Birdwatching in the Seychelles

Species ** = Endemic Species * = Endemic Sub-species	Status and where seen LD=La Digue, P=Praslin, BI=Bird Island, C=Cousin, M=Mahe ALL=All these islands
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus	BI 20+ birds, leaving roost in S of island pre-dawn (5.30 am)
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus	ALL Often seen flying over trees. Nests in hollow roots of trees often seen.
Red-footed Booby Sula sula	P 2 seen flying off-shore (distant)
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor	ALL except M usually small numbers soaring high. Big evening roost on BI
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel	BI 2s and 3s associating with Great FB
Green-backed Heron Butorides striatus crawfordi*	ALL except BI. Individual birds (ad. and juv.) exclusively in coastal areas (marshes and shallow seas)
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis seychellarum*	M and BI On M in the reclamation area, at the Perle Noir 'marsh'and in Victoria's market. 4 seen regularly flying to evening roost in Beau Vallon. On BI near to Sooty Tern colony.
Grey Heron Area cinerea	M Coastal areas around Victoria. Up to 11 birds on Union Vale mud flats
*Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea*	P (and M?) Brief sighting in N of P. Possible sighting at Slave Mission view point on M. Churches are reported a popular breeding site.
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus	LD & C Ad. and juv. in small numbers in both localities
Crab Plover Dromas ardeola	BI & M 2 on former, 1 on latter (Union Vale)
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus	P, BI, M small numbers on beaches and mud flats. Difficult (for us!) ID and only separated from Greater SP with care.
Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii	BI & M Separated from Lesser SP on BI, where both present together. Seen on M on Union Vale mud flats and on reclamation area (Columbage)
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva	BI & M Several on BI, on N point and around chaletcomplex. One in M on Union Vale mud flats.
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	ALL Usually in 1s and 2s with other waders. A few in partial breeding plumage.
Sanderling Calidris alba	P (up to 10 near Baye Ste. Anne) & BI (on E beach)
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea	P (10 near Baye Ste.Anne) BI (on grass around chalet complex, v. confiding, non-breeding plumage, in 2s and 3s) and in S M on coast
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	BI Single, with other waders on N end of air strip.
Whimbrel Numenius minutus	ALL except C. Usually small numbers (1 - 3 birds) on coast, but flock of 20 on BI and some on lawn of Cote D'Or Hotel on P.
Greenshank Tringa nebularia	P (1 near Anse Bateau), M (1 on Union Vale mud flats, 2 at Bel Ombre harbour and 1 at Anse au Poule Bleu) and BI (1 near N point).
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola	M Union Vale mud flats (1)
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereous	BI and M (Union Vale mud flats, and Columbage reclamation area), all singles
Common Sandpiper Actitus hypoleucos	M 1 at Beau Vallon, pool next to beach
Turnstone Arenaria interpres	ALL Possibly the most numerous wader during our visit. Some in semi-breeding plumage, esp on BI
Crested Tern Sterna bergii	ALL except LD. Baye Ste.Anne (P) a good site, but seen most days elsewhere either on edge of or out at sea
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus	BI (20 roosting in casuarina trees)& C (single in tree)
Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata	C (four birds) and BI (about 250,000 birds!) BI colony smaller than at peak of season, and most young birds nearly ready to leave
Saunders' Little Tern Sterna saundersi	BI 25 at N point. Not possible to separate them from Little Tern (Sterna albifrons), so claim of a 'life tick' depended on information from warden!
Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris	LD small numbers off Reunion with Brown Noddies, also from ferry between LD and P. Nesting on C and BI in good numbers.
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus	Similar locations to Lesser Noddies - LD, P, C and BI. When nesting and roosting, Browns favour palm trees
Fairy Tern Gygis alba	ALL, usually in small numbers, but with concentrations and good close views on C and B
Feral Pigeon Columba livea	Only on M - in Victoria
Malagasy Turtle Dove Streptopelia picturata picturata	ALL except C, favouring edges and clearings in woodlands.
Barred Ground Dove Geopelia striata	ALL, with a preference for inhabited areas
*Seychelles Blue Pigeon Alectroenas pulcherrima*	P (near Baye Ste Anne and Fond de l'Anse) and M (several places, including the Slave Mission).
Black Parrot Coracopsis nigra barklyi*	P (near Vallee de Maie and at Fond de l'Anse). One heard calling on Curiuse.
Barn Owl Tyto alba	LD - one calling near Reunion
*Seychelles Cave Swiftlet Collocalia francica elaphra*	LD (behind Reunion), P (above Valee de Mai) and M (in North and at Slave Mission site)
*Seychelles Bulbul Ixos crassirostris*	ALL (except BI). Quite wary, except in Vallee de Mai (picnic area at top of trail good for photographing this species
*Seychelles Magpie Robin Copsychus sechellarum*	Only on C, where confiding and almost 'tamed' by reserve staff
*Seychelles Warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis*	Only on C. One seen flitting, but another well seen on nest
*Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher Tersiphone corvina*	LD - more widespread around Reunion area than guide books suggest - not just on the reserve
*Seychelles Sunbird Nectarinia dussumieri*	ALL (except BI). Favours gardens and open wooded areas. Nests are quite easy to find, suspended below branches
*Seychelles Grey White-eye Zosterops modesta*	M - hills above Cascade, W of airport. On private land in direction of Mont Sebert (taken by guide). Many birders fail to connect with this species!
Indian Mynah Acridotheres tristis	ALL - even BI! Found on open land (e.g. Mahe Airport) and woodlands
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild	LD - single birds and flocks of up to 20, particularly on rough ground inland of the sports field at Reunion
Madagascar Fody Foudia madagascariensis	ALL, including BI. Males were coming into breeding plumage during our visit - much chasing of f.! In gardens and scrubland.
*Seychelles Fody Foudia seychellarum*	Only on C. Both m. and f. seen well near boat landing area