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BIRDQUEST > North America & The Caribbean > Lesser Antilles Tours > LESSER ANTILLES & TRINIDAD – An island arc full of endemics
LESSER ANTILLES & TRINIDAD – An island arc full of endemics
Lesser Antillean Pewee (image by Pete Morris)
Trinidad Piping Guan (image by Pete Morris)
Dominica House Wren (image by Pete Morris)
St Lucia Warbler (image by Pete Morris)
Purple Honeycreeper (image by Pete Morris)
Lesser Antillean Barn Owl (image by Pete Morris)
St Lucia Amazon (image by Pete Morris)
Whistling Warbler (image by Pete Morris)
Grenada Dove (image by Pete Morris)
Leatherback Turtle (image by Pete Morris)
Blue-chinned Sapphire (image by Pete Morris)
Oilbirds (image by Pete Morris)
Trinidad Motmot (image by Pete Morris)
Barbuda Warbler (image by Pete Morris)
Green Heron (image by Pete Morris)
White-breasted Thrashers (image by Pete Morris)
Least Tern (image by Pete Morris)
Lesser Antillean Barn Owls (image by Pete Morris)
Red-billed Tropicbird (image by Pete Morris)
Great Antshrike (image by Pete Morris)
St Lucia Black Finch (image by Pete Morris)
White-bearded Manakin (image by Pete Morris)
Green-throated Mango (image by Pete Morris)
Imperial Parrot (image by Pete Morris)
Grenada House Wren (image by Pete Morris)
Lilac-tailed Parrotlet (image by Pete Morris)
Martinique Oriole (image by Pete Morris)
St Lucia Pewee (image by Pete Morris)
White-necked Jacobin (image by Pete Morris)
Tufted Coquette (image by Pete Morris)
Yellow-chinned Spinetails (image by Pete Morris)
Bearded Bellbird (image by Pete Morris)
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch (image by Pete Morris)
Lesser Antillean Tanager (image by Pete Morris)
St Lucia Oriole (image by Pete Morris)
White-chested Emerald (image by Pete Morris)
Lesser Antillean Euphonia (image by Pete Morris)
Grey Trembler (image by Pete Morris)
Bridled Quail-Dove (image by Pete Morris)
Montserrat Oriole (image by Pete Morris)
Forest Thrush (image by Pete Morris)
Long-billed Gnatwren (image by Pete Morris)
Mangrove Cuckoo (image by Pete Morris)
Antillean-crested Hummingbird (image by Pete Morris)
St Vincent Amazon (image by Pete Morris)
Golden-headed Manakin (image by Pete Morris)
Rufous-throated Solitaire (image by Pete Morris)
Scarlet Ibis (image by Pete Morris)
Guadeloupe Woodpecker (image by Pete Morris)
Mangrove Warbler (image by Pete Morris)
Brown Trembler (image by Pete Morris)
Plumbeous Warbler (image by Pete Morris)
White-bellied Antbird (image by Pete Morris)
Lesser Antillean Bananaquit (image by Pete Morris)
Red-legged Thrush (image by Pete Morris)
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird (image by Pete Morris)
Zenaida Dove (image by Pete Morris)
Green Hermit (image by Pete Morris)
Caribbean Elaenia (image by Pete Morris)
Scarlet Ibises (image by Pete Morris)
Plain-brown Woodcreeper (image by Pete Morris)
Green-backed Trogon (image by Pete Morris)
Black-faced Antthrush (image by Pete Morris)
Blue-headed Hummingbird (image by Pete Morris)
Red-bellied Macaws (image by Pete Morris)
St Lucia House Wren (image by Pete Morris)
Green Throated Carib (image by Pete Morris)
Red-necked Amazon (image by Pete Morris)
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Tuesday 5th July – Tuesday 19th July 2022
Leader: Pete Morris
15 Days Group Size Limit 7
Trinidad Extension
Tuesday 19th July – Saturday 23rd July 2022
5 Days Group Size Limit 7
LESSER ANTILLES & TRINIDAD: OVERVIEW
Birdquest's Lesser Antilles birding tours, combined with Trinidad, feature both a series of endemic-rich, but little-visited Caribbean islands and one of its most popular birding venues. Our combined Lesser Antilles birding tours with Trinidad regularly record all of the endemic birds while we explore a whole chain of beautiful island-nations.
Of all the bird-rich regions of the Americas, the Caribbean stands out as amongst the most endemic-rich in the entire Neotropical faunal region. Although the largest islands tend to be the best known amongst birders, collectively the many small islands that make up the remainder of the Caribbean hold a treasure trove of avian riches.
One area stands far above the others in this regards, the Lesser Antilles, which between them hold around 30 surviving endemic species (depending on the taxonomy followed) as well as plenty of the more widespread Caribbean specialities. The Lesser Antilles are a long arc of islands connecting Puerto Rico and the rest of the Greater Antilles to Trinidad and the South American mainland.
Settled by the Caribs (an Amerindian people originally from South America) at the time European explorers and invaders reached the islands, little remains of their influence and nowadays the Lesser Antilles are an eclectic mixture of English, French, Dutch and West African influences, both as regards the ethnic origins of the people and culture, and as regards the local political dispensation, for here are independent nations, British crown colonies, départements of France and even an affiliated state of the Netherlands! One island may have croissants and baguettes, the next English meat pies and reggae, contrasts which hugely add to the fascination of travelling through the isles. Many of the islands changed hands during the turbulent history of the Caribbean, where every European war had its distant echo, or became pirate bases for a time. Slaves were shipped from Africa to work the plantations of sugar and tobacco, owned by Europeans who lived in style in imposing plantation houses, and even now, approaching two centuries after emancipation, most Afro-Caribbeans are still waiting for economic opportunity to come their way.
