Two of our leaders recently enjoyed a short but very successful scouting trip to Trinidad ahead of our new tour there running in 2027. Here we recount some of the highlights…
Day One
After a smooth direct flight from London Gatwick we had arrived at the Asa Wright Nature Centre the previous evening. After being welcomed with an excellent dinner and welcome drink we had an early night ahead of being on the centre’s famous veranda at dawn this morning. And wow, it did not disappoint!
As soon as the day began to brighten, birds began showing up to the feeding station en-masse. Some of the most obvious were the honeycreepers with Purple, Green and Red-legged showing up over the course of the morning. Six species of tanager were around, and hummingbirds numbered no less than twelve species during the day (including the stunning and tiny Tufted Coquette). It didn’t take long before we started seeing Channel-billed Toucans and Crested Oropendolas, and both Blue-headed Parrot and Orange-winged Amazon were flying about. There was so much to look at, especially raptors with seven species seen including an unexpected Black Hawk-Eagle.
Later in the day we were shown around some of the forest trails. We checked out a lek of White-bearded Manakins and had superb views of the noisy Bearded Bellbirds. We also saw our first Trogons of the trip in the form of Guianan Violaceous Trogons. Later in the day, we were shown down to the famous Oilbird cave. Sure enough, at least twenty were present and we had superb looks with the red torchlight provided by our guide. There surely isn’t anywhere easier to see this unique bird in the world. During the evening, we spent more time watching the many hummingbirds, tanagers and Bananaquits from the veranda, and this was followed by a night walk where we saw huge Trinidad Chevron Tarantulas, scorpions and whip spiders among others. What a first day!
Bearded Bellbird
Oilbirds
Day Two
Today we headed west to spend the day birding around some coastal, marsh and mangrove habitats including the famous Caroni Swamp. We didn’t make it far from Asa Wright before pulling over to admire a Crimson-crested Woodpecker excavating a hole in a dead tree by the road. A Belted Kingfisher on some wires over a river was another roadside bonus on our way west.
We spent the rest of the morning birding some coastal sites. There were plenty of waders to look at including Willets, Southern Lapwings, Greater Yellowlegs, Hudsonian Whimbrels and both Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers. We noted several species of heron including our first Scarlet Ibis and American Flamingo of the trip. Numerous Magnificent Frigatebirds and Brown Pelicans were offshore – both species which would be common in any area of coast on the island. A look in some mangroves produced a couple of Northern Waterthrushes and several American Redstarts – one of which was a stunning summer plumage male.
Magnificent Frigatebird
In the early afternoon we visited a wetland site with numerous shallow ponds and reedbeds. We had great looks at species like Wattled Jacana, Purple Gallinule and Ringed Kingfisher. Other additions came in the form of Green-throated Mango, Yellow-hooded Blackbird and Yellow-headed Caracaras. A young Spectacled Caiman turned out to be the only one we saw during the trip.
Green-throated Mango
In the evening, we boarded our boat out onto the Caroni Swamp – famous for its roosting Scarlet Ibis. Sure enough, we watched spectacular numbers of ibis drop into the trees, which looked like Christmas trees with all of the scarlet dots scattered across them! There were plenty of other herons including Little Blue, Tricoloured and Snowy Egrets, and we watched and listened to a large flock of American Flamingos at close range – a species only recently found on Trinidad in numbers. We saw Bicoloured Conebill and heard several Cocoa Woodcreepers, and the non-avian highlight was three Central American Tree Boas. It’s worth noting that during our tour, we will enjoy a longer boat trip which will spend a little more time looking for even more of the special birds the swamp has to offer.
American Flamingoes
Scarlet Ibis
Day Three
After some time spent watching from the veranda this morning, we were taken out to bird some spots along the Blanchisseuse Road. There were plenty of birds active in the forest as we made our way up with highlights being great views of a Green-backed Trogon and Lineated Woodpecker. At one point we came across a mixed species flock which made for exciting birding with birds coming and going rapidly. Numerous tanagers and a Collared Trogon were supplemented by Blue Dacnis, Golden-crowned Warblers, Golden-headed Manakins and Violaceous Euphonias. However, try as we might, we were unable to get views of several calling Great Antshrikes. A Red-rumped Woodpecker rounded off a super morning of birding in Trinidad’s Northern Range.
Collared Trogon
It was soon time to depart Asa Wright and head to the north-east corner of the island and the Mount Plaisir Estate Hotel. We did have time for a stop on the way at Aripo livestock station where Savanna Hawk, Yellow Oriole and Grey Kingbird were added to the trip list and spectacular numbers of American Black Vultures swirled overhead.
We reached Mount Plaisir in the evening and had time to sit on the balcony of our rooms and admire the stunning view over the Caribbean Sea, and do some seawatching of course! As well as numerous Frigatebirds and Pelicans, we picked up a Least Tern patrolling close inshore. Apparently quite unusual on the island at this time of the year on the island! And as we watched, a movement in a tree in front of us alerted us to the presence of a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl which stared down at us for a few moments before flying off and beginning to call nearby.
Day Four
We spent much of our final full day birding in the area around Grand Riviere. The big target bird here is the endemic Trinidad Piping-Guan which is estimated to only have a global population of around 300 adult birds, all residing in Trinidad’s Northern Range. We were up early for a search for them at Pawi Lodge (Pawi being the local name for the bird). This paid off wonderfully as we saw at least a dozen birds in the trees around the lodge and could hear others calling around us. There were plenty of hummingbirds visiting the garden and feeders too, including a showy Tufted Coquette and a stunning Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, and we finally had good looks at some Trinidad Euphonias.
Trinidad Piping-Guan
We continued birding down the road where we had great views of Golden-headed Manakins at a lek, plenty of Yellow-rumped Caciques, Guianan Violaceous Trogon, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and yet more Piping-Guans. After lunch we walked back up the road, noting species such as Rufous-breasted Wren, Forest Elaenia and Tropical Parula before we became very hot and headed back for a cold drink on the balcony! We still couldn’t resist a bit of seawatching though and picked up our first Brown Boobies among the distant pelicans. And as we sat there, a member of hotel staff came to find us to say that there were a couple of Piping-Guans in the hotel car park! Sure enough, we craned our neck around the balcony and could see them feeding on fruits behind us. Likely the rarest bird we’ll ever see from our hotel room!
Tufted Coquette
Day Five
We had a relaxed morning at the hotel to end our trip, with us being picked up for the airport after lunch. We still enjoyed watching the Frigatebirds, Boobies and Pelicans offshore and reflected on what had been a superb short trip to the island. We were looked after brilliantly by all the staff and local guides and can’t wait for our first tour their departing March 2027. The tour will feature lots more including a stay on Tobago, extended Caroni Swamp boat trip and a good chance of seeing Leatherback Turtles on the beach behind the hotel. See you there!
All photos taken during our scouting trip by Jonathan Farooqi
Click here to see more details about our 2027 tour
