WEST INDIES & BERMUDA 
Representing a first May record for Bermuda, this Horned Lark lingered at the Dockyard 8-19 (here 9) May 2009. Photograph by Andrew Dobson. 
Providence 25 Apr (TH) — either migrants en 
route to nesting grounds farther north or new- 
ly arrived residents (RLN). A Eurasian Whim- 
brel was on Stocks Harbour mudflat, Bermuda 
11-12 Mar (EA). Two Whimbrels were seen on 
rocks off McLean’s Town, Grand Bahama 2 Apr 
QH, BP). A Wilson’s Phalarope, marking the 
2nd documented record for the Bahamas, was 
photographed at the Emerald G.C., Grand Ba- 
hama 18 Apr (BP, IL, ph. EG), and 2 Red 
Phalaropes (also a possible 2nd record) were 
seen e. of San Salvador, Bahamas 28 Mar (RN). 
A moribund Black-legged Kittiwake was 
taken to Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and 
Zoo 3 Mar (DBW). Black-legged Kittiwakes 
were reported as far s. as Tobago in Mar {fide 
MK). A Gray-hooded Gull was found 30 May 
(EM) at Congo Road swamp, Barbados; more 
details will follow in the Summer Season re- 
port. A Black-headed Gull was still present in 
Harrington Sound, Bermuda 23 Mar OM)- 
The movements of Laughing Gulls in the Ba- 
hamas are poorly known. They began to gath- 
er at L, Cunningham, New Providence about 
15 Mar (PD, TW). The annual influx into 
Fresh Creek, Andros began 28 Mar (DM), and 
they hrst appeared on Long 1. the 2nd week of 
Apr (D&MB). While on Long L, Bahamas 20- 
23 Apr, White noted Laughing Gulls perching 
on the telephone and power lines. This be- 
havior has also been observed on Little and 
Great Exuma (LD) but was unknown in oth- 
er Bahamian islands. A Ring-billed Gull was 
noted at St. John’s Harbour, Antigua 31 Mar 
QHo, CC). Seven Herring Gulls were noted at 
Havana Harbor, Cuba 2 Apr QS, WS). An Ice- 
land Gull was present in the East End, Bermu- 
da 3-30 Mar (AD). The Iceland Gull found in 
Nassau, New Providence in Feb was last seen 
at Fort Montague 28 Mar (CW). A Lesser 
Black-backed Gull was found at St. John’s 
Harbor, Antigua 31 Mar QHo, CC); another at 
Southwest Ridge, New Providence 25 May 
(PD, TH) possibly marked a new late date for 
this species. 
Hepburn and BP found up to 15 Gull-billed 
Terns feeding on the grassy perimeter of 
Freeport Airport, Grand Bahama 15 May. A 
total of 29 Caspian Terns was tallied between 
Cayo Coco and Zapata Swamp, Cuba 24 & 26 
Mar, respectively QS, WS). A Royal Tern was 
in Castle Harbour, Bermuda 14-21 Apr QM). 
A single Common Tern was seen at Dominica 
11 Apr (/ide JeF, JVG). Five Arctic Terns were 
off the w. end of Bermuda 3 May (AD, DBW). 
Least Terns were hrst noted on Grand Bahama 
9 Apr and on New Providence 22 Apr (PD). A 
light-morph Parasitic Jaeger was seen be- 
tween Eleuthera and the Exumas 18 May 
(BP), and a dark-morph Parasitic was harass- 
ing Bridled Terns 16 km e. of Eleuthera’s s. tip 
23 May (RN). While cruising n. of Puerto 
Rico and Hispaniola 27 Mar, RN saw 400-1- 
Bridled Terns hying northward, 11 Roseate 
Terns, and a Pomarine Jaeger. A Pomarine 
Jaeger was seen e. of San Salvador 28 Mar 
(RN), and 2 were 32 km e. of Tilloo Cay, Aba- 
co 3 May (EB, PB). Single Pomarine Jaegers 
were seen off Bermuda at Challenger Banks 
26 Apr and 3 May (AD, PH). 
DOVES THROUGH BLACKBIRDS 
A record 165 White-winged Doves were 
counted as they fed on rice held stubble at La 
Grange, St. Croix 7 May (LY). An Eared Dove 
at Pointe des Chateaux, Guadeloupe 24 May 
was unusual there (AL). AK reports that he 
found Eurasian Collared-Dove (and House 
Sparrow) on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Is- 
lands 21 Mar, both species previously un- 
recorded in hve years of visits. All of Cuba’s 
three quail-dove species — one Gray-fronted, 
one Key West, and 5 Blue-headed — were seen 
at Bermejas 31 Mar-1 Apr QS, WS et ah). 