With one of the richest concentrations of endemic bird species in the Caribbean, the Lesser Antilles are a very attractive venue for anyone with an interest in the avifauna of this beautiful part of the world. Good standards of accommodation and food, and mostly easy travelling and birding conditions, make for a highly rewarding journey.
We will commence our Lesser Antilles birding tour in Antigua and work our way south, visiting ten of the islands in total. This beautiful, verdant and mountainous chain of islands has long attracted people who wanted 'to get away from it all' and it nowadays has a well-developed tourism infrastructure.
We start our travels in Antigua, which has no single-island endemics of its own but which does hold West Indian Whistling Duck. A day trip to the nearby island of Barbuda will turn up the endemic Barbuda Warbler, as well as our first Green Caribs and Lesser Antillean Bullfinches.
The volcanic island of Montserrat was half-destroyed by a huge eruption, but the endemic Montserrat Oriole still survives in good numbers and here we will have our first chance for such Lesser Antillean endemics and near-endemics as Bridled Quail-Dove, Purple-throated Carib, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Forest Thrush and Brown Trembler.
The beautiful island of Dominica has no fewer than two endemic Amazona parrots, Red-necked Amazon and the much less common Imperial Amazon. Other specialities found amongst its splendid mountains and forests filled with tree-ferns include Lesser Antillean Swift, Blue-headed Hummingbird, Lesser Antillean Pewee, Lesser Antillean Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Thrasher, Plumbeous Warbler and Lesser Antillean Euphonia. While staying on the island we will also make a trip offshore in search of Great Sperm Whales and seabirds.
Francophone Guadeloupe holds the endemic Guadeloupe Woodpecker and some very approachable Bridled Quail-Doves, while Martinique, another French territory, is home to the endemic Martinique Oriole as well as Grey Trembler, White-breasted Thrasher and Lesser Antillean Saltator.
Saint Lucia is justifiably famous for its amazing scenery, where the near-perfectly conical 'pitons', extinct volcanoes, rise abruptly from the western coast. Here we will seek out four more single-island endemics, St Lucia Amazon, St Lucia Warbler, St Lucia Black Finch and St Lucia Oriole, as well as the distinctive St Lucia form of the Lesser Antillean Pewee.
The island of Saint Vincent is home to the endemic St Vincent Amazon and the delightful Whistling Warbler, as well as Grenada Flycatcher and Lesser Antillean Tanager.
Our final ports of call with their single-island endemics will be Barbados, for Barbados Bullfinch (and the interesting local form of the Western Barn Owl), and Grenada, home to the endangered Grenada Dove.
After all these idyllic islands and so much sun and sea, never mind such relaxing and enjoyable birding, it is going to be hard to drag ourselves away!
During the optional extension we will explore the much larger island of Trinidad. Famous internationally for carnival, calypso and cricket, Trinidad's mixed-race human population are a friendly, warm-hearted, fun-loving people who demonstrate one of the world's most admirable examples of integration and racial harmony.
Situated at the far southeastern corner of the Caribbean Sea, the island lies on the continental shelf close to Venezuela; indeed, Trinidad's northwestern peninsula extends to within 10 miles (16 kilometres) of the Venezuelan coast, and a few thousand years ago the island was joined to the mainland. The island's Northern Range, which rises to almost 3300ft (1000m), in fact represents the farthest extremity of the Andes!
Accordingly, the islands' avifauna is dominated by the continental, rather than the oceanic, elements of the region. Trinidad, about the size of an English county, has a bird list of over 400 species, comprising no fewer than 68 families, of which a remarkable 247 species breed on the island. This amazing diversity for such relatively small island reflects the luxuriant tropical conditions, with habitats ranging from montane and lowland rainforests, cultivated areas, savannas and scrub to freshwater and brackish swamps, marshes, sea coasts and offshore seabird islands.
Trinidad has long been considered to offer exciting Neotropical birding in a compact area and with very easy birding conditions. What with idyllic accommodation at Asa Wright), a relaxed atmosphere and great birding often starting right at the doorstep, what more could one want? The famous Asa Wright sanctuary is home to what must surely be one of the best bird feeding stations in the world and is a paradise for birders and photographers.
While based here we will also experience the strange, nocturnal, cave-dwelling Oilbirds that feed on fruit and navigate by echo-location, find the endemic Trinidad Motmot, hear the deafening call of the Bearded Bellbird, admire the incredible antics of two different species of manakins as they perform their amazing displays to an accompaniment of grunts, buzzes, snaps and wheezes, and enjoy the mind-blowing sight of hundreds of Scarlet Ibises speeding over the mangroves to their roost. And this is before even mentioning the parrots, trogons, jacamars, toucans, ant-thrushes and many other exciting birds!
Finally, in the far northeast of Trinidad, around Grand Riviere, we will search for the endangered endemic Trinidad Piping-Guan and encounter huge Leatherback Turtles on the beach.
Birdquest has operated Lesser Antilles birding tours since 2004 and Trinidad birding tours since 1996.
Trinidad-only Option: If you wish you may take the Trinidad section as a stand-alone tour.
Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels are mostly of good standard, occasionally of medium standard. Road Transport is by minibus, car or 4×4 vehicle and roads are variable in quality.
Walking: The walking effort during our Lesser Antilles birding tours including Trinidad is mostly easy, but there are several moderate grade walks.
Climate: Almost always warm or hot at this season, with dry and sunny weather interspersed with overcast and rainy intervals (not usually of long duration).
Bird Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile in the Lesser Antilles and good on Trinidad.
A unique opportunity to hop around ten of the lovely Lesser Antillean islands, each with their unique character
Having a great chance of finding all the extant Lesser Antillean endemics and specialities
Taking the ferry to tiny Barbuda to enjoy the wonderfully common endemic warbler of the same name
Finding the rare Montserrat Oriole on the small island that was almost destroyed by a huge volcanic eruption
Seeing the rare and endangered endemic parrots on Dominica, St Lucia and St Vincent, including the critically endangered Imperial Parrot
Seeking out other unique and rare endemics such as Grenada Dove, Guadeloupe Woodpecker and the amazing little Whistling Warbler
Enjoying some unique subspecies which will surely be elevated to species status, including four very different 'House Wrens', 'Lesser Antillean' Bananaquits and the brilliant Lesser Antillean Barn Owl
Finding the other colourful endemic hummingbirds, warblers and orioles
Getting great views of the endemic skulkers such as Bridled Quail-Dove and Forest Thrush
Seeing the amazing endemic thrashers and tremblers of the Lesser Antilles
Enjoying glorious sunsets, regggae and rum punch, all at an easy pace!
For those that wish, enjoying an unrivalled selection of 'endemic' locally brewed beers!
Visiting the brilliant Asa Wright Reserve on Trinidad, with its Oilbird cave, Bearded Bellbirds and superb White-bearded Manakin lek
Finding the rare and endemic Trinidad Piping Guan at its only surviving reliable site
Visiting a brilliant hummingbird garden where the stunning Ruby Topaz should delight us
Enjoying the incredible spectacle as vivid Scarlet Ibises fly into roost as we sip rum punch (again)!
Watching in awe as giant Leatherback Turtles lay eggs on a remote beach
Day 1: Afternoon tour start at Antigua.
Day 2: Visit Barbuda. Overnight on Antigua.
Day 3: Morning flight to Montserrat.
Day 4: Morning flight to Antigua, then fly to Dominica and drive to Roseau.
Day 5: Exploring Dominica. Night at Roseau.
Day 6: Dominica, then fly to Guadeloupe.
Day 7: Guadeloupe, then fly to Martinique. Drive to Tartane.
Day 8: Exploring Martinique. Overnight at Tartane.
Day 9: Martinique, then fly to Saint Lucia.
Day 10: Exploring Saint Lucia.
Day 11: Saint Lucia, then fly to Saint Vincent.
Day 12: Exploring Saint Vincent.
Day 13: Saint Vincent, then fly to Barbados.
Day 14: Morning flight to Grenada.
Day 15: Grenada. Early afternoon tour end at Grenada airport.
Day 1: Afternoon flight from Grenada to Port of Spain, Trinidad. Drive to Asa Wright Nature Centre.
Days 2-3: Exploring Trinidad. Overnights at Asa Wright Nature Centre.
Day 4: Exploring central Trinidad, then drive to Grande Riviere.
Day 5: Grande Riviere, then drive to Port of Spain airport for afternoon tour end.
To see a larger map, click on the square-like 'enlarge' icon in the upper right of the map box.
To see (or hide) the 'map legend', click on the icon with an arrow in the upper left of the map box.
To change to a satellite view, which is great for seeing the physical terrain (and for seeing really fine details by repetitive use of the + button), click on the square 'map view' icon in the lower left corner of the 'map legend'.
Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.
We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.
We also include these flights: Antigua-Montserrat-Antigua, Antigua-Dominica, Dominica-Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe-Martinique, Martinique-St Lucia, St Lucia-St Vincent, St Vincent-Barbados, Barbados-Grenada and Grenada-Port of Spain. This long series of flights naturally adds up to a very considerable cost. Exact routing may vary.
Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.
TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)
2022: provisional £5650, $7690, €6220, AUD10220. Antigua/Grenada.
Trinidad Extension: £1500, $2050, €1660, AUD2720. Grenada/Port of Spain.
Single Supplement: 2022: £650, $890, €720, AUD1180.
Trinidad Extension: £180, $250, €200, AUD330.
The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.
This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.
Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.
LESSER ANTILLES & TRINIDAD BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY
Lesser Antilles: Day 1 Our tour begins in the afternoon at Antigua airport. We will spend two nights on the island.
There are some lagoons and saltpans on Antigua which hold some good birds. Most notable among these is the rare, localized and endangered West Indian Whistling Duck, but other interesting species include White-cheeked Pintail and Wilson's Plover.
In addition, we may well see Great, Snowy and Western Cattle Egrets, Great Blue, Little Blue, Tricolored and Green Herons, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Least Sandpiper, and Sandwich and Least Terns. White-crowned Pigeons reach the southern limits of their range on Antigua and we should see some during our explorations.
Lesser Antilles: Day 2 A short ferry ride will take us to the low-lying island of Barbuda, some 45 kilometres to the north of Antigua. Ornithologically, the prime interest here is the attractive endemic Barbuda Warbler, and as the species is quite common it will not take us long to find some.
