ANOTHER NEW SIGHTING FOR ST.KITTS

Another bird specie has been added to the list of birds observed in St. Kitts. On July 19, Glenroy Blanchette experienced an unexpected sighting in the Frigate Bay area, in the vicinity of the Southern end of the driving range of the Golf Course. He took some pictures of several small birds, and after quick research determined that they were Nutmeg Mannikins.

I personally heard about the sighting on September 24, 2012 and proceeded to Frigate Bay the very next day and low & behold, as soon as I got to the entrance of the Royal St.Kitts Golf Club, there were 5 Nutmeg Mannikins feeding in the grass. I managed to get a couple of photographs before a heavy downpour of rain ended the exercise!

Nutmeg Mannikins are small birds, 4.5 inches in size. They have cinnamon colored hoods with scalloped underparts which are diagnostic. According to “Birds of the West Indies” by Raffaele et al, these birds are found only in Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe & Martinique.

This is the 201st different bird to be recorded in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, with the 200th sighting having occurred earlier this year with the sighting of an Anhinga in Nevis.