Every bird migration on the island is one filled with expectations; what species will be seen this year and where. And this year is no exception. Local birders are getting better and better in searching the interesting locations as well as in finding the smallest of birds. And photographing them of course.
October is the month for migratory warbler species on the island, when an enormous diversity of warbler species from North America travel south and use the island of Curaçao (as well as Bonaire and Aruba) as a stop over to rest, recharge and build up the fat reserves to be able to continue the travel to South American overwintering grounds, or just to hang around on the islands to pass the winter months. Some visitors are numerous such as the blackpoll warblers, and others are more scare. Last week local birders Rob Wellens (Ebird profile: robert wellens – eBird) and Rob Kelder (Ebird profile not public) both spotted the Connecticut warbler, an amazing little bird, in 2 completely different locations on the island; the dam of Muizenberg and the limited accessible Blue Bay Resort.
The Connecticut warbler
With 14 cm in length this olive brown warbler species is decidedly larger than the local Yellow warblers we have throughout the year. The most striking feature is the white eye-ring around the eyes giving the bird an almost perplexed expression. Males have a brighter coloured belly which is duller in females and immatures. This small insect eater hunts for its food in dense shrubs and grass patches. Apparently not very much is known about the locations these birds overwinter.
English: Connecticut warbler
Dutch: Connecticutzanger
Papiamentu: Chipe di Connecticut
Scientific: Oporornis agilis
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