beats submitted 172 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) for 640 species.

Woodpeckers 152

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 152

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2020

11 beats collaborated to enter 163 checklists from 8 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago). 307 White-crowned Parrot – Pionus senilis. 308 Yellow-naped Parrot – Amazona auropalliata. 309 Orange-winged Parrot – Amazona amazonica.

2020 279

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 279

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2021

A Yellow-crowned Parrot digs in. As a rule, any tree which sprung up at the fenceline was left alone – as it was highly likely it was planted there by bird droppings. With that logic those trees, if left to grow, should produce something of use to at least one or two species of birds.

Opossums 263

Opossums Barn Owls Hunting Reptiles 263

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Each spread (text and plate) is prefaced with the names of the family (common and scientific names, e.g., ‘Parrots Psittacidae’) and a 1-4 line paragraph summarizing common identification features and distribution. I wish the flight images for the hawks, falcons, parakeets, and parrots were larger.

America 211

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 211

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

The beats are famed for their inclusion on the nice side of the ledger and this month 9 of them shared 163 lists from 7 countries (Australia, Costa Rica, USA, UK, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) and accounted for 735 bird species. Mike doubled up with “smushed”, a new addition to the adjective list.

Sparrows 178

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 178

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

The year list ends on a provisional (some beats will be birding ’til the final whistle to try and salvage a ravaged year) 1803 species from 1602 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries.

2020 204

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks 204

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

Calle La Trinidad, Heredia, CR (10,022, -84,152). Red-winged Parrot – Aprosmictus erythropterus. Blue-rumped Parrot – Psittinus cyanurus. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot – Loriculus galgulus. Senegal Parrot – Poicephalus senegalus. Brown-hooded Parrot – Pyrilia haematotis.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2019

Red-winged Parrot – Aprosmictus erythropterus. White-crowned Parrot – Pionus senilis. Red-lored Parrot – Amazona autumnalis. Yellow-naped Parrot – Amazona auropalliata. Mealy Parrot – Amazona farinosa. White-fronted Parrot – Amazona albifrons. Western Australia.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2019

Red-crowned Parrot – Amazona viridigenalis. Turquoise-fronted Parrot – Amazona aestiva. Blue-rumped Parrot – Psittinus cyanurus. Calle La Trinidad, Heredia, CR (10,022, -84,152). Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot – Loriculus galgulus. Blue-headed Parrot – Pionus menstruus.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Australian King-Parrot – Alisterus scapularis. Turquoise-fronted Parrot – Amazona aestiva. Brown-headed Parrot – Poicephalus cryptoxanthus. Double-eyed Fig-Parrot – Cyclopsitta diophthalma. White-fronted Parrot – Amazona albifrons.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

Trinidad Lake Watchable Wildlike Trail and Hides, Colorado. Australian King-Parrot – Alisterus scapularis. Turquoise-fronted Parrot – Amazona aestiva. Brown-headed Parrot – Poicephalus cryptoxanthus. Double-eyed Fig-Parrot – Cyclopsitta diophthalma. 28 Sep 2018. 28 Sep 2018. 27 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Australian King-Parrot – Alisterus scapularis. Red-winged Parrot – Aprosmictus erythropterus. Blue-winged Parrot – Neophema chrysostoma. Elegant Parrot – Neophema elegans. Rock Parrot – Neophema petrophila. Mulga Parrot – Psephotus varius. Melbourne Hike #2. 24 Apr 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

Australian King-Parrot – Alisterus scapularis. Red-winged Parrot – Aprosmictus erythropterus. Blue-winged Parrot – Neophema chrysostoma. Elegant Parrot – Neophema elegans. Rock Parrot – Neophema petrophila. Mulga Parrot – Psephotus varius. 16 Jan 2018. 19 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Red-winged Parrot – Aprosmictus erythropterus. Bourke’s Parrot – Neophema bourkii. Mulga Parrot – Psephotus varius. Vernal Hanging-Parrot – Loriculus vernalis. Vernal Hanging-Parrot – Loriculus vernalis. Meyer’s Parrot – Poicephalus meyeri. Northern Territory.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Red-winged Parrot – Aprosmictus erythropterus. Bourke’s Parrot – Neophema bourkii. Mulga Parrot – Psephotus varius. Vernal Hanging-Parrot – Loriculus vernalis. Brown-hooded Parrot – Pyrilia haematotis. Blue-headed Parrot – Pionus menstruus. Northern Territory.

2016 101

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 101