Dominica / Special Interests / Birdwatching

Birdlife in Dominica is exceptional for its relatively small size and only surpassed in the Caribbean by Trinidad and Jamaica. Twitching can be an adventure here because there’s not much ’previous’, you never know what may turn up on a permanent migratory route, but two species you know can be tracked down are the endemic parrots, the Imperial and Red-Necked, or Sisserou and Jaco, possibly even both together on the Syndicate Trail. A grand variety of habitat includes montane thicket, rainforest (covering two thirds of its surface), dry woodland, lakes, estuaries, lush private estates, deeply incised rivers and waterfalls, wetland, beach and cliffside; as Peter Evans so acutely noted “ There are few places in the world where one can be clambering in the clouds over an elfin woodland canopy watching blue-headed hummingbirds (only occur elsewhere in Martinique) and plumbeous warblers then, an hour later, be deep in rainforest amongst the parrots and after that be down at sea level spying ducks, herons and egrets on the edge of a swamp or frigates, boobies and terns over the Caribbean”.

Besides the parrots, there are nine other regional endemics, i.e. confined to the Lesser Antilles; specifically the forest thrush, scaly-breasted thrasher, the trembler, the plumbeous, plus the Lesser Antillean swift, bullfinch, flycatcher and pewee and the blue-headed ‘hummers’. If a stroll round the Botanical Gardens in Roseau fires the enthusiasm in any first time birders, then call Bertrand Jno Baptiste for a day’s guided birdwatching.