As the only ferry home is in the late afternoon, a relaxing day enjoying this pleasant island is in prospect, and in true Caribbean style we can linger over a long lunch complete with fresh-caught fish and of course cold beer!
Some widespread Lesser Antillean birds can be seen on the island and, in addition to Lesser Antillean Bullfinch and Green-throated Carib (endemic and near-endemic to the Lesser Antilles respectively), we should see Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Zenaida Dove (another Caribbean speciality), Grey Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, Mangrove Warbler, Bananaquit, Black-faced Grassquit and Carib Grackle.
Lesser Antilles: Day 3 We will take a short flight this morning to the small volcanic island of Montserrat for an overnight stay.
The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in November 1493 during his second voyage to the New World. He named it after the Santa María de Montserrate monastery near Barcelona as the island's peaks reminded him of the mountains behind the monastery. Montserrat, which usually successfully avoids imposing itself on the world's stage, briefly hit the international headlines in 1995 when the Soufrière Hills Volcano erupted violently after 400 years of dormancy, later (in 1997) destroying Montserrat's capital, Plymouth. The eruptions rendered a large part of the island uninhabitable, with large areas lying under a dense blanket of volcanic ash. Nowadays only about a third of the island is inhabited, although much more than this remains undamaged by volcanic activity (an environmental bonus for the avifauna, if not for the island's human inhabitants!), but life goes on and the infrastructure has been largely reorganized. Many of the island's inhabitants have left to seek a new life on other Caribbean islands, but for those that remain the slow, rural pace of the island seems largely unchanged.
Our prime target in this forgotten corner of the Lesser Antilles is, of course, the endemic Montserrat Oriole, which is still found in good numbers in the remaining forests. We will visit the Centre Hills in the north of the island to search for this striking black-and-yellow species, which is not too difficult to find.
Other specialities we are likely to come across include three more Lesser Antillean endemics: Purple-throated Carib, the secretive Forest Thrush and the strange Brown Trembler (an aberrant thrasher that flutters its wings and trembles all over as it moves through the forest; the form inhabiting these northern islands may be specifically distinct). Two Lesser Antillean near-endemics are also likely: the near-endemic Bridled Quail-Dove is not uncommon on the island and we should also see our first Antillean Crested Hummingbirds.
Other species restricted to the Caribbean, or virtually so, include Scaly-naped Pigeon and the restricted-range Pearly-eyed Thrasher, while more widespread species include Brown Booby, American Kestrel, Common Ground-Dove and Mangrove Cuckoo.
Lesser Antilles: Day 4 We will return to Antigua this morning and then take a flight southwards to the island of Dominica for a two nights stay near its tiny capital, Roseau. We may arrive in time for some initial exploration.
Lesser Antilles: Day 5 Dominica (pronounced Domineeka), discovered by Columbus one Sunday in November 1493 (hence its name), deservedly styles itself the 'Nature Island of the Caribbean', for it is unusual in having preserved large tracts of its native forest. This beautiful island is known for mountain and rainforest scenery unsurpassed in the Lesser Antilles and the island has a rich fauna both above and below water, making it a popular haunt of scuba divers as well as those interested in terrestrial natural history.
We will head up the western coast to the Northern Forest Reserve, situated on the flanks of Morne Diablotin, at 4747ft (1447m) both the island's highest peak and the highest mountain in the Lesser Antilles.
Here, below dramatic peaks clothed in forest, we will walk to the edge of a deep ravine and wait at dawn at a small watchpoint that gives a good view over the area. The endemic Red-necked Amazon is easy to see as the birds leave their roosts on the higher ridges and descend to feed in the forest trees or in nearby plantations. We should soon obtain excellent views of these noisy birds in the canopy or squawking madly as they fly overhead. Imperial Amazon, the island's other endemic species, is much less numerous and we may have to be very patient before observing this large and impressive Amazona perched in a tree or making its way across the valley. Indeed, this is one of the toughest Lesser Antillean endemics, so we have allowed plenty of time for the pursuit.
As well as spending time parrot watching (or rather, 'parrot waiting'), we will explore the adjacent rainforest, which is excellent for birds and a beautiful place to stroll on the excellent trail system. Here amongst the huge trees and beautiful tree-ferns we have another good chance for the shy Forest Thrush, whilst other Lesser Antillean endemics include Lesser Antillean Swift, Blue-headed Hummingbird (otherwise only found on Martinique), the endearing Lesser Antillean Pewee, Lesser Antillean Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Thrasher, Brown Trembler (of one of the southern forms) and Plumbeous Warbler (shared only with Guadeloupe). The Lesser Antilles form of the Antillean Euphonia (a very distinctive form with a 'feminized' male plumage) may merit specific status. There is also a distinctive endemic form of the House Wren, one of four we will see on the tour, all of which have been proposed as distinct species at one time or another.
Caribbean endemics include Caribbean Elaenia, Rufous-throated Solitaire with its hauntingly beautiful refrain, and the stunning Red-legged Thrush. Although not a Caribbean endemic, we shall be keeping a close eye on the skies for Black Swift, a summer visitor here from its unknown winter quarters (presumed to be in South America) and probably easier to observe in Dominica than anywhere else in its peculiar breeding range that extends very patchily from California to the Lesser Antilles.
