Tdgraves big year 2020 (my 7th!!)

[Tdgraves]

Well, I have been back from St.Lucia for two weeks and now have had time to process the photos. Part of their very strict COVID-19 regulations mean that you can only stay in an approved hotel and are not able to leave the grounds, except on a boat. However, I chose a hotel with 600 acres, including two beaches, an old plantation and rainforest covered hills (Anse Chastanet), so I gave myself the best chance in the two weeks that we were there. There were lots of new birds for us, so I will start with the endemics.

 

Anse Mamin plantation, St. Lucia 7/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 2500, f7.1, 1/500 EV +2/3

 

7T4A5958 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia, 4/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 2000, f5.6, 1/200 EV +2/3

 

J19A5871a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

164) St.Lucia black finch

Edited September 29, 2020 by Tdgraves
better photo

[Tdgraves]

Anse Mamin plantation, St. Lucia 7/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 4000, f5.6, 1/640 

 

7T4A5899 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia, 9/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 5000, f5.6, 1/1000, EV +1/3 

 

7T4A6112 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

165) St. Lucia peewee

[Tdgraves]

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia, 5/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/800, EV +1/3 

 

J19A6114a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 2000, f5.6, 1/400

 

J19A6124a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/640

 

J19A6588a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

166) St. Lucia warbler

[Tdgraves]

I had a quick glimpse of a St. Lucia oriole flying over our balcony on one of the first days, but never saw one again. The St. Lucia parrot apparently lives on/near the hotel's farm, which under normal circumstances, you would be able to visit. The other unseen endemic was the Sempler's warbler. Of the endemics I did see, the warblers were by far the most commonly seen.

[Tdgraves]

Onto the Lesser Antilles endemics...first a not very co-operative one

 

Anse Mamin plantation, St. Lucia 7/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/400 

 

7T4A5965 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/1600 

 

7T4A5963 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

167) Purple-throated carib

[Tdgraves]

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia 6/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/1250 

 

7T4A5886 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia 4/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 4000, f5.6, 1/500

 

J19A5885a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

168) Scaly-breasted thrasher

[PeterHG]

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in spite of the restrictions. It's always good to be able to add some endemics to the list. Great shots of the warbler, they are always difficult!

[Tdgraves]

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia 5/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/640, EV +1/3

 

J19A6151a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

169) Grey trembler

[Tdgraves]

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia 5/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 250, f7.1, 1/500

 

J19A6050a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Immature, 6/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/500, EV + 1 2/3

 

J19A6319a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

170) Lesser Antillean saltator

[TonyQ]

It looks like you chose a good hotel given the restrictions.

Great start!

[Tdgraves]

These guys are like sparrows, very tame (around the hotel, not once out and about in the forest) and steal food from the restaurant. Therefore the challenge was to find them in a more natural setting than this....

 

7T4A5097 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A5643a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Female outside our room, St. Lucia 2/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f5.6, 1/320

 

J19A5787a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Male outside our room, St. Lucia 8/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 250, f7.1, 1/800

 

J19A6430a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

171) Lesser Antillean Bullfinch

[Tdgraves]

2 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

It looks like you chose a good hotel given the restrictions.

Great start!

 

That was the idea @TonyQ they specifically mention bird watching on their website. St. Lucia was also a well calculated choice, given the number of countries that appeared back on the quarantine list after we booked....

[michael-ibk]

I´m glad to hear you had an enjoyable trip. Looking forward to all your new ones - great Warblers already.

[xelas]

You have chosen a good spot for birding, close to Soufriere, if I remember correctly. It is good to have extended backyard when "closed" behind lodge doors. On a side note, how was the weather like?

[Tdgraves]

43 minutes ago, xelas said:

You have chosen a good spot for birding, close to Soufriere, if I remember correctly. It is good to have extended backyard when "closed" behind lodge doors. On a side note, how was the weather like?

@xelasyou are correct in the location. We knew it was wet season, but it was really, really humid. We should have realised it would be. On the day we arrived and for the next couple of days there were big storms overnight and then it changed into a little bit (or more) in the day, perhaps for about 30 mins. But there were days and nights with no rain, so the humidity would really build (not nice when wearing a mask and ascending 150 steps). It was about 30 degrees in the day time and the sun was far too strong to lie in - everyone was hiding under their parasols.

[Tdgraves]

And to the West Indies endemics. Bridled quail-dove was spotted (by the OH) but no photo, one better than in the BVI though!

 

Outside our room, St. Lucia 31/8/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 5000, f5.6, 1/2500

 

7T4A5653a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Anse Chastanet, 9/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 5000, f5.6, 1/2500

 

The only one I managed to show the crest! They are an absolute nightmare to photograph as they are so tiny and fast

 

7T4A6121 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

172) Antillean crested hummingbird

[Tdgraves]

Near our room, 3/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 4000, f5.6, 1/250, EV +2/3

 

7T4A5856 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

From our room, 3/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/500, EV +1

 

J19A5860a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

173) Green-throated carib (not new as seen in BVI)

[Tdgraves]

From our room, 10/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/1000

 

J19A6458a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/1250

 

J19A6465a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

174) Scaly-naped pigeon (not new as seen in BVI)

[Tdgraves]

Anse Chastanet pier, 7/9/20

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f5.6, 1/2000

 

7T4A6022 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

175) Caribbean martin (not new as seen in BVI)

 

Next up, the remaining new ones....

[Tdgraves]

From our room, 5/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/2500

 

J19A5951a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

176) Broad-winged hawk

[Tdgraves]

From our room, 31/8/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 5000, f5.6, 1/8000 (it was still early and dark and I had no time to change the settings!)

 

J19A5632a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

J19A5633a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

177) Merlin

[Tdgraves]

On the beach, 11/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/2000

 

J19A6485a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

178) Spotted sandpiper

[Tdgraves]

Rainforest Anse Chastanet, 11/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/1250

 

J19A6535a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/800

 

J19A6649a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

179) Caribbean elaenia

[Tdgraves]

On the beach, 4/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 4600, f5.6, 1/8000 (didn't check the settings!!)

 

J19A5842a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

180) Tropical mockingbird

[Tdgraves]

Anse Chastanet car park, 5/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/640

 

J19A6288a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Footpath to Anse Mamin beach, 1/9/20

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 2000, f5.6, 1/4000

 

J19A5661a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

181) Common ground dove (just realised that this is not new as it is on my Jamaica list)

Edited October 3, 2020 by Tdgraves
extra info