Birdwatching in Tortola

A bird enthusiast could spend the whole of his vacation birdwatching in Tortola and never once be in any remote fear of becoming bored.  There is such a variety of both sea birds and island birds – and also a great number of visitors who pass over the island on their migrations.

Perhaps the two best places for specialists to settle down and watch for a day are Belmont Pond and Josiah’s Bay. Belmont Pond, on the beautiful Belmont Estate on the north westerly end of the island, is one of Tortola’s great ecosystems, with a mangrove system and a prolific bird population.  You can see all kinds around the pond, such as ducks, hawks, waders and flamingos and then just as many inland varieties in the trees, which provide perfect camouflage for humming birds, annies and various beautiful species of doves.

The salt pond at Josiah’s Bay provides a perfect habitat for waders such as black-nested stilts – often known as Funeral Birds because of their distinctive black and white plumage – and white-cheeked pintail ducks, amongst others.

The fact is, though, that wherever you wander throughout Tortola, you will see, and hear, birds of many species.

During the day, you’ll be constantly entertained by the ubiquitous brown pelican as they swoop and soar and dive for fish in the seas. From looking awkward and ungainly, as soon as they tuck and dive, they become a model of speed and style.

The magnificent Frigate Bird, often known as the ‘man o’war’ in which the male has a dashing red pouch in the breeding season, is another of the most common sea birds, along with Laughing Gulls and Brown Boobies.

Let’s just have a quick look at some of the other species you’re likely to see when you come birdwatching in Tortola.

Obviously there’s the bird which gave the island its name – the turtle dove, whose call you can often hear early in the mornings, and some of which can be quite tame.  The American kestrel, locally known as the Killy-killy is also often seen circling the skies.  Green-throated humming birds are quite common, especially around shrubs and flowers at lower levels although they can also be found occasionally on the hills.  If you can catch this bird as it is hovering around a shrub then you have a wonderful photo opportunity.  There are, additionally, a fair few of the Antillean crested hummingbirds – much smaller but found in similar places.

Keep an eye open for the cowbird, or cattle egret; the ground dove, usually found in pairs; the green heron, or Little Gaulin, with an intense blue back; the Red-billed Tropicbird; the Night Gaulin, or Yellow crowned night heron; the tuneful longtailed Mockingbird; the Grey Kingbird, with its big black bill and gray tail; the flycatching Chinchary; the Pearly-eyed Thrasher, which lunches on berries or leftovers from your table; the shy but beautiful Marmi doves, or Bridled Quail doves, with a white stripe under the eyes; the little Blue Heron, or Blue Gaulin; and, on the rocks in the summer, the adorable Audubon’s Shearwater, or Pimleco locally.

Much rarer, but worth looking out for, are the Clapper Rail, the Least Bittern (an ‘unlucky’ bird in the BVI), the White Booby, and the mangrove cuckoo.

Not quite so rare – in fact, you’ll see them everywhere, is the chicken; but I’m not sure how high they are on a birdwatcher’s wish list.

There are, in total, at least 80 different species of land birds, waders and winter migrants and slightly less sea bird types to make birdwatching in Tortola a constantly rewarding experience.  Finally, though, I must recommend that you try to get across to Anegada for a day to admire the amazing colony of pink flamingos there – but don’t forget your camera.

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