ROYAL TERN
Category Archives: “The Birds of Abaco”
AMERICAN KESTREL
COLLARED DOVE . Streptopelia decaocto
CHRISTMAS BUNTING . ABACO . BAHAMAS
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS ON ABACO, BAHAMAS
Photo credits: Tom Sheley
WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL . ABACO . BAHAMAS
‘BAHAMA DUCK‘ Anas bahamensis
Photos taken on Abaco by Gerlinde Taurer, a major contributor to “Birds of Abaco”
BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER
The Black-and-White Warbler Mniotilta varia is a fairly common winter resident on Abaco. They are the only birds of the genus Mniotilta (“moss-picker” gr.). Unlike most warblers these birds behave rather like nuthatches, creeping along the trunks and branches of trees grubbing insects out of the bark. Pine trees are ideal for this. A lot of the 37 species of warbler on Abaco are small and yellow. But as soon as I saw one of these for the first time, I was very relieved. I knew exactly what it was – the bird that has been described as ‘a flying humbug’.
SUMMER WINTER
Finally, this is a great short video of this little bird in action. Even if you only watch the first 30 seconds, you will be enchanted…
Image Credits: Bruce Hallett, Tom Shelley, Tom Reed. All are contributors to “The Delphi Club Guide to the Birds of Abaco” (Publ. March 2014)
AMERICAN COOT . ABACO . BAHAMAS
Coots and gallinules (moorhens) tend to get overlooked as birds of interest, being familiar to all and far from unusual in many locations. However, it is hard to imagine a more dramatic waterfowl image than this coot on the point of lift-off. Gerlinde Taurer, a significant contributor to BIRDS OF ABACO, captured this moment – a split second with the bird’s wings raised and the frantic paddle as the bird takes off.
ABACO PARROTS
LAUGHING GULLS ON ABACO, BAHAMAS
LAUGHING GULLS ON ABACO, BAHAMAS
Leucophaeus atricilla
A humorous conversation
A rather wind-blown gull in non-breeding plumage
WHAT DO LAUGHING GULLS SOUND LIKE? ARE YOU OVERSENSITIVE?
I made a couple of short recordings of the gulls in full humour mode; also a short video of the breeding pair above. If you have never heard them before, you might want to listen to the full 30 seconds. For anyone else there’s a convenient lull at around 15 secs before they kick off again.
Breeding adult (Birdorable)
All photos, audio clip, video: Keith Salvesen / Rolling Harbour
