Feb 3 - By Boat to Little Tobago Island

Feb 3 2017 – By boat to Little Tobago Island

This was our boat today.

Today we had an easy morning; a boat trip and we did not start until 9 am.  We went on the Super Star 2 boat (which is an old boat) that is glass-bottomed with our guide, Mr. Z to Little Tobago Island.  The ocean was calmer than the previous two days, although it still was pretty rolling.  According to Mr. Z and the other boatmen, for them, this was a “calm” ocean.  This is the Atlantic and once out of the bay, there is the open ocean.  There are reefs between the islands and there are lots of waves.  It was a rough ride.  I decided to go after talking to Mr. Z last night who said who the boat trip in good weather takes 20 minutes. 

The views from the boat on a sunny day are unbelievable.

It was tricky getting off the boat at the dock on Little Tobago Island.  

 The island is one mile long and it has a good hill on it.  We walked up the trail, first to a future museum site and then up to the top lookout.  We heard lots of birds and saw some very nice birds; Red-legged Tropicbird, Red-footed Booby and the Brown-crested Flycatcher.  The Tropicbird on its nest just two feet away from the lookout deck.  The Red-footed Booby with its big fluffy chick was viewed through a scope.  

Here is the Tropicbird on its nest.

Here is another Tropicbird flying.

We looked for the Chivi Vireo which we were told that this was going to be a subspecies split from the Red-eyed Vireo, but had no luck.  We had great views of the Shiny Cowbirds and the Tobago Motmot.  

Barbr is always curious about the plants and she took some photos of the greenery on Little Tobago

 We also managed to squeeze ourselves into a selfie at the lookout.  It is a bit crowded but everyone is in.

We then walked from the lookout down to the pier for the return journey.  It was 12:30 pm and the sea was calmer.  On the return, the captain slowed the boat at the coral reef and everyone looked through the glass bottomed boat for the activity below.  We saw different fish, both big and small, plants and the different corals.  There is another world under the water and it was beautiful.

 Some of our group went snorkeling in the afternoon.

Once we arrived back at the inn, I went birding up Starwood Lane which is on the Inn’s property.  It was very birdy there and I had great looks at the Motmot, a Pigeon, Blue-black Grassquit and Black-faced Grassquit.   I hoped  to go back sometime (either today or tomorrow) but we have to leave at 6 am for our flight and it is dark now.   The security guard told me that there was a back garden with fruit trees for the birds and that was also a good place for birds.  I have simply run out of exotic birding time!

We girls went for a swim in the salt pool this afternoon instead of our normal after supper  9 pm swim.  A hot tub visit followed the swim and we were all happy and rested.  

Supper was very good again this evening and we said good-bye to several people in our group who we knew we would not see early tomorrow.

Each of us is thrilled with the trip and the birds and the whole tour.

The Trinidad and Tobago trip went quickly and it was busy.  I hope to do the trip list tomorrow at the airports and come up with the number of birds and for me, an approximate number of lifers for me.

We are busy packing up   Brenda and Peggy leave for the airport at 7:30 am as their flight is at 10:30am.

our stuff right now and Barbr and I leave for the airport tomorrow at 6 am as the airport is two hours away and our first of three flights is at 9:15 am.

Barbs, Brenda and Peggy