Great Day at Caño Tiburones

Today I had a great day in the Caño Tiburones. I see 2 new species for my list, the Yellow-breasted Crake and Tricolored Munia. The Tricolored Munia is not common in Puerto Rico. For some years that this species were not observed in the island. I could not take pictures but tomorrow will come back to the same place where we saw and I will do everything possible to take pictures without disturbing them of course.

Cueva del Indio!

Cueva del Indio is a historic site located on the north coast of Puerto Rico, in the town of Arecibo. As its name Indian Cave (cueva del indio)  is a small cave in which we find hieroglyphics made ​​by the Taino Indians who once inhabited the island. But besides their historical value, also has a natural intervals.

There are two enormous cliffs that serve as nesting grounds for Bridle Tern and the White-tailed Tropicbird. Only a few weeks ago they started to arrive to this place. But today I counted a group of 17 Bridle Tern and 6 White-tailed Tropicbird.

Nice Birding in the afternoon

Today in the afternoon, after a cloudy day, I decided to go for a small birding. I thought I would not see muchbut the birds give you surprises. I counted 26 species. Visit the mouth of the river Manatí, and found a largenumber of shorebirds. But the best of the day was a group of 11 Roseate Tern. This species is listed it by thefederal goverment as a Threatened species in Puerto Rico. Roseate Terns banded as far north as Mine Have Been Recovered in Puerto Rico. Let up a group photo of 11 across the river, on the side a photo of 2 who came tothe shore where I was.

Taking care Bananaquit chicks

 A few days ago, a cousin of mine found in backyard banaquit a nest with 2 chicks. As did not see the parents decided to take them to his home and fed with baby food and has resulted. Now the chicks have feathers and soon will be ready for them to be released. I loved this because my cousin has only 10 years and is already interested in birds, few of their age are interested in birds and the environment here in Puerto Rico.

Little Birding

Today After many days without any "birding", today went out a few minutes to this place called "La boca". Although i was only a few minutes I counted 23 species, the day was cloudy so no photos. Here I leave the list.

Brown Pelican 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 3
Little Blue Heron 2
Tricolored Heron 2
Green Heron 2
Black-bellied Plover 2
Semipalmated Plover X
Killdeer X
Black-necked Stilt 10
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper X

Laughing Gull 1
Royal Tern 6
Sandwich Tern 9

White-winged Dove 4
Common Ground-Dove 2
Gray Kingbird 2
Caribbean Martin X
Greater Antillean Grackle X
Ruddy Turnstone 8
Sanderling 2

Not just for the birds

Something caught my attention is the presence of lizards in my hummingbird feeder. Apparently for these nectar feeders is not just for birds. I observed several species of lizards in my backyard. But this particular species, the Anolis stratulus, they love this nectar, and I have counted up to 5 in one nectar feeder. I try to find a little more information about this lizard, but not found much. I found nothing to explain to me why he likes both this nectar. But still I find it interesting.

A little Birding at Caño Tiburones

(Photo: Merlin/Falco columbarius)

Well today I woke up very early and I went birding for one of my favorite places: “El caño Tiburones”. El Caño Tiburones is one of the biggest estuarine wetlands of Puerto Rico. Its ecological value makes it unique for their size and their hydrological, geological and biotic. A variety of species associated with these systems use the Caño Tiburones as their main habitat. Caño Tiburones Nature Reserve is considered an important area for wildlife. It is home to about 206 bird species, 26 families of insects, reptiles, 6, 9 crustaceans, 21 species of fish, including native animals, endemic, migratory, rare or endangered species and other commercial and recreational importance.

(Purple Gallinule/ Porphyrio martinica)
This is one of my favorite places to go bird watching, as I said before. And today I had a good day even though I was only a little while, I saw 37 species of birds and take these pictures I share with you. And also I put the list of birds observed.

List of Bird observeb March 29, 2011

Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors 2
Masked Duck - Nomonyx dominicus 1
Least Grebe - Tachybaptus dominicus 1
Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps 6
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 3
Great Egret - Ardea alba 3
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula 20
Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor 1
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis 13
Green Heron - Butorides virescens 3
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 2
Merlin - Falco columbarius 1
Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica 1
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus 9
American Coot - Fulica americana 5
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 2
Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus 15
Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca 2
Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes 4
Stilt Sandpiper - Calidris himantopus 4
Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 1
White-winged Dove - Zenaida asiatica 1
Common Ground-Dove - Columbina passerina 2
Monk Parakeet - Myiopsitta monachus 4
Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani 14
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 1
Gray Kingbird - Tyrannus dominicensis 11
Caribbean Martin - Progne dominicensis 1
Cave Swallow - Petrochelidon fulva 4
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 3
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola X
Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivaceus 2
Grasshopper Sparrow - Ammodramus savannarum 1
Greater Antillean Grackle - Quiscalus niger 20
Venezuelan Troupial - Icterus icterus 1
Orange-cheeked Waxbill - Estrilda melpoda X
Bronze Mannikin - Spermestes cucullatus 16