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birding...
Tobago
See the Trinidad and Tobago page for information relating to both islands or just Trinidad. On Tobago I stayed at the Blue Waters Inn and could see tropicbirds and greater frigate birds from my window and there were hummers nesting in the trees and turnstones running between your feet on the beaches. [Fatbirder] |
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Buccoo Swamp
On Shirvan Road that takes you from Crown Point to Mt Irvine it goes into a long dipping right-hand turn; at the base of the dip and apex of the corner on the left hand side is a wooden gate. Pass through this gate and walk along the grassy road. Along the way you may see Green-Rumped Parrotlets, Barred Antshrikes and others. Soon you reach a lagoon, around this are Whistling Ducks, Jacanas, Lapwings and Warblers. This can also be accessed from the Fishing Depot at Buccoo Bay; just walk south along the beach, then follow the dirt road/trail.Grafton Bird Sanctuary
Grafton Bird Sanctuary On the Western road from Crown Point (which takes you past Turtle Beach and the golf course) there is a sign on the right about 1km from the golf course, with a steep short track to the reserve. It once boasted a restaurant (now closed) and is still clearly managed for birds with a feeding programme. This attracts all sorts to feeders and a table of fruit including hundreds of Bananaquits and dozens of Palm and Blue-gray Tanagers (a different sub-species to all those you saw in Trinidad); Chachalacas and the tamest Motmots anywhere. I also saw a Red-crowned Woodpecker (not to be found in Trinidad) on a hummingbird feeder and in the woods. The very short trails were productive of Woodcreepers, White-fringed Antwrens, Fuscous Flycatcher, warblers and very confiding Jacaranda. At the end of the left hand trail Blue-backed Manakins may be found. The whole place is a great photo opportunity as well as somewhere to pick up Tobago specialisms with relative ease.Little Tobago Island
Frigates, Red-footed and Brown boobies, Red-billed Tropicbirds and a good head of passerines. All the specialist birds can be scoped from Speyside and you will get an occasional close up from them early morning or late evening. The island also has nesting Audubon 's Shearwater that you might see in their tunnels with a strong torch. Even these can be seen occasionally from shore, coming in just as the light is dying.Mountain Road
Here I refer to the road that goes from just south of Roxborough through to Bloody bay taking you past the entrance to Gilpin Trace. In my check-list I refer to it as the Mountain Road. I found it to be good birding for its entire length with a few tracks, open areas and nooks worth checking each time you pass. I also found one very productive piece of the roadside observable from the car (well, I would wouldn't I). En route from Roxborough to Bloody Bay there is only one patch of bad road-surface where there are usually tethered cows and a small hut. This is approximately 3k up the road between a sharp right hand bend and a left, all up hill. (Even if they improve the road there should be evidence of the new surface and gravel and lumber on the verge to give you a clue). If you park on the left facing back downhill in the Roxborough direction, there is a slightly open forest edge with several immortelle trees in bloom (they are always in bloom until no more rain is due according to legend - which means all the time). This site produced 3 red-legged honeycreepers, 2 sabrewing, tanagers, an evening roost of 10 orange-winged parrots, Venezuelan flycatchers, an over-flight by a yellow-legged thrush and more common stuff.Roxborough Dam
The Dam itself can produce Shorebirds, Ducks andAnhingas, and on the wires on the way into the dam Caribbean Martins can be seen. The forests around it are good for Rufous-tailed Jacamars, Collared Trogons, Flycatchers, Motmots, Hummingbirds and Tanagers.Turtle Beach
This is the main tourist area but still the best place for congregations of pelicans, gulls and terns. It is also a good spot for seashore loving waders. I also saw brown boobies diving into the bay fairly close to the shore. It can be a hassle here if you are outside of the hotel compounds - the only place we had to avoid youngsters trying to charge you for smearing you with unwanted gobs of aloe vera. A good view can alsobe had from Fort James on the headland that is the north end of the beach; it can be accessed through Plymouth.useful reading |
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Birding Tobago
Jacamars, Jacobins and Johnny Jump-Up Malcolm Rymer Running time: 90 minutes. Malcolm Rymer See Fatbirder ReviewISBN: 143032
Buy this book from NHBS.com
The Flying Colours of Tobago
Bird-watching with Peter Cox of Tobago island Tours VHS Video filmed by Derek Budd and available from him - cheques for £15 to be sent to: Camera Ways, Court View, Egerton, ASHFORD, Kent, TN27 9AN. Derek@cameraways.co.ukSee Fatbirder Review
useful information |
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Guides
David Rooks - P. O. Box 348, Scarborough, Tobago, West Indies (868) 756 8549 and (868) 660 6168 (speciality: birds)
Pioneer Journeys - Pat Turpin, Charlotteville, Tobago, West Indies (868) 660-4327
Renson Jack - Delaford, Tobago, West Indies (868) 660-5175 (speciality: plants)
William Trim - Goldsborough, c/o Goodwood Post Office, Tobago, West Indies (868) 660-5529
My Tobago
The My Tobago webste at http://mytobago.info/index.php is a good source of background information on the Island for intended visitors.
