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. But discovering 3 species of thrushes on the small island of Klein Curaçao in one week, al three of them spotted on the island for the first time in decades is truly exceptional. But that is exactly what happened with top birder Rob Wellens a couple of weeks ago!
Klein Curaçao is not only a Ramsar-site because of the many sea turtles that use the sandy beaches as breeding ground. It is also a ecologically important place because of the many migratory birds that use the tiny speck in the ocean as a place to rest and whenever possible to replenish their reserves. It has been extensively researched in the last 5 years to be able to answer the questions on its importance for migratory bird species in a valuable way as well as to get a clear picture of its importance as a breeding location for sea birds such as the American Least tern. Included in the DCNA (Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance) bird monitoring program since 2018 at first the island was monitored twice a year in October and March as part of the research program, as well as in May to get a better view of the breeding behaviour of sea birds. In the last 2 years the focus on the island has become more intense and a team of birders, including Rob, has been visiting the island almost weekly and sometimes more often, especially in the migratory season, to be able to get a clear view of the bird diversity there in the middle of the fall migratory season. And this year the sightings have been truly exceptional. Rain showers have made the island an oasis of fresh water pools with numerous insects, making it perfect for insect eating birds flying over and looking for a place to rest and search for food. Most species will not stay for very long. Waterbirds often stay the longest.
In the week of October 25-27th Rob has visited Klein Curaçao twice, encountering an astonishing 3 species of thrush, which haven’t been spotted in decades; the Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), the Swainson’s thrush (Catharus ustulatus) and the Gray-cheeked thrush (Catharus minimus). This is a little bit of background about these birds.
Wood trush – Amerikaanse boslijster- Chuchubi barika pintá
This very rare visitor from North America normally overwinters in Central America and is therefor unlikely to travel so far south as the island of Curaçao. The very first time this species was recorded for Curacao was at Klein Sint Joris, on the 30th of October 1951 by observer K. H. Voous (the author or the Birds of the Netherlands Antilles books). This was also the very last time the bird was recorded on the island, until last October 2023, 72 years later. Of course, as with many other rare sightings, this does not have to mean that the birds have never visited Curaçao in the years in between, just that they have never been recorded as such. It’s breeding grounds are in eastern United States. The bird itself is about 19-21 cm long and weighs only 40 grams. They are reddish brown on top, have a white belly and contrasting darks spots on the belly.
Gray-cheeked trush – Grijswangdwerglijster – Chuchubi garganta pintá
The Gray-cheeked thrush is a bird that has been recorded both in autumn and in spring but also with only two records to its name for Curaçao. The first is a sighting of one female bird spotted at Malpais on May 11th 1957 by observer F, H. Ansingh, and one bird was found dead in Julianadorp on April 25th 1960, by P.A. van der Werf. Between 1960 and October 2023 no other individuals were recorded for Curaçao.
When seen apparently they are often together with other thrush species which seems to be exactly what happened with the individual spotted on Klein Curaçao, as it was seen on the same day as the Swainson’s thrush. Gray-cheeked thrushes are about 17 cm in length and weigh only about 30 grams. They are much greyer in colour than the Wood thrush, and are brownish grey above and lighter grey below. They also have dark spots on the breast, but these do not contrast as heavily as with the Wood thrush. There is also almost no light eye-ring around the eye.
These birds eat fruits and small invertebrates.
Swainson’s thrush – Dwerglijster – Chuchubi ringch’I wowo blanku
The third thrush species seen on Klein Curaçao at the end of October was the Swainson’s thrush. Another very rare occurrence on the island with only 2 records in total starting with the first sighting of one bird at Grote Knip on the 23rd of October 1951, observed bij K. H. Voous, and one bird found dead in Willemstad on April 23rd 1960 seen by B. de Jong. Between 1960 and 2023 no other specimens were found on the island of Curaçao making this sighting in October the first in 63 years.
The Swainson’s thrush is also about 18 cm in length andweighs about 45 grams. In this species the light eye ring is clearly visible. The bird is brownish on top and cream coloured below with muffled spots on the breast. It also has brown stripes alongside the white throat.
Insects are their main choice of food.
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