Other species of wider distribution include Broad-winged Hawk, Ruddy Quail-Dove and, with a bit of luck, the huge Ringed Kingfisher. On the way back to Roseau, where Eurasian Collared Doves have colonized the town (just another step towards world domination by this unstoppable species), we will make a stop or two along the coast where we should find Roseate Tern, Caribbean Martin and Tropical Mockingbird. Bridled and Sooty Terns, and Brown Noddy, can also be seen from the shore on occasion.
Lesser Antilles: Day 6 After a final morning on Dominica, we will take a short flight to Guadeloupe for an overnight stay, arriving in time for some initial exploration.
Guadeloupe, to most visitor's amazement, is a fully-fledged department of France, sending a deputy to the French parliament, so is therefore treated as part of the European Union, with all that this implies for development funds. For this reason, Guadeloupe and its sister Martinique have a level of economic activity unmatched by any other islands in the Lesser Antilles and indeed most of the Caribbean. The expressways, prosperous-looking towns, modern factories, gleaming airport, new cars and fancily-dressed locals give the impression one is visiting some strange Franco-African version of the Côte d'Azur rather than a Caribbean island!
Lesser Antilles: Day 7 We will head off early this morning to a small river valley where, for a short time after dawn, the usually uncommon and secretive Bridled Quail-Dove is as bold as brass, even walking by the roadside and allowing a close approach! Nearby we will explore the tropical forest in search of Guadeloupe's sole endemic, the Guadeloupe Woodpecker. These blackish woodpeckers are noisy birds, so we should have little trouble finding one.
In the afternoon we will take a short flight to Martinique for a two nights stay at Tartane, a small village on the Presqu'île la Caravelle. As with Guadeloupe, the obvious prosperity of this distant part of the European Union seems staggering after impoverished Dominica.
Lesser Antilles: Day 8 There are two species of bird which are restricted to the islands of Martinique and St Lucia, Grey Trembler and White-breasted Thrasher, but both are far easier to see on Martinique.
This morning we will explore the Château Dubuc area of the Presqu'île la Caravelle, a low but hilly peninsula on the west coast of the island where the dry forest is home to a good population of the handsome White-breasted Thrasher, as well as the striking Martinique Oriole (endemic to Martinique) and Lesser Antillean Saltator (endemic to the Lesser Antilles in general). Another species likely to be seen here is Bare-eyed Thrush.
Afterwards, we will head up into the hills to look for Grey Trembler. We also have another opportunity to find the attractive Ble-headed Hummingbird, the unobtrusive Lesser Antillean Euphonia and the scarce Martinique Oriole.
Lesser Antilles: Day 9 After some final birding on Martinique, we will take a short flight south to St Lucia for a two nights stay.
Lesser Antilles: Day 10 St Lucia (pronounced St Loosha) is not only one of the most scenic islands in the Lesser Antilles, epitomized by its spectacular conical volcanic peaks rising abruptly from the sea (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), but also the richest island for birds, holding no less than four endemic species and a series of additional Lesser Antillean endemics.
We will spend much of our time in the Edmund Forest Reserve in south-central St Lucia where we will be looking in particular for the five St Lucia endemics: St Lucia Amazon, St Lucia Warbler, St Lucia Black Finch and St Lucia Oriole. The distinctive St Lucia form of the Lesser Antillean Pewee may also merit specific status.
[St Lucia once had an additional endemic species, the ground-loving Semper's Warbler, but with no confirmed sightings since 1961 this is now thought to be extinct (largely as a result of predation by introduced mongooses).]
St Lucia also holds an endemic form of the House Wren and many other Caribbean birds can be found in the island's beautiful forests. At dusk, we will search for the isolated local form of the Rufous Nightjar, although this can be difficult to find.
Lesser Antilles: Day 11 After spending a last morning on St Lucia we will take a short afternoon flight to St Vincent for a two nights stay.
Lesser Antilles: Day 12 The mountainous island of St Vincent still possesses extensive forests which we will explore in search of the island's two endemic species and several other specialities.
Most of our time will be devoted to the beautiful forests of the Vermont Forest Reserve in the south-central part of the island. Here we should see noisy St Vincent Amazons and the delightful (and noisy) little Whistling Warbler, as well as Grenada Flycatcher and Lesser Antillean Tanager (both species otherwise found only on Grenada and, in the case of the former, the Grenadines). Yet again there is an endemic form of the House Wren.
More widespread species we should encounter include Common Black Hawk, Eared Dove, Smooth-billed Ani and Cocoa Thrush, plus the strange-looking black morph of the Bananaquit (which predominates here and on Grenada). Along the rocky coastline, we can expect to see the graceful White-tailed Tropicbird and perhaps Red-footed Booby.
Lesser Antilles: Day 13 After a final morning on Saint Vincent we will take a short afternoon flight to Barbados for an overnight stay.
On Barbados, we will be looking in particular for the Barbados Bullfinch. This interesting form, restricted to Barbados, only exhibits a brown, female-type plumage. We will also have a good chance of finding the highly distinctive Lesser Antillean form of the Western Barn Owl, which is considered a form of the Ashy-faced Owl by some.
Lesser Antilles: Day 14 This morning we will catch a short flight to Grenada for an overnight stay at the capital, St George's. Grenada (pronounced 'Grenayda') is the most southerly of the Lesser Antilles and, as with all the larger islands, is largely rugged and mountainous.
