T&T in April (1 Viewer)

Trystan

Well-known member

• Sep 2, 2013

• #1

Possibility of travelling to T&T in April next year. Advice on whether this is a good time for birding (quantity and quality of species) and what weather to expect at this time.

Thanks

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Sep 3, 2013

• #2

I do not think there is truly a bad time to visit TT. There are a few more northern visitors closer to northern winter, and a few more southern migrants a little closer to mid summer. April is supposed to be still in the dry season, but you never know if it really is. First time I visited TT was at the end of April/early May and I had 10 species of hummingbirds in Asa Wright.

Niels

 

Trystan

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2013

• #3

Thanks Niels,

The trip I'm looking at has 3 nights in Asa Wright, very keen to see the oilbird there.

 

G

Gordon

Registered User

• Sep 3, 2013

• #4

Murphy's "A Birdwatchers guide to Trinidad and Tobago" suggests that the worst time to go is the first 2 weeks of May when sand blown from the Sahara affects the islands. Other than that all the literature seems to suggest that any other time is good.

cheers
Gordon

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Sep 3, 2013

• #5

I did read that clause in Murphy's book and have two comments:
1 Sahara sand usually affect most of the Caribbean from mid spring to about end August, unless there is so much rain that it rains out of the atmosphere. I don't know if they get it a little less in TT, but living in the Caribbean, that would not be my main concern.
2 I think he also mentions that the vegetation is dry and the overall impression is dusty at that time, which probably is true most years; but on one of my visits at end April/early May, the weather felt more like the rainy season had been going for a while, so you never really know.

Trystan, that book by Murphy is highly recommended, unless you are with an organized tour where the guides have read it.

Niels

 

Mark Harper

World Birder

• Sep 3, 2013

• #6

See my trip report from early May here.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=199631

 

Trystan

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2013

• #7

Thank you all for your input. The itinery which caught my attention is with motmot, I have made some enquiries now about availability, so I will have a thorough read of your report tomorrow Mark.

 

Trystan

Well-known member

• Apr 26, 2014

• #8

Back from this trip now. Had a fantastic couple of weeks with 204 species.

Report here http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=281086

Alternatively, the species seen on my yearlist here http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=273725