Feathered Friends of Aruba

Since 2008, I've been a.......birdwatcher! I know some of you are probably quite surprised as you usually have to be QUIET when you are birdwatching. Amazingly enough, I have found it possible to be quiet! Except of course when I see something exciting I sort of gasp loudly! If I'm in a car (and not driving) I usually shout.."STOP!", or "BIRD!".

I found that I had several bird photos that necessarily didn't "fit" with anything. Many times I'll simply photograph the bird to aid in identification at a later time (like when I have access to my Sibley's!) or in case it flies off. Like I said...I'm a beginner! Some photo's are repeated from other posts here either because I had never seen it before any it was just a super cool sighting for me, or I just really liked the shot!

Greater Yellowlegs in a rainwater puddle near Baby Beach 1-28-2011





Yellowlegs and a Whimbrel in the same rainwater puddle, Baby Beach 1-28-2011



Eared Dove, taken from my balcony, 1-24-2011

Bananaquit (or chibichibi) in palm tree next to my balcony, 1-24-2011

Bananaquit (chibichibi) in palm tree next to my balcony, 1-24-2011

Brown Pelican, Hadicurari Pier, 1-25-2011



Ruddy Turnstones, Hadicurari Pier, 1-25-2011



Eared Dove in palm tree, next to my balcony, 1-25-2011



Tropical Mockingbird, Arikok NP, 1-24-2011



Troupial, ARikok NP, 1-24-2011



Crested Caracara, Arikok NP, 1-24-2011



Magnificent Frigatebird, Hadicurari Pierm 1-25-2011



Magnificent Frigatebird, Hadicurari Pier, 1-25-2011



Laughing Gulls, Hadicurari Pier, 1-25-2011





Brown Booby, from water in Catalina's Bay, 1-26-2011



Royal Tern, from water at Baby Beach, 1-28-2011

Brown Pelican, from water in Catalina's Bay, 1-26-2011

Earlier in the trip we spotted some Brown-Throated Parakeets in a tree at the resort, unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me at the time..bummer!

Although I didn't take any "birding tours" or intentionally seek out any birding hotspots, I just kept my eyes open, binoculars and camera at the ready and was rewarded with seeing 11 new species!