Our major target species here is the highly endangered endemic Grenada Dove, now restricted to a few areas in the low-lying southwest of the island and perhaps reduced to fewer than 70 individuals. We will concentrate on the Mount Hartman Estate, 1200 acres (485 hectares) of dry scrub forest that now supports about 75% of the surviving Grenada Doves. With persistence, we have an excellent chance of seeing the species during our stay.
Other new birds should include the endemic local form of the House Wren, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Yellow-bellied Seedeater and Shiny Cowbird.
Lesser Antilles: Day 15 After some final birding on Grenada, the Lesser Antilles section of our tour ends in the early afternoon at Grenada airport.
Trinidad: Day 1 From Grenada, those continuing to Trinidad will take a flight to Port of Spain. From the airport we will transfer to the Asa Wright Nature Centre, where we will be staying for the next three nights.
Trinidad: Days 2-3 The Asa Wright Nature Centre is idyllically situated at about 1300ft (400m) in the Arima Valley amidst the lower montane rainforest of the Northern Range. The Centre was formerly a cocoa, coffee and citrus plantation, owned by an eccentric Icelander, Mrs Asa Wright, and her English husband, but since 1967 it has operated under a non-profit trust set up to preserve its wildlife in perpetuity. A favourite place for naturalists from all over the world, it has frequently provided facilities for television wildlife features, including some top BBC productions. Surrounded by primary forest, and crisscrossed by well-kept trails, the Centre's grounds of 400 acres (160 hectares) include the now largely abandoned cultivated areas, as well as rainforest, and are bisected by the Arima River and several mountain torrents.
The star attraction at Asa Wright is undoubtedly the feeding station, which must surely rank as one of the best of any tropical lodge anywhere. Indeed, this one remarkable feature alone would be enough to propel Asa Wright into the top league of great wildlife spots, even without its many other attractions. Not only are there hummingbird feeders here in abundance, but also a series of bird tables where bread, fruit and other foods are put out in order to lure in an extraordinary diversity of birds, mammals and even reptiles. Many colourful birds can be seen at close quarters from the Centre's wide veranda overlooking the gardens, where photographers will delight at the opportunity to shoot away at the hummingbirds and honeycreepers only a very short distance away at the various feeders.
Regular visitors to the feeders (or the nearby flower banks) include a spectacular collection of hummingbirds, including Rufous-breasted, Green and Little Hermits, White-necked Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, the minuscule Tufted Coquette, Blue-chinned Sapphire, White-chested Emerald, Copper-rumped Hummingbird and Long-billed Starthroat.
Other regular visitors include Ruddy Ground-Dove, Grey-fronted Dove, Bananaquit, Green and Purple Honeycreepers, Blue-grey, Palm, Silver-beaked and White-lined Tanagers, and Crested Oropendola (there is an adjacent colony with enormous, stocking-like hanging nests which is sometimes attended by parasitic Giant Cowbirds). Even Red-rumped Agoutis are frequently seen scavenging tit-bits below the bird-feeders, where another regular visitor is the metre-long carnivorous Golden Tegu lizard.
In the grounds of Asa Wright we are likely to encounter the gorgeous endemic Trinidad Motmot, as well as Little Tinamou (only likely to be heard), Scaled Pigeon, Blue-headed Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, the diurnal Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, the beautiful Amazonian Violaceous Trogon, the impressive Channel-billed Toucan, Golden-olive, Chestnut, Lineated and Red-rumped Woodpeckers, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Great and Barred Antshrikes, Forest Elaenia, Tropical Kingbird, Streaked and Ochre-bellied Flycatchers, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Pewee, Southern House and Rufous-breasted Wrens, White-necked Thrush, Golden-fronted Greenlet, Violaceous Euphonia, Turquoise Tanager and Greyish Saltator. Within the more enclosed forested sections, we will look for the leks of White-bearded and Golden-headed Manakins (enjoying the amazing antics of the White-bearded as it whirrs and buzzes amongst the undergrowth like an animated fire-cracker and the bewildering flight-display of the Golden-headed underneath the canopy) and scour the canopy and mid-level vegetation for the bizarrely-adorned Bearded Bellbird. With luck, we will come across one of the rarer and more elusive species, such as a Grey-throated Leaftosser.
Overhead we should see Grey-headed Kite, the superb White Hawk (and perhaps the magnificent Ornate Hawk-Eagle) and Chestnut-collared, Grey-rumped and Band-rumped Swifts.
A real highlight will be a visit to the Oilbird cave, where perhaps a hundred individuals of this unique species, the sole member of the family, spend their days in the semi-gloom. We should be able to get wonderful close-up views of these strange nocturnal creatures, a fruit-eating species resembling an enormous nightjar.
We will also explore the main ridge of Trinidad's Northern Range at about 600m altitude and the northern slopes en route to the village of Blanchisseuse on Trinidad's north coast. We will stop at intervals to look for such species as Black and Turkey Vultures, Collared Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, the ground-dwelling, bantam-like Black-faced Antthrush, Pale-breasted and Stripe-breasted Spinetails, Grey-breasted Martin, Tropical Parula, Golden-crowned Warbler, Blue Dacnis, Bay-headed and Speckled Tanagers, and Blue-black Grassquit. With a bit of luck, we will see the uncommon Lilac-crowned Parrotlet, Sooty Grassquit (which sometimes occurs in small open areas at the roadside) and Tooth-billed (or Southern Hepatic) Tanager.
