Caribbean Waterbirds-

A feature of many of the Lesser Antilles are salt ponds which can prove attractive to waders, herons and wildfowl. I was able to visit Mckinnons Saltpond on Antigua, which has a reputation for attracting large numbers of american waders during autumn passage. There weren't many waders in December although I saw a Dunlin which is described in the Birds of the W Indies as a vagrant to the Lesser Antilles! There were plenty of wildfowl, the best of which were 4 West Indian Whistling Duck, a rare and local species on Antigua.

The least exciting rarity a birder could ever find; mallard in the middle, a rare vagrant in the W Indies. Blue-winged Teal is the only N American duck to winter in the W Indies in any numbers, Ruddy Duck is uncommon and White-cheeked Pintail is a locally common resident.

Caribbean and American Coots with Lesser Scaup in the background. Caribbean Coot has a frontal shield that extends onto the crown. The two species are also known to hybridise.

As featured in Martin Garners Frontiers in Birding- Laughing Moorhen. They really do sound different to ours. Also note the extensive squared off frontal shield!!

Yellow-crowned Night Heron. I had nice scope views of a smart adult, but only this sub ad and Juv were close enough for the camera