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.
- NB
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.
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| 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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