No birding visit to Trinidad would be complete without a visit to the freshwater marshes and brackish mangroves of the Caroni Swamp and its environs. At a small sewage treatment plant en route, we shall look for Least Grebe, Purple Gallinule, Wattled Jacana, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Pied Water-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant and Yellow-hooded Blackbird. After we reach the edge of the swamp we will boarding a flat-bottomed boat for our trip into the interior. Amongst the mangroves, we can expect to find Large-billed Tern, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Yellow Oriole, Bicolored Conebill, Red-capped Cardinal and Spectacled Caiman. We will very likely come across a Common Potoo roosting high in the mangroves and looking very much like a strange broken off branch, and with luck we will encounter Straight-billed Woodcreeper.
The highlight of the trip will undoubtedly be the evening arrival of hundreds of Scarlet Ibis at their mangrove roosts and we will enjoy watching the flocks undulating past, the birds an impossibly deep scarlet colour that must be unique in the avian world!
In addition, we will visit a marshy and scrubby area where we will search for Black-crested Antshrike as well as Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Savanna Hawk, Yellow-headed Caracara, Southern Lapwing, Sulphury Flycatcher and, if we are in luck, Pinnated Bittern. As dusk approaches, we will wait for the incoming flocks of Red-bellied Macaws and Orange-winged and Yellow-crowned Parrots arriving at their roost in the Royal Palms.
We will also visit another set of hummingbird feeders where the exquisite Ruby Topaz and the scarce Green-throated Mango occur alongside the now familiar species from Asa Wright.
Trinidad: Days 4 After some final birding in north-central Trinidad, we will travel to the remote settlement of Grand Riviere in the northeastern part of the island, where we will stay overnight.
Our main reason for visiting the area is to see the endemic Trinidad Piping Guan. This rare and endangered species still occurs in small numbers in this area and we have a high chance of encountering this attractive and interesting bird. Indeed, we may well obtain spectacular views as the birds sun themselves in the treetops.
Other species we should see in this habitat include Grey Hawk, White-tipped Dove, Short-tailed Swift, Amazonian White-tailed Trogon, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, White-flanked Antwren, Silvered and White-bellied Antbirds, Boat-billed and Yellow-olive Flycatchers, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Black-tailed Tityra, White-winged Swallow, the extraordinary Long-billed Gnatwren, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Yellow-rumped Cacique and Red-crowned Ant Tanager. We also have another chance for the attractive Lilac-tailed Parrotlet. After dark we may well find Mottled Owl and Pauraque.
At this season huge Leatherback Turtles lay their eggs on the beach near our hotel, so we may well have the chance to see these leviathans this evening.
Trinidad: Day 5 After some final birding around Grand Riviere, we will drive back to Port of Spain, where our tour ends in the afternoon.
LESSER ANTILLES & TRINIDAD TOUR REPORT 2015
by Pete Morris
Other Caribbean Islands birding tours by Birdquest include:
BAHAMAS ISLANDS – where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean
CUBA – The endemic-rich island that likes to be different
Private: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC & PUERTO RICO – A feast of Caribbean endemics
Private: JAMAICA & GRAND CAYMAN – Birding the endemic-rich 'Island of Reggae' plus Vitelline Warbler


I am Bart, born in '83, moved to Amsterdam in 2010 and currently work with student startups at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
My main motivator is curiosity, and I love to read, listen to or watch stories about food, history, culture, politics, sport and cities.
The thing that makes me the happiest is a big table full of food and sharing it with friends, family or colleagues.
I experience Amsterdam as a city full of hidden gems — sometimes literally hidden between huge neon-signs or behind a small gate. Or it can be in a place where you don't expect it to be and would never look for. Or there can be so much of something that you will not recognize the real thing.
But in a city with less than a million inhabitants but more than 160 nationalities and countless cultures, these gems are never far away. And these gems, whether something seemingly basic or rare, are what make visiting or living in Amsterdam absolutely worthwhile.


As an ERIC-PPCI participating site we will provide you with all the equipment you need in order to recruit patients.
Below is a link to a demonstration on how to use the AutoRIC Device and Cuffs.
We are a Research Centre based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.


text:
Hard hat involving wireless data transmission
The invention concerns a hard hat having wireless protection to monitor human measuring values, such as, temperature, pulse, moisture and other values which are recorded in the head section of a human and transmitted wirelessly to a stationary or mobile reception unit and which monitor the physical constitution of the hard hat user.
The invention is characterized by a device at which a hard hat is equipped with a transponder which, in turn, is data connected with several measuring sensors arranged in and at the hard hat. The transponder is also connected with an antenna located in the upper part of the hard hat. This antenna is able to transmit as omnidirectional wave the transmitting frequency transmitted by the transponder in a specific frequency range to a stationary or mobile transceiver located outside of the field.
In addition, the invention is characterized by a procedure to have wireless protection to monitor human measuring values.
