The Lesser Antillean Tanager is a bird found only on the islands of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This attractive tanager is believed to have arrived in the Lesser Antilles from South America around ten million years ago. While unique to the West Indies, it is part of the cayana group, which includes…… Continue reading Exploring the Lesser Antillean Tanager
The Elusive Mangrove Cuckoo
When I first heard the call of the Mangrove Cuckoo, I didn’t realize it was a bird; the sound was a deep ahrk-ahrk-ahrk-ahrk-ahrk that resembled a large frog laughing or burping. Sometimes it sounded like the frog was growling – kruk-kruk-kruk-kruk – with the quick notes blending together. It soon became clear that the strange…… Continue reading The Elusive Mangrove Cuckoo
Discover the Sweet Bananaquit Bird
“Yellow birdUp high in banana treeYellow birdYou sit all alone like meDid your lady friend leave the nest again?That is very bad, Makes me feel so sadYou can fly away, In the sky awayYou more lucky than me…” Did you know that the Bananaquit is the “yellow bird” featured in Harry Belafonte’s iconic calypso? Calypso,…… Continue reading Discover the Sweet Bananaquit Bird
Whimbrel Migration: A Journey Through Storms and Seas
A mournful ‘’wit-tit-tit-tit-tit-tit’’ echoed through the mangrove swamp as a whimbrel rose into the sky on its slender wings and touched down on the far shore of a mangrove inlet in Woburn Bay, a protected marine area along Grenada’s southern coast. With its mottled brown and straw-patterned feathers, it carefully navigated the mud at the…… Continue reading Whimbrel Migration: A Journey Through Storms and Seas
Shiny Cowbird: a prowler on the loose
There’s this prowler in my neighborhood, and it’s pretty wild. Dressed in muted colors, she lingers about, biding her time for homes to be unoccupied. At dawn, she slips in and out with stealth and confidence, yet she never takes anything; instead, she leaves her own treasures behind! This isn’t your average prowler; it’s a…… Continue reading Shiny Cowbird: a prowler on the loose
Green Heron – The fisherman
A few years ago, I encountered a Green Heron fishing in a shaded mountain stream within Grenada’s rainforest, its rich chestnut colors glimmering in the dappled sunlight. Suddenly, it took flight with a loud, irritated squawk that shattered the monotonous sounds of the rushing creek. This was my first glimpse of the bird. Later, I…… Continue reading Green Heron – The fisherman
Identifying Little Egrets in the Caribbean
Recently, I watched a Little Egret foraging along the shore in Grenada – its beautiful form shone in the midday sun as it moved gracefully along the surf line, catching small crustaceans stirred up by the waves. A recent coloniser Found in the warmer regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the Little Egret is a…… Continue reading Identifying Little Egrets in the Caribbean
Encountering the Great Blue Heron in Grenada’s Wetlands
LA SAGESSE Before its destruction, La Sagesse featured a salt pond, a mangrove forest and a peaceful crescent-shaped beach with golden sand and tall palm trees, surrounded by lush vegetation that created a sense of seclusion. Its salt pond and mangrove forest were important bird sanctuaries in the southern Lesser Antilles, particularly for migratory birds.…… Continue reading Encountering the Great Blue Heron in Grenada’s Wetlands
The Great Egret: a symbol of hope
Standing at an imposing height of three feet, the Great Egret ranks second in size only to the Great Blue Heron. In specific areas of the Caribbean, it might be confused with the Great White Heron, a variant of the Great Blue Heron. However, the Great White Heron is identifiable by its shorter yellow legs,…… Continue reading The Great Egret: a symbol of hope
The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron: a ruby-eyed beauty
Our neighbours have interesting habits; they stay up all night, chatting in a foreign language and making loud calls late at night. At sunrise, they greet the new morning cheerfully, with ruffled feathers and charming smiles. Our neighbours are not your usual residents; they are a small group of about six Yellow-Crowned Night Herons (Nyctanassa…… Continue reading The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron: a ruby-eyed beauty
BELA'S BIRDS 