birding...

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis ©Robert Royse http://www.roysephotos.com/index.html

While St. Kitts and Nevis are considered sister islands and do share many similarities, they are different. They are both of volcanic origin, with Nevis being less than 900,000 years old and St. Kitts being older. They are comprised of small mountain ranges that rise well over 3000 feet from the sea and are surrounded by coral reefs and numerous beaches. Nevis is circular and St. Kitts is shaped like a guitar with a long, dry, salt peninsula and salt pond.

Most of the birds are crepuscular - active at dawn and dusk. Also remember, these are small islands and, whilst over 148 species are listed for Nevis alone (Most Hotels can supply lists); many are limited in food supply and range, so can be difficult to find. These islands are also not as over-developed as many, so terrain may be rugged. Birders should get and give explicit instructions on where they are going, and give times when they will return. Accidents can and do happen, even to experienced birders!

The mountains and valleys (Called Ghauts, pronounced guts) provide ideal habitat for numerous mountain species. Brown Tremblers, Pearly-eyed Thrashers, Rain Forrest Pigeons, and Bridled-quail Doves are plentiful. If you are lucky and can find the flowering Heliconias, you may see Purple-throated Carib or Green-throated Carib Hummingbirds feeding, they sound like small jet planes. In winter, warblers are down to avoid the snow and swifts and Purple Martins are reasonably common.

The shores are easily accessible for birders and provide several species of tern, a few gulls, lots of Brown Pelicans, and soaring overhead everybody`s favourite, Magnificent Frigate Birds. There are also sanderling, plovers, and herons along the surf chasing crabs and crustaceans.

The Salt Pond and inland coastal lagoons support Yellowlegs, stilts, coots, gallinules, Carib Kingfishers and different types of ducks. Around hotels the guests love to watch Antillean Crested Hummingbirds, Banana Quits, and Lesser Antillean Bullfinches. Elanias and Grey Kingbirds are often seen scooping moths and beetles from around the roadsides while Black-faced Grassquits play and eat the little seeds. Over eight species of Hawks have been found on Nevis, though Ospreys are seasonal.

At night, birders can look for Black Crowned and Yellow Crowned Night Herons, but don`t step on the crabs that they are eating. You can also find night swifts if you are lucky. It is best to look for these in the early morning.