2024-04-19 SPI Convention Centre

Despite the slowness of birding on the island, there were still a few treasures to be mined. I had been splitting my time between the Birding and Nature Center and the Convention Centre. This Friday, I chose to hunker down at the Convention Centre.

The most productive spot to hang out, especially when things are slow, is at the water-feature. Competition for strategic locations along the rail can be challenging. When I arrived, all the best spots were occupied. But when my friend Horacio called out an interesting bird-sighting from a hundred feet away, the entire crowd raced out to investigate. Everyone except me. I shifted into the best spot, and remained during my entire vigil. Finding a good place to meet birds, and waiting quietly, has been a process I have found the most success in my efforts to capture bird images.

A short while after I locked in my station at the water-feature, the crowd filtered back in. We spent most of the time anticipating and hoping that one of the migrating species might step out of the dense surrounding foliage, and treat us to a peek. We all had the same hope in mind. Each time we sighted a flitting bird in the thicket, we raised our hopes. But most of the time, the birds were only interested in finding food. But every once-in-a-while, these weary travelers would get thirsty or look for a place to bathe. Those were the opportunities we all hoped for.

When I finally called it a day, and left the scene, I had met the Black-Throated Green Warbler, Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Lincoln’s Sparrow, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Painted Bunting, Philadelphia Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, and Warbling Vireo.