Parrots in the Wild Around St John

The blue, blue sky was a perfect backdrop to capture this parrot

Many people know that you can see parrot fish around St John and for sure a bar, restaurant, boat, or villa with the name 'parrot' in it but, not many know that we actually have wild parrots who visit us from time to time.  This guy hung out on a wire by our house and seemed quite happy to have me take his picture. 

We actually had 3 parrots that hung out on that wire most of one morning. I first noticed them after I heard a loud, squawking sound (not a pretty birdie call but, quite loud and could be somewhat annoying if around all day). I typically have seen them in the early morning hours. Where they hang out during the day I do not know!

Just hangin' out enjoying the view

Have you seen parrots on St John? Where? When?

A family comes to roost at our St John Villa

This pair of American Kestrels seem quite at home on our deck.

We believe we have provided a new home for this pair of Kestrels (a type of hawk) and are quite happy to do so (at no cost I might add). They are neither aggressive and or timid (letting me take pictures quite up close and personal). Right now they are visiting us at Beau Geste, the Guest House of our St John villa, Great Expectations. They arrived right after sunrise this morning (which we watched from the comfort of our bed). In case you want to watch the sunrise yourself you might take a peek at our live webcam (looking out on the South Shore of St John - Rendezvous Bay, Ditleff Point, Bordeaux Mountain, and into Reef Bay.

St John has lots of interesting bird life

 

This little guy came to visit us this morning.

From our friends at Wikipedia:

The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), sometimes colloquially known as the Sparrow Hawk, is a small falcon, and the only kestrel found in the Americas. It is the most common falcon in North America, and is found in a wide variety of habitats. At 19–21 centimeters (7–8 in) long, it is also the smallest falcon in North America. It exhibits sexual dimorphism in size and plumage, although both sexes have a rufous back with noticeable barring. Juveniles are similar in plumage to adults.

The American Kestrel hunts by hovering in the air with rapid wing beats or perching and scanning the ground for prey. Its diet typically consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice, and other small birds. It nests in cavities in trees, cliffs, buildings, and other structures. The female lays three to seven eggs, which both sexes help to incubate. It is a common bird to be used in falconry, especially by beginners.

Its breeding range extends from central and western Alaska across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, and south throughout North America, into central Mexico and the Caribbean. It is a local breeder in Central America and is widely distributed throughout South America. Most birds breeding in Canada and the northern United States migrate south in the winter. It is an occasional vagrant to western Europe.

He wasn't at all shy; probably waiting for lunch to be served.