I have just returned from a holiday in S Lucia with my wife and 6 month old son. I was keen to try and see the endemic and range restricted specialist species without encroaching on the family holiday too greatly. As such, I chose a hotel (Fond Doux) where I could pick up some of the commoner species, and then looked for a guide for a morning to try and clear up the endemics. At Fond Doux all three hummingbird species were numerous and showy, with St. Lucia Warbler and Mangrove Cuckoo showing on Lamontagne's trail. I was hopeful of the St. Lucia Oriole on the grounds but it wasn’t to be, although Scaly-naped Pigeons abound.
A lot was therefore riding on my one morning of birding. Before heading to St. Lucia I contacted Adams Toussaint ([email protected]) of Wildlife Ambassadors, and he arranged for his colleague Vision to pick me up at the hotel at 5:30. After a drive to the east of the island his knowledge of the right spots allowed us to quickly pick up White-breasted Thrasher, St. Lucia Pewee, and St. Lucia Black Finch. A drive to the Des Cartiers trail through the morning rain (with a stop to pick up a quick delicious snack) had us standing at the stunning parrot viewpoint by 0900, having had wonderful views of calling Rufous-throated Solitaire and a lone St. Lucia Oriole on the way.
The St. Lucia Parrots didn’t take long to turn up, with numerous seen in flight and a rather accommodating bird deciding to feed in a tree for an hour. Antillean Euphonia and Pearly-eyed Thrasher were also seen.
On the drive back we stopped off at the lighthouse for Red-billed Tropicbird, which are often around the cliffs. Alas, not that day, but there were distant views. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Vision, who is very easy company as well as being a knowledgeable and committed guide.
A lot was therefore riding on my one morning of birding. Before heading to St. Lucia I contacted Adams Toussaint ([email protected]) of Wildlife Ambassadors, and he arranged for his colleague Vision to pick me up at the hotel at 5:30. After a drive to the east of the island his knowledge of the right spots allowed us to quickly pick up White-breasted Thrasher, St. Lucia Pewee, and St. Lucia Black Finch. A drive to the Des Cartiers trail through the morning rain (with a stop to pick up a quick delicious snack) had us standing at the stunning parrot viewpoint by 0900, having had wonderful views of calling Rufous-throated Solitaire and a lone St. Lucia Oriole on the way.
The St. Lucia Parrots didn’t take long to turn up, with numerous seen in flight and a rather accommodating bird deciding to feed in a tree for an hour. Antillean Euphonia and Pearly-eyed Thrasher were also seen.
On the drive back we stopped off at the lighthouse for Red-billed Tropicbird, which are often around the cliffs. Alas, not that day, but there were distant views. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Vision, who is very easy company as well as being a knowledgeable and committed guide.
