Absenteeism for a Reason

There have been other times where I hadn't posted on this blog for a much longer period - but since October 2024 I had managed (on average) an article here roughly every fortnight. That lasted until the end of that year. For good reason, however. The first two months of 2025 saw me traversing the Lesser Antilles with a couple groups of keen birders, eager to get their eyes on a bunch of endemic species.

I didn't photograph as much as I would have liked to as my primary purpose on these trips was ensuring that my clients got their eyes on the birds - many of which weren't being extremely cooperative. I thus missed out on some shockingly rare opportunities such as when I spotted an adult Whistling Warbler in the verdant mountain forests of St. Vincent - this genuinely endangered ultra-rarity stayed for only a few seconds, during which I was desperately trying to describe the bush it was in. Ultimately all but one or two of the group saw the bird by the time it left, and within ten minutes of the bird's departure we were thoroughly drenched by a cold Vincentian shower.

Be that as it may, I still managed at least a couple dozen keepers from the trips. Perhaps material for a second edition of Birds of the Lesser Antilles? Many of my images are in the first edition, but there have been multiple species splits since that edition hit the shelves. Enjoy this selection in the following gallery, species ID's are on the individual images. Each one is clickable to view larger!

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  A taxonomically confusing Yellow Warbler. It's a long story.

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  White-crowned Pigeon

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  St. Vincent Amazons put on a proper show for the second tour group.

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  St. Lucia Warbler

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  St. Lucia Oriole

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  St. Lucia Amazon

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  Scaly-naped Pigeon

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  Rufous-throated Solitaire

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  Red-necked Amazon

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  Purple-throated Carib

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  Plumbeous Warbler

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  The myth is real: Montserrat Oriole

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  Martinique Thrasher

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  Martinique has some of the most spectacular birds, most notably the Martinique Oriole.

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  The much-discussed Lesser Antillean Barn Owl. Or American Barn Owl. Or Ashy-faced Owl. Whatever.

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  Lesser Antillean Tanager (Grenada)

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  Lesser Antillean Tanager (St. Vincent)

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  Lesser Antillean Pewee

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  I photographed some species for the first time on this trip. Lesser Antillean Euphonia was one.

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  The prize is always far away: Imperial Amazon

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  Guadeloupe Woodpecker

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  Grenada Dove, one of probably around 100 birds left on the planet.

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  Brown Trembler

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  Broad-winged Hawk

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  Bridled Quail-Dove

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  Blue-headed Hummingbird

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  Antillean Crested Hummingbird