National Bird
The Cocrico Ortalis ruficauda
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Environment Tobago
http://www.scsoft.de/et/et2.nsf/Tobago`s first conservation organisation
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
1994 [May] - John Raby - Tobago
http://hometown.aol.com/johnraby/Tob1994.htmlThe island of Tobago lies at lat.11N, long.60W in the southern Caribbean. It has an area of 116 sq. miles, being 26 miles long and 7½ miles wide and is linked politically to its southern and larger neighbour Trinidad. The dry season is from January to May and the wet season June to December. Tobago is just to the south of the normal hurricane belt. The dominant feature of the island is the mountainous Main Ridge, which remains much forested since recovery of the vegetation from hurricane devastation in 1963. Agriculture is found on the southeastern lowlands and along the coast where there are also tourist hotels. Although the avifauna is largely Caribbean, some South American species are found here and more are on Trinidad. Some of these species are more visible on these two islands than on the mainland...
2003 [November] Dr Ernest Garcia - Tobago
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/trinidad/tobago2/tob-nov-03.htmIn terms of biodiversity, Tobago is the poor relation of Trinidad. Its list of 220 or so species is about half of the figure for the sister island, a consequence no doubt of the smaller size of Tobago and its much greater separation from the South American mainland. Nevertheless, the island provides a worthwhile birding destination with a good variety of species and excellent opportunities to view them. The nesting seabirds proved particularly interesting...
tour operators |
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Holiday in Tobago
http://www.holidayintobago.com/birding.htmlUnrivalled choice of nature retreats, lodges, bird sanctuaries in T&T, cheap UK flights, tours by renowned ornithologist Newton George... ...Even in the residential districts you can expect to hear at dawn the cries of the Cocricos (Rufous Vented Chacalaca), or be visited on your verandah by Bananaquits and Blue-Grey Tanagers. See the Orange Tipped Parrots of the Rainforest and many other tropical species. Little Tobago Island (off Speyside, NE Tobago) is one of the most important sea-bird sanctuaries in the Caribbean...
Nature Lovers Tobago
http://www.tobagobirding.comCome to Tobago and go birding with Darren Henry - a trained forester and certified tour guide. Darren Henry your guide with Nature Lovers is a Licensed Tour Guide with the Tobago House of Assembly`s Tourism Division...
Newton George
http://tka.co.uk/birds/trinidadandtobago/guides/newtongeorge.htmI am a professional birdwatching and nature tour guide with 32 years of experience. If you are visiting Tobago, and are interested in nature, I can help you to make the most from your visit, and to see sights that you might otherwise miss...
Tobago Nature Tours
http://www.tobagonaturetours.comPeter Cox who has lived in Tobago since childhood is resident nature guide giving informative lectures at leading hotels such as the Rex Turtle Beach.Peter (easily spotted by his trademark - the floppy burgundy West Indies cricket team hat!) loves the island and welcomes discussion and queries. Recently he teamed up with UK TV wildlife cameraman, Derek Budd, to produce a full length Video about the island`s birds called The Flying Colours of Tobago.
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Arnos Vale Hotel
http://www.arnosvalehotel.com/Arnos Vale Hotel, a 450 acre estate specialising in birding experiences and scuba diving. Located on the Caribbean coast, Arnos Vale has built a reputation for excellent birding at its 32 room resort with all facilities. Some of the birds that you will see throughout your stay at Arnos Vale: Blue-grey Tanager, Palm Tanager, White Line Tanager, Bananaquit, Red Crowned Woodpecker, Rufus Vented Cocrico, Blue-crowned Mot-Mot, Tropical Mockingbird...
