The reopening of beaches in Tobago has been hailed as a sign that tourism on the island is slowly reopening to the world.
But for Scottish couple Michael and Helen Cox, the return of direct flights to the island allowed them to continue their mission to view and photograph all the species of birds in the world.
Michael's adventures have taken him to 42 countries while his wife is a bit more experienced having visited 52 countries.
They landed at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point, Tobago, aboard a British Airways flight last Monday.
The couple have been married for 26 years and are fully invested in their hobby.
"We were slowed down by the covid19 pandemic, which was difficult. But with countries reopening their borders, we are on a Caribbean tour which will take us to Trinidad and then Jamaica.”
[caption id="attachment_935868" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Tour guide Jason Radix talks to his Scottish clients Michael and Helen Cox during a wetlands tour on Wednesday. - David Reid[/caption]
For their latest quest, they retained the services of experienced tour guide Jason Radix, owner of Eureka Natural History Tours.
Michael told Newsday, "We are in Tobago to see the environment, habitat and wildlife. We are about getting into the forest and the countryside.”
Michael, who described himself as a wildlife photographer who specialises in birds, said he came to Tobago because although it is a small island it boasts of a wide variety of birds and wildlife diversity.
Radix, a former marketing manager at Asa Wright Nature Centre, was the ideal guide for the birders on their wetlands tour.
Newsday caught up with Michael and Helen on Wednesday morning at the entrance of Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, Lowlands ahead of their tour.
Michael said Tobago was on their bucket list for quite some time, as it provides an unspoilt habitat for birds.
“Depending on who you ask, there are 10,000 to 11,500 species of birds around the world, and Tobago has over 250 species. A number of the countries we have been to, the wildlife has been pushed back. The animals have been hunted down and the forest has been constantly eroded. In some countries there is nothing wild, only concrete.
“That’s why we like coming to places like Tobago, because the forest is still protected and there is lots of greenery around, and when we go out on the porch at the hotel (Cuffie River Nature Retreat Lodge) where we are staying, we are surrounded by nature and birds.”
Michael said he thoroughly enjoyed the wetlands tour, which took them to Tobago Plantation wetlands, Canaan sewerage pond, Bon Accord sewerage pond, Bon Accord lagoon and the Pigeon Point coast. He said he was able to see 40 lifers, a term used in bird watching to describe the sighting of a new species.
[caption id="attachment_935867" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A pair of least grebe, aquatic birds, fly past the Bon Accord sewerage plant on Wednes
