December 2007
Eileen Schwinn

 

December 8, 2007

Hi - I submitted my observations last December while in Aruba and am sending my list for two days this year. I did see three life birds: Black-necked Stilt, Brown Booby, and Collard Plover.  Highlight, however, were three pair of Burrowing Owls  - one pair by each pond, and one pair seen from departing aircraft while it taxied to take-off! Both ponds were no more than a 20-minute walk from the Marriott properties. Very enjoyable birding! Sorry, tho', I'm not into the photography, just the listing! Thanks again for the forum of being able to post the sightings.

Eileen Schwinn

Eastern LI (NY) Audubon Society

 

 

Date: __December 3 and 4, 2007_____

 

Time: First light to 1/2 hour after  sunrise___

 

Locality: __Dec 3 - fresh water pond, future construction site across from Radisson Hotel, Dec 4 - fresh water pond, across from Marriott Hotel

 

Observers:_Eileen Schwinn ( East Quogue , NY, staying at Marriott Surf Club while in Aruba )

 

Abbreviations: Status in appropriate habitat is indicated

in parentheses by single letter code.

C = common, U = uncommon, R = rare, V = vagrant.

An asterisk (*) indicates that the species is known to have bred on the island.

 

Podicipedidae - Grebes

__X_ Pied-billed Grebe* (C )

 

Sulidae � Boobies and Gannets 

__X_ Brown Booby (C) 

 

Pelecanidae - Pelicans

__X_ Brown Pelican* (C)

 

Phalacrocoracidae � Cormorants

__X_ Neotropic Cormorant* (C)

 

Fregatidae - Frigatebirds

__X_ Magnificent Frigatebird (C)

 

Ardeidae � Herons and Egrets 

_X_ Great Blue Heron (U) 

_X_ Great Egret (C) 

_X_ Snowy Egret* (C)  

__X_ Cattle Egret* (C) 

__X_ Green Heron* (C) 

__X_ Black-crowned Night-Heron* (C)  

 

Anatidae � Ducks, Geese, and Swans

__X_ Blue-winged Teal (C) 

__X_ White-cheeked Pintail* (C) 

 

Accipitridae � Eagles, Hawks, and allies

_X__ Osprey (C) 

 

 

Falconidae � Falcons

 __X_ American Kestrel* (C) 

__X_ Peregrine Falcon (U) 

 

Rallidae � Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

__X_ Common Moorhen (C) 

__X_ Caribbean Coot (C) 

 

Charadriidae � Plovers  

_X__ American Golden-Plover (U) 

_X__ Collared Plover (R)  

__X_ Killdeer (C) 

 

Recurvirostridae - Stilts

__X_ Black-necked Stilt (C) 

 

Scolopacidae � Sandpipers and allies

_X__ Greater Yellowlegs (C) 

_X__ Lesser Yellowlegs (C) 

_X__ Whimbrel (C)  

_X__ Ruddy Turnstone (C)  

_X__ Sanderling (C) 

__X_ Long-billed Dowitcher (R)

 

 

Laridae � Jaegers, Gulls, and Terns

__X_ Laughing Gull* (C) 

__X_ Royal Tern (C)  

_X__ Common Tern* (C) 

 

 

Columbidae � Pigeons and Doves

__X_ Rock Dove (C) 

__X_ Bare-eyed Pigeon (C) 

__X_ Eared Dove (C) 

__X_ Common Ground-Dove (C) 

 

 

Psittacidae - Parrots

__X_ Brown-throated Parakeet (C) 

 

Strigidae � Typical Owls

_3 PAIR!!_ Burrowing Owl (R) 

 

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers

_X__ Belted Kingfisher (U)

 

Hirundinidae � Martins and Swallows 

__X_ Bank Swallow (C) 

 

 

Mimidae � Mockingbirds and Thrashers

__X_ Tropical Mockingbird* (C) 

 

Coeribidae - Bananaquit

__X_ Bananaquit* (C) 

 

Emberizidae � Seedeaters and allies

_X__ Black-faced Grassquit* (C) 

 

Icteridae - Blackbirds

 __X_ Carib Grackle* (C) 

__X_ Troupial* (C) 

 

 

Passeridae � Old World Sparrows

__X_ House Sparrow* (U)