Systematic list of species

Birds

1. Gray francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus)

Introduced from the Indian Subcontinent. Several birds seen on the road. Present at Île-aux-Aigrettes on 4th Nov.

2. Feral pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Introduced from the Old World. Flocks seen in urbanized areas, including Port Louis and Flic-en-Flac.

3. Malagasy turtle-dove (Nesoenas picturatus)

Introduced from Madagascar. A bird fed on the ground at the waterfront on 3rd Nov. Several birds seen in the coastal forest of Île-aux-Aigrettes on 4th Nov.

4. Pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)

Endemic to Mauritius and probably the top bird of the trip. Stunning looks of three individuals along the forest of Île-aux-Aigrettes on 4th Nov.

5. Spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis)

Introduced from Southeast Asia. Several individuals seen in Port Louis and Flic-en-Flac.

6. Zebra dove (Geopelia striata)

Introduced from Southeast Asia. Very abundant across Mauritius, seen all days.

7. Mascarene swiftlet (Aerodramus francicus)

Endemic to the Mascarene Islands. Two birds fly over a ditch in Port Louis on the way back from RTREBS on 3rd Nov. One bird seen close to the departure point towards Île-aux-Aigrettes on 4th Nov.

8. Black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Five birds foraging in the mudflats of RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

9. Greater sand-plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii)

At least six birds in the mudflats of RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

10. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

A bird flies over Port Louis waterfront and at least ten birds seen in the mudflats of RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

11. Terek sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)

Three birds provide good looks in the mudflats of RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

12. Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

One bird seen in the shore at RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

13. Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Six birds forage in the shore with sanderlings at RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

14. Curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Five birds in the mudflats of RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

15. Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Four birds forage in the shore with turnstones at RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

16. White-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus)

A single bird flies over the waterfront buildings in the morning of 3rd Nov.

17. Striated heron (Butorides striata)

A bird fishes on the breakwaters of Port Louis waterfront and at least two birds are seen in RTREBS on 3rd Nov.

18. House crow (Corvus splendens)

Introduced from South Asia. Several birds are seen on the Port Louis harbor buildings on the way to RTREBS and on the river mouth once there, in the vegetation around a small church.

19. Mascarene martin (Phedina borbonica)

Restricted to Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. Close-range looks of several birds displaying over the resorts at Flic-en-Flac on 3rd Nov.

20. Red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)

Introduced from Southeast Asia. Among the most common and widespread birds of the island, seen all days in all locations visited.

21. Mauritius gray white-eye (Zosterops mauritianus)

Endemic to Mauritius. A bird is seen on top of the fence bordering the west side of RTREBS on 3rd Nov despite its scarcity in the capital region. Quite abundant in Flic-en-Flac.

22. Common myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Introduced from Southeast Asia. Extremely abundant, seen all days in all locations visited, including the airport at night upon arrival.

23. Village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)

Introduced from Subsaharan Africa. Four birds feeding on bread in Flic-en-Flac on 3rd Nov. Nests and birds seen in Mahébourg waterfront on 4th Nov.

24. Red fody (Foudia madagascariensis)

Introduced from Madagascar. Widespread and abundant, seen in all locations visited including Île-aux-Aigrettes.

25. Mauritius fody (Foudia rubra)

Endemic to Mauritius. An impressive species of which around eight smart-looking males and females were seen in different spots of Île-aux-Aigrettes, even at the pier, on 4th Nov.

26. Scaly-breasted munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Introduced from Southeast Asia. A flock seen on a Ficus tree in Port Louis waterfront and two birds sit on a garden fence on the way to RTREBS on 3rd Nov

27. Common waxbill (Estrilda astrild)

Introduced from Subsaharan Africa. Several birds forage on a garden on the way to RTREBS on 3rd Nov

28. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Introduced from the Old World. Widespread and seen all across the main island.

29. Yellow-fronted canary (Crithagra mozambica)

Introduced from Subsaharan Africa. Two birds sit on a garden fence on the way to RTREBS on 3rd Nov

Mammals

1. Mauritius flying-fox (Pteropus niger)

Surprisingly abundant within Port Louis, where a colony lives in Les Jardins de la Compagnie. Few other bat colonies were seen while riding buses across the island, but nowhere as abundant as around the capital city.

Reptiles

1. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

Introduced from Aldabra atoll, Seychelles to Île-aux-Aigrettes, where several individuals roam free in order to restore the ecological role of extinct Mauritian giant tortoise species.

2. Mauritian ornate day gecko (Phelsuma ornata)

Endemic to Mauritius. A gem of a lizard, it is quite abundant on Île-aux-Aigrettes.

3. Blue-tailed day gecko (Phelsuma cepediana)

Endemic to Mauritius. An individual seen in Pandanus trees of a resort garden in Flic-en-Flac Pandanus on 3rd Nov.

4. Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor)

Introduced from Southeast Asia. Large-sized individuals seen in Flic-en-Flac on 3rd Nov.