Blue Waters Inn
http://www.bluewatersinn.comFrom the deep blue of the Atlantic, to the golden sandy beach of Batteaux Bay, to the brilliant green of our lush hills - this is Blue Waters Inn. We offer Tobago`s finest hiking and birdwatching. Be awakened by a symphony of birds celebrating the birth of a new day. - I loved this place, Fatbirder
Candles in the Wind
http://www.candlesinthewind.8k.com/Welcome To Enchanting Tobago. At Candles, we provide cosy, comfortable air conditioned accommodation in a homely environment...
Cuffie River Nature Retreat & Eco-lodge
http://www.cuffie-river.comThe Cuffie River Eco-lodge and Nature Retreat is situated in beautiful Tobago, the gentle and tranquil half of the nation state of Trinidad and Tobago - the most southerly of the islands comprising the Caribbean island chain. Tobago gently charms her callers with deserted beaches … the famous Buccoo Reef, a protected Marine Park with a fascinating underwater world of untouched coral …mountainous grandeur … unexpected waterfalls … beautiful and exotic birds … warm hearted and generous people…
Grange Cottage
http://www.caribinfo.com/grangecottage/Ideally situated directly on the golden sands of Grange Beach, The Cottage sits serenely shaded on 2 acres of tropical woodlands amidst coconut palms, samaan and almond trees and other exotic foliage Quiet, unpretentious, understated, Grange Cottage provides the essentials for your unique Caribbean vacation on the most southerly island of Tobago.
Kariwak Village
http://www.kariwak.comI loved it... great birds in the grounds! Fatbirder
Mom`s B&B
http://www.innsite.com/frameset_inns.php3?contentURL=http://www.tobagobedandbreakfast.com&refCode=B008770The location of Mom`s Bed and Breakfast allows you a variety of options. You can enjoy Tobago`s lovely beaches, hike in the tropical rainforest, golf at one of the island`s championship courses, scuba, snorkel, fish, sail, take a helicopter tour or simply take advantage of the inn`s casual comfort...lay by the pool, enjoy a book while lounging in one of the hammocks, or spy on the large variety of colorful birds who also enjoy the delights of Sunset Valley...
Ocean Point Hotel
http://www.oceanpoint.com/opbird.htmPlaying everything by ear, we made it work and had an incredibly wonderful day. We ended up seeing just about the whole the island and finding all the birds we sought, even the no hope at all kind.
Palms Villa Resort
http://www.thepalmstobago.comFive three bedroom luxury villas each with own pool, located in ten acres of gardens frequented by numerous birds...
Sherwood Park Apartments
http://www.sherwood-park.com/Sherwood Park Apartments is located in the south of Tobago, halfway between Crown Point airport and the capital of Tobago, Scarborough. Sherwood Park is situated in quiet green surroundings, close to Pigeon Point and other well-known beaches, golf courses and excellent locations for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Both local and international restaurants are within easy access. Sherwood Park is situated slightly uphill, which means there is a constant refreshing sea breeze.
Speyside Inn
http://tobago.wheretostay.com/property/642.htmlThe Speyside Inn is a small, affordable, owner-operated country Inn situated on the outskirts of a small fishing village on Tobago`s North East coast. It is utterly unique, and uniquely enchanting.
Tosca Villa
http://www.toscaintobago.com/Located next to the Grafton bird sanctuary, Malcolm & Annie Taylor`s traditionally designed semi-detached villa affords luxury accommodation within the secure Sanctuary Villa estate, close to Mt Irvine Bay and up the hill from the village of Pleasant Prospect, which boasts not only a fine restaurant - the Indigo, but also a bar, a shop, and an all important (but rare) cash point.
other links |
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Bird Watching in Tobago
http://savvytraveler.publicradio.org/show/features/2000/20000804/bird.shtmlTrinidad and Tobago perch off the coast of Venezuela, twin islands offering scuba diving and deserted beaches. While bird watchers have long visited Trinidad, a few are beginning to flock to Tobago, where more than 200 species of birds nest...
Birdwatching in Tobago
http://www.simplytobago.com/tobagobirdwatching.aspThe following text was written by Dr Steve M. R. Young after a birdwatching holiday in Trinidad & Tobago...
My Tobago
http://www.mytobago.info/birdwatching.phpBirdwatching in Tobago...
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