Island Hopping (Part 2 of 8) - Jan 30, 2014 (St. Thomas)

 Jan 30 - St. Thomas (USVI)
After more than two full days on the quiet sea we were all itching to make landfall at our first port-of-call, St. Thomas.

We arrived at 8am and began birding in the Charlotte Amalie area, in particular a couple spots just west of town. We had our first of what would be many Gray Kingbirds of the trip, plus some long-legged waders very familiar to us. Our first true regional endemic of the trip came in the form of a PEARLY-EYED THRASHER. Bananaquits and Black-faced Grassquits, also first of many, were common here. A couple folks had brief but satisfying looks at a SCALY-NAPED PIGEON before we headed north toward's Magen's Bay.

Magen's Bay treated us with great looks at Zenaida Dove, plus another Pearly-eyed Thrasher and our first CARIBBEAN ELAENIA, but was otherwise quiet. East of here our local guide took us into the Sugar Bay Resort & Spa where we found our bird of the day - four WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL, a species very high on the trip's target list. Before we knew it, our day was over and it was time to get back to the ship.

Gray Kingbird

Tricolored Heron


Green Iguana

mating season

Pearly-eyed Thrasher

White-cheeked Pintail


Magen's Bay

Magen's Bay mangroves





 - NB

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