American Avocets Visit Anguilla's Rendezvous Bay Pond

It has been 23 years since American Avocets have graced Anguilla with their presence. The published literature tells us the last time this species was recorded here was in June of 1999 when two birds were seen on Sandy and Scrub Islands. 2022 changed all that!

In early January (the 11th to be precise) while counting birds on Rendezvous Bay Pond Important Bird Area (IBA), an unusual form appeared among a large group of Black-necked Stilts feeding at the northern side of the pond. Upon closer review of the photographs and a look by our favorite eBird reviewer Steven Mlodinow, a single bird was confirmed. Early the next morning, I rushed back to the site to find TWO birds in the same spot!

Though both species sport a black and white feather pattern, these two magnificent birds could not blend in without notice among the Black-necked Stilts.

Stilts are identified by their stunning red legs, black head and wings. Definitely not the shrinking violets of the bird world.

American Avocets are 4 inches taller and display strong blue-gray legs. Their overall appearance is white with a black scapular patch. A long upcurved bill is the distinctive marker that seals the deal on this species.

High water levels and their distance from a decent viewing spot, meant sketchy photographs and videos. Like all rare visitors, it is important to document the species clearly. It was a stiff challenge even for my camera.

To learn more about this rare visitor to Anguilla, I went directly to birdsoftheworld.org where I found the above distribution map. This clearly illustrates the range for this species, and Anguilla is definitely not in it! Even if you look at the nearby non-breeding areas for American Avocets, we are quite a distance away. The area shaded in orange on the map is their breeding range. That is quite a hike from our 35 square mile patch in the middle of the ocean.

Herbert Raffaele et al. describe the American Avocet as an irregular visitor to the West Indies in their book, A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies.

A quick review of American Avocet data in eBird shows records in both Cuba and Puerto Rico.

With no real information on how long the birds stayed on our offshore cays in 1999, it was hard to anticipate how long this pair would remain on Anguilla. My frequent visits were reported on eBird and backed up with supporting photographs. Videos were taken as often as possible.

To say I was thrilled that they remained on this wetland for even the first day of the Caribbean Waterbird Census, is an understatement. Three days after the first record seemed an eternity for such a rare bird. But there they were!

I continued to observe the pair in the exact same location on multiple occasions. They were clearly feeling at home in the Stilt community where a flock of Lesser Yellowlegs often joined. Their presence also alerted me to a Sora that was lurking for a couple of weeks in the nearby foliage.

I even managed to capture them six weeks later, during the Great Backyard Bird Count. Although they were still hanging out with their trusty Stilt companions, they managed to befriend a lovely Green Heron. Although he might just have been there to photobomb the event. We can’t be sure!

The record will also earn a mention in the American Bird Association’s North American Birds West Indies and Bermuda Winter Report (whew that’s a mouthful).

On March 18th I noticed a change in one of the birds. There was a tinge of brown on the head, meaning it was starting to molt into breeding plumage. Over the next few weeks, both birds would evolve into these beautiful colors. They would not however, move from their location. I had begun to think of this as a test of wills. I fully expected to win this battle, and at some point they would have to leave their cozy corner and come out into the open.

On the rainy morning of April 2nd, I checked for them in their usual spot and they were gone. It’s that moment of mixed emotions that every birder experiences. I was sad that they had moved on, but grateful for the gift of joy they had given over so many weeks. So I continued my count and moved to the normally busy corner by the parking lot.

I do believe a muffled scream came out of my mouth, as I parked in “my spot,” because there they were in all their glory just a few feet away. It had finally happened!

They were hanging out with a group of White-cheeked Pintails close to the sandy shore. Birder joy returned in an instant!

Although the day was less than optimal weather-wise, I got some amazing views of their plumage, the stunning blue-gray legs and those BILLS!

The distinction between male and female is most clearly seen in the bill. In the photograph above you can see the female in the foreground. She displays a bill that is upturned at the end. The male behind her has a slightly straighter bill.

From a photographer’s viewpoint, gloomy weather isn’t always a bad thing. This morning was no exception as I was able to capture some lovely shots of them out in the open.

American Avocet Female

American Avocet Male

This would be the last time we would see the two birds together, however. On April 3rd, only the male remained.

Because the two arrived together, I assumed they would depart together - especially if they were a bonded pair. The literature states that pairing often occurs before and during migration. I considered the possibility that they were siblings travelling together.

I also couldn’t rule out the possibility of predation of the female, as there was ample evidence of cat activity at the site. A large white cat often frequents the area, stalking birds in the foliage and on the sand spit. It was present during this visit as well. A quick check of the area didn’t reveal any evidence that it was predated, but I could not be sure.

On the evening of April 10, 2022, I spent the last few moments with the male Avocet as he preened and fed with other shorebirds and ducks. By the morning of the 11th he was gone.

To end this experience on a positive note, I choose to believe that the female left earlier and they shared a promise to meet up in their favorite nesting spot in May. (Yes I am anthropomorphizing this entire situation. But absent any evidence of foul play, I say let’s go with it!)

Despite all the science, I don’t think we will ever fully understand the internal clock that makes these birds migrate incredible distances to return to their nesting site.

For that matter, we will never know what brought them to Anguilla in the first place. Were they descendants of the two birds that came here 23 years ago revisiting an important ancestral wintering spot? Or, is it more likely that these two ended up on Anguilla’s shores because they were blown off course and found a suitable habitat to spend the winter months?

I am afraid there are more questions than answers. But isn’t that one of the things that keeps us out there in the world of birds and other amazing critters?

As with all moments in nature, I believe we are given a gift. I expect this gift will not happen again any time soon, but I feel so much better for experiencing it.

Good luck little ones!

You can check out our American Avocet companion reel on our YouTube Channel at the link below:

Birder’s Tip: If you haven’t already signed up for a Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World account, you really should. It is one of my go to references, and I find it especially useful when researching these rare species that visit our shores!