Barbados - Day I

Enter BARBADOS and my second bite at this particular cherry. Weather-wise a game of 2 halves with bright and hot sunshine one minute (82F) and heavy showers the next, and predicted for our 3 days here. Anyway, there was only one intent early morning and that was to find

The LILY POND

at BAYFIELDS in the north of the Island.

On my last visit I drew a 'blank' with the target bird which has been absent from my World List ever since. However, after a little truck with Mac the Taxi, who wanted us to go where he wanted to go, we finally found the pond and the

MASKED DUCK for which it is famed.

BELTED KINGFISHER was also flying about while among the

WATERLILIES

we found a total of c4 Masked Ducks, this one an unknown quantity as non-breeding males, female and juveniles can all look the same.

GREEN HERON were seen here in good numbers and looked very good against the fine vegetation.

adult male 'breeding plumage'

There's another Green Heron, and the

rest of the Ducks are coming out to play.

another couple of shots before we move off

checking out the COMMON GALINULE (Moorhen to us lot)

and ZANAIDA DOVE on the way.

Remnants of the once thriving Rum Production

and the little Church on the Hill as we left the village heading south.

FERAL PIGEON was our first conquest as we neared

the partly close GRAEME HALL NATURE RESERVE

while still wondering at the DOVEs and

CARIB GRACKLEs

Bit of a strange set up here, as entry was FREE but each of us were obliged to make a purchase at the CAFE.

3 lovely ladies to help us out, and if indeed an excuse were needed it was one for a Cool Beer.

My company today consisted of PATRICK, PAM (a non-birder but most welcome all the same) along with Brian and 'demon spotter' Shelagh.

NOT ANOTHER DOVE - PLEASE!

For an hour we wandered around the seriously manicured parkland, noting these huge fresh water Fish,

more MOORHENs

some lovely Blooms

alongside the Lake.

On the way back we noted some of the beaches Barbados is famed for, but as long as I don't have to visit them I'll be happy.