I was lucky enough to return to the Caribbean on a cruise, visiting the following islands St Kitts, Tortola, St Maarten, Martinique, Antigua, Grenada, St Lucia & Barbados. Most of the birds recorded were just seen along the way, although I did manage to visit Great Salt Pond on St Maarten & Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary at Barbados. The latter cost US $40 dollars to visit, but was well worth it.

• Magnificent frigatebird fairly common along coasts
• Brown pelican small numbers at most coastal areas, excluding Barbados
• Red-billed tropicbird 1 flew close by the ship giving excellent views between Antigua & Grenada
• Red-footed booby sometimes numerous at sea in both brown & white phases
• Brown booby most numerous species of booby with 40+ seen in some areas
• Masked booby 1 flew past the ship between Antigua & Grenada
• Lesser black-backed gull 1 at St Maarten & 2 at Antigua
• Royal tern fairly common at most coastal areas except Barbados
• Tr-coloured heron 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Little egret a few at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Snowy egret fairly widespread
• Great blue heron 1 in Antigua & 1 in St Maarten
• Great egret noted on several islands, usually in singles, with 4 at Antigua
• Cattle egret very common, including c300 at 1 colony at Antigua port
• Yellow-crowned night heron 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Green heron 1 at St. Maarten & 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Semi-palmated plover 2 flocks 0f c10 at St Kitts
• Semi-palmated sandpiper c5 at St Kitts
• Sanderling c40 at St Kitts
• Spotted sandpiper 1 in St Maarten & min 4 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• American coot a few at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Common gallinule fairly common in freshwater & brackish water areas
• Boad-winged hawk
• Osprey 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Caribbean martin 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Sand martin 3 at St Kitts
• Scaly-naped pigeon 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• White crowned pigeon 1 in Antigua
• Common ground dove fairly common on most islands
• White-winged dove 1 in Grenada
• Eared dove 2 or 3 in Grenada, 1 of which kindly defaecated on my arm
• Zenaida dove very common
• Feral pigeon common in most islands
• Collared dove common in most islands
• Antillean crested hummingbird a few in Barbados
• Purple-throated carib numerous at Balata Gardens Martinique
• Green-throated carib 1 at Antigua & 5+ at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Belted kingfisher 1 at St Kitts & 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Grey kingbird fairly common
• Caribbean elaenia - 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Yellow warbler 1 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados
• Spectacled thrush 1 in Martinique
• Grey trembler 1pr in St Lucia
• Tropical mockingbird noted on 4 or 5 islands
• Pearly-eyed thrasher 1 in Tortola
• Bananaquit 2 at Martinique & 1 in Barbados
• Shiny cowbird a few in St Lucia & Barbados
• Carib grackle very common in many areas in singles to flocks of up to 30
• Lesser-Antillean bullfinch
• Barbados bullfinch endemic to Barbados, where it is fairly common
• House sparrow colony in Antigua

Dragonflies noted included banded dragonlet, Lesser Antillean skimmer & red pennant

Butterflies included Brazilian skipper, monarch, great southern white, white peacock & Dorantes longtail

Also noted numerous unidentified lizards red-eared terrapins & green monkey

cheers 

Kevin