Three Key West Quail-Doves on the old Coral 
Harbour G.C., Bahamas 2 Apr made a good 
hnd (CW). Forty-four Cuban Parakeets were 
seen between several locations near Najasa and 
Zapata Swamp 28-30 Mar QS, WS); popula- 
tions of this species are declining species be- 
cause of pest shooting, pet trade, and habitat 
loss. In the same areas, 14 Cuban Parrots were 
also noted. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was at the 
Gladstone Road Agricultural Center (hereafter 
G.R.A.C.), New Providence, Ba- 
hamas 21 Apr; a Mangrove Cuckoo 
was along Waterloo Rd., Nassau, in 
an urban environment, the next day 
(PD). A Barn Owl was noted at 
Bermejas, Cuba 31 Mar QS, WS). 
The recently split Ashy-faced Owl, 
resident on Hispaniola, was seen at 
Los Haitises N.E 5 Apr (JHo et ah). 
The hrst Antillean Nighthawk of the 
season was reported from Wulf Rd., 
Nassau 2 May (PD). A Chuck-will’s- 
widow calling at Tarpum Bay, 
Eleuthera 11 Mar was unexpected 
(PM). Three Bee Hummingbirds were noted 
near Bermejas 30 Mar QS, WS). A Ruby- throat- 
ed Hummingbird was seen visiting a South- 
down Farm garden, Bermuda 11 Mar-15 Apr 
(SI). Single Ruby-throated Hummingbirds 
seen at AUTEC, Andros 4 Mar (DM) and 
Marsh Harbour, Abaco 27 Mar (EB, MH), plus 
the 3 noted in winter, made an unprecedented 
number for the Bahamas in a single migratory 
season. A Northern Flicker was seen at Mor- 
gan’s Pt., Bermuda 8 Mar (AD, DW). A West 
Indian Woodpecker was photographed at 
McLean’s Town on the e. end of Grand Bahama 
2 May (BP); it is not known whether this is a 
survivor from the island’s original population 
or a recent colonist from Abaco. 
Single Eastern Kingbirds were at Bermuda 
Airport 12 Apr (PW) and Jenningsland 17 
Apr QM). An Eastern Phoebe was at the cat- 
tle farm, Grand Bahama 7 Mar (BP), and sin- 
gle Eastern Wood-Pewees were at Double- 
blocked Pond s. of Treasure Cay, Abaco 4 Apr 
and Spanish Cay, Abaco 16 Apr (EB, BB). 
Now a single-island endemic and perhaps 
limited to 1000 individuals (WS), 5 Giant 
Kingbirds were noted near San Diego de los 
Banos, Cuba 24 Mar and Najasa 29 Mar. Ear- 
ly Gray Kingbirds were reported from Abaco 
16 Mar (EB), Nassau 19 Mar (PD), and 
Eleuthera 19 Mar QDW). Cuban Palm Crows 
are apparently now restricted to a few areas in 
Camagtiey province, where WS found 23 
birds 29 Mar. In early Apr, MH found several 
pairs of Bahama Swallows nesting under the 
eaves of houses in Sandy Pt., Abaco, Bahamas. 
Bahama Swallows may be extirpated from 
New Providence, but single birds seen at 
Coral Harbour 24 &r 27 Apr and 22 May 
(CW) raise the possibility that a pair or two 
may persist. At least 20 of the wintering Tree 
Swallows remained in Bermuda into Mar 
(AD). A Cave Swallow was seen at Port Louis, 
Guadeloupe 11 Mar (AL, JMR). A Scarlet Tan- 
ager was at Pointe des Chateaux 5 Apr (MM); 
on Bermuda, singles were at Paget Marsh 25 
Apr (RGr) and Pembroke Marsh 22 May (JT). 
A Blue-headed Vireo was banded at Rock 
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NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
