ST LUCIA BIRDWATCHING AT ANSE CHASTANET

St Lucia Parrot - Amazona Versicolour

When birdwatchers consider a new destination for their next holiday, one of the first questions they ask is "what are the speciality birds of the area?". High on their list of priorities will be birds that are endemic to that location - in other words, they are found nowhere else on earth. St Lucia is blessed with five such species and four of them can be found within the grounds of Anse Chastanet with the fifth located not too far away.

Firstly there is the St Lucia Pewee - a delightful small flycatcher; green on top and orange underneath which sallies out from its favored perch in search of prey before returning to the same branch. These can be found both along the entrance track to the resort and also in the estate at Anse Mamin. Next, the St Lucia Warbler, both brightly colored and inquisitive; blue-gray above with bright yellow under-parts and black facial markings, it is widespread throughout the grounds.

Not quite as numerous, but both dramatic and boldly colored is the yellow and black St Lucia Oriole. Back in 1987, there were considered to be less than 60 pairs in existence, however there has been a considerable recovery since and probably two different pairs can be found at Anse Mamin.

Finally, there is "Jacquot", our national bird, officially known as the St Lucia Parrot. Saved from certain extinction by the ravages of Hurricane Allen in 1980, there is now a flourishing population of perhaps 1,000 birds normally found higher elevation rainforest - an hour's drive away. However, two individuals graced the shoreline trees at Anse Chastanet early in 2009.

Whilst not strictly endemic, two of other species easily be found on the property only otherwise occur on one or two other nearby islands. Both Lesser Antillean Saltator and Gray Trembler are easily found both in the damp lowland deciduous estates and also the drier forested slopes.

However, you don't have to hike into the woods to find a wealth of colorful birdlife. Both Green and Purple-throated Caribs together with their tiny relative the Antillean Crested Hummingbird can be found taking nectar from the flowerbeds surrounding the accommodation areas; both Zenaida Doves and Common Ground-Doves amble along the walkways in the early mornings whilst Scaly-naped Pigeons, Scaly-breasted Thrashers, Tropical Mockingbirds and Gray Kingbirds are ever present along the tree-lined roadways. Overhead, both Broad-winged Hawks and American Kestrels keep an eye out for prey; Magnificent Frigate birds, or "Cisseau" as they are known locally simply hang in the air looking for a free meal whilst in the restaurant, if you don't keep a watchful eye on your butter or jam, those piratical Lesser Antillean Bullfinches and Bananaquits will enjoy a stolen breakfast.

And a final note on the subject of "special birds". Keen "birders" will be well aware just how shy and elusive Mangrove Cuckoos are to see - there is nowhere in the world where this species is easier to find than at Anse Chastanet.