Queen Victoria Birding: Black-vented Shearwaters in the central Pacific

 The bird that dominated the passage along the Central American coast numbers wise, was the Black-vented Shearwater. This was a life bird for me and the first new seabird tick of the trip, something I'm rather keen on. We had Black-vented Shearwater around the ship the day after sailing from Panama, but by far the  best day for the species was the 1st of February, we had sailed from Guatemala the evening before and were sailing up the coast of Southern Mexico. During several sea watches I counted well over a thousand birds in flocks of up to 100 at a time, so needless to say, many more would have been in the area. All images are of Black-vented Shearwater from the 1st of February.

Steve C

Garganey and Bonaparte’s Gull at Swineham Gravel Pits, Dorset

 

Last week Stu L and I set off at 05:30 on Thursday to attend the Royal Naval Birdwatching Society’s spring weekend to Portland, and en route we stopped at first the New Forest (Cuckoo and Tree Pipit) and then Swineham Gravel Pits to ‘twitch’ the first-summer Bonaparte’s Gull. It’s a site that neither of us had visited before and we enjoyed a productive anti-clockwise loop of the reserve. To our good fortune the Bonaparte’s Gull was showing on our arrival at Bestwall Water. Also present nearby was a partial summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, four Greenshank and a self-found, by Stu, male Garganey. Garden Warbler was also a year tick for both of us.

 

Garganey, Swineham Gravel Pits – 2 May 24

Bonaparte’s Gull, Swineham Gravel Pits – 2 May 24

After a pitstop at the local Sainsbury’s for some lunch we continued on our way stopping for a loop around RSPB Lodmoor (Yellow Wagtail, Bar-tailed Godwit and Bearded Tit) before finally arriving at the Bird Observatory.

 

Bar-tailed Godwit, RSPB Lodmoor – 2 May 24

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

Queen Victoria Birding: Nazca Booby in the Central Pacific

 After departing from Panama we headed north along the Central American coast heading towards Guatemala. We had seen Masked Boobies off the Atlantic coast of Florida, but in this area of the Pacific they are replaced by the similar looking Nazca Booby. A few years ago, it was still a sub species of Masked but now it is a species in its own right. The main breeding population is situated on the Galapagos Islands, with smaller populations on Islands off Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. I have included a few images of Atlantic Masked Boobies at the bottom for comparison. Masked having a yellow eye and a yellow/horn coloured bill, Nazca have orange eyes and an orange/red bill. Most Nazca Boobies also show white in the central tail feathers, although not always easy to see. 

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Masked Booby

Nazca Booby

Masked Booby

Steve C

Queen Victoria Birding: Gatun Lakes Wildlife

 The day after the canal transit, we docked in Panama City for the day. We had signed up for a wildlife cruise in the Gatun Lake which we had transited through the day before as it forms part of the Panama Canal itself. So early doors we were transported to Gamboa about 40 minutes drive from the capital. There we picked up our boat and departed to look for the local wildlife. primates provided the main interest mammal wise, with good views of Panamanian White-faced Capuchin, Mantled Howler Monkey and Geffroy's Tamarin. Obviously birds were a feature, we had great views of Yellow-headed Caracara, Roadside Hawk, Osprey and a pair of flyover Keel-billed Toucans. A single Three-toed Sloth gave us good views, although not the best to photograph. 

Geoffroy's Tamarin

Great Egret

Lesser Kiskadee

Mantled Howler Monkey

Panamanian White-faced Capuchin

Roadside Hawk

Wattled Jacana

Yellow-headed Caracara

Common Basilisk

Steve C

Queen Victoria Birding: Panama Canal Transit

 Queen Victoria transited the Panama Canal on the 27th January. This was the fourth time I had passed through the canal, but it was the first where it was a wholly daytime transit. For many onboard this was one of the highlights of trip. As for me, I was hoping for a little birding action as we sailed from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific as well as enjoying the sights of the canal. Very pleased to pick up a couple of new raptors in the guise of Short-tailed Hawk and Savannah Hawk. Also 100s of unidentified distant raptors on the move over the nearby hillsides. Other birds that I expected to see, Red-lored Parrots were rather common, Both Black and Turkey Vultures were numerous, along with several Ospreys. As we approached to Pacific side of the canal, we had quite a few Magnificent Frigatebirds. Other highlights were a small band of White-nosed Coatis on the canal bankside and a single American Crocodile near Miraflores Lock. All images below taken on the 27th January 2024

White-nosed Coatis

Short-tailed Hawk

Savannah Hawk

Red-lored Parrots

Raptor Passage

Gatun Lock

Osprey

Magnificent Frigatebird

Black Vulture

Black Vulture

American Crocodile

 

Steve C