RFI British Virgin Islands

[Kabe83]

Hi
I'm new, so I apologize if I'm doing this wrong. I couldn't locate any information by searching. I'm going on a sailing trip with several non-birding friends in the British Virgin Islands starting November 12. If anyone has information about birds I'm likely to see at this time of year or suggestions about places for which it would be worth while to take a taxi to get to appropriate habitat for specialty birds, I would very much appreciate it. I have "Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands" by Raffaele, but that book makes it sound as if there are very few species there, which can't be right.
Thanks
Karen Peterson
Berkeley, CA

[Andrew Rowlands]

Hi Karen and Welcome to Birdforum from all the staff here!

I'm sure you will soon have plenty of ideas coming in from members who have experience in this region (I don't ;) ).

Looking forward to seeing more posts from you on the birds you will get to see!

Cheers,

Andy.

[Kabe83]

Hi Karen and Welcome to Birdforum from all the staff here!

I'm sure you will soon have plenty of ideas coming in from members who have experience in this region (I don't ;) ).

Looking forward to seeing more posts from you on the birds you will get to see!

Cheers,

Andy.
Thanks. I'm afraid I posted to the wrong forum, but don't want to post the same message twice.
Karen peterson

[njlarsen]

The Caribbean islands generally does not have a lot of bird species, we are too far from the continent. I live on Dominica, and have seen about 88 species in the span of two years. On the other hand, the species we do have are to a large extent not found outside of the Caribbean area, many are endemic to one, two, or a groups of islands.

November 12 is probably a little early for several of the seabirds, a little more into spring you would find several of those breeding. I don't have specific experience with the islands you are likely to visit, but you can repeat your request on the Yahoo group CaribbeanBirding which you can find on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaribbeanBirding/. It is likely that someone there knows about the islands you are planning to visit. As a rule, birding is better the larger the island, so if you can talk them into visiting Puerto Rico, that would be a plus for you. Otherwise remember that snorkling is great around here, I have seen more species of fish than of birds on Dominica.

HTH
Niels