Schwiers, Stefan (Monchengladbach, DE)
Feierle, Karl-heinz (Dornbirn, AT)
IDENTEC SOLUTIONS AG (Lustenau, AT)
2/425, 340/539.1
A42B3/00
20080222773 Convertible hand covering system September, 2008 Vaughn
20080127398 Modifying Garments to Provide an Adjustable Length Feature June, 2008 Ryan
20090300821 PROTECTIVE GLOVE HAVING SEGMENTED WRIST GUARD December, 2009 Winningham
20070287978 BREAST MILK ABSORBENT PAD December, 2007 Fujikawa et al.
20020095130 Adhesive garment closures July, 2002 Seitter et al.
20050155150 Bambino bundle July, 2005 Janish et al.
20090265841 CHINSTRAP ASSEMBLY October, 2009 Ferrara
20090241241 Configurable headgear October, 2009 Bailey
20070067895 Device for protecting of the hips March, 2007 Sørensen
20080172770 Sun shawl July, 2008 Clark
20090044318 Lens inserts for cage masks February, 2009 Spagna et al.
ALAM, FAYYAZ
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (FORT WAYNE, IN, US)
1. Hard hat having wireless protection to monitor human measuring values, such as, temperature, pulse, moisture and other values which are recorded in the head section of a human and transmitted wirelessly to a stationary or mobile reception unit and which monitor the physical constitution of the hard hat user, characterized by the fact that the hard hat is equipped with a transponder which, in turn, is data connected to several measuring sensors, which are arranged inside and at the hard hat, and that the transponder is also connected to an antenna located in the upper part of the hard hat, which transmits as wireless radio wave in a specific frequency range the transmitting frequency transmitted by the transponder to a mobile or stationary transmit-receive unit arranged outside the field.
2. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the antenna is designed as a circular transmitter and transmits an omnidirectional radio wave.
3. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the antenna is designed as directional transmitter transmitting a radiated beam to the transmit-receive unit, at which the radiated beam transmits forward and backward at a range of between 60 and 120 degrees, allowing to determine the hard hat users direction of movement.
4. Hard hat according to one claim 1, characterized by the fact that the antenna transmits the transmitting frequency transmitted by the transponder over a field length of 100 m and a field width of 50 m to a mobile or stationary transmit-receive unit.
5. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the frontal part of the player's hard hat, preferably the upper part of the hard hat includes the transponder together with the antenna, at which the hard hat produces an omnidirectional propagation direction from the field to a manual scanner and/or GSM terminal.
6. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a retrieving unit received the radio waves transmitted by the transponder by means of an antenna arranged at the retrieving unit, at which the antenna is designed as transmit antenna or transmit-receive antenna.
7. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the retrieving unit is connected to a module which is designed as GSM module and transmits the data of the retrieving unit to a GSM network and subsequently to a GSM terminal.
8. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the GSM module also has an Internet interface which transmits the data collected by the retrieving unit via the Internet by means of an Internet interface directly to the manual scanner, for example, a PDA and/or the GSM terminal.
9. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the transmission of the GSM module to the GSM radio network takes place by means of a transmit-receive antenna.
10. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that several transponders transmit to the retrieving unit the respective data packet to various time slots of approximately 15 s±0.5 s, at which each data packet has a width of 2.5 ms.
11. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the data packets transmitted each have an ID number which assign at the retrieving unit (2) the transmitted data packets to the respective hard hat.
12. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the data packets are transmitted as frequency modulated signals, guaranteeing disruption-unsusceptible transmission.
13. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the retrieving unit transmits a specific transmitting signal which activates the respective hard hat, reads the stored data and transmits this data to the retrieving unit via a radio interface.
14. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the transponder is located in a housing together with a battery and other components, having an interface at the side of the housing to connect the temperature sensor.
15. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the antenna arranged at or in the hard hat is designed as a band having a length of 60 mm and spherical wave propagation extending to all directions.
16. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the antenna located in the upper part of the hard hat forms a horizontally extending spherical wave having wave propagation, whereby the hard hat prevents disruption of the wave propagation regardless of the inclination of the hard hat and its angle to the ground.
17. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the temperature sensor is designed as a thermistor which, preferably, in direction of the arrow, is directed toward the forehead of a hard hat user and records the skin temperature at the forehead of the hard hat user.
18. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the temperature sensor is connected to the transponder via a connection cable, at which the entire transponder unit is positioned between the outer shell and the padding as well as the inside shell of the hard hat, protecting the measuring device against impacts and other damages and allows for easy exchange of the temperature sensor.
19. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a thermistor or IR diode arranged in the opening area of the ear makes it possible to measure the core temperature of the hard hat user with considerably more precision than would be possible by means of the temperature sensor directed in measuring direction toward the forehead of the hard hat user.
20. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that, in the upper part of the hard hat, two measuring pads are located which perform the measurement of the skin temperature by means of resistance measurement between the measuring pads, at which the measuring pads are attached to the skin of the hard hat user and the recorded measuring value indicates a moisture value of the skin of the hard hat user.
21. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the hard hat, at the lateral temple area, has an ultra sound sensor which basically records pulse measurements which are converted and transmitted in the transponder.
22. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the temperature sensor is located in a plastic housing, the front side of which is covered by a sensor membrane and which has a casing at its rear side consisting of thermically conductible material, in which the temperature sensor designed as thermistor casing is imbedded and connected in a heat-conductible manner to the casing which, in turn, is connected in a heat-conductible manner to the sensor membrane.
23. Hard hat according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the antenna is designed as transmitting antenna or as a transmit-receive antenna.
24. Procedure for wireless protection to monitor human measuring values, such as, temperature, pulse, moisture, shock effects and other values which are recorded in the head section of a human and transmitted wirelessly to a stationary or mobile reception unit and which monitor the physical constitution of the hard hat user, characterized by the fact that a hard hat having several measuring sensors is data connected to at least one transponder located in or at the hard hat, at which the transponder forms a connection with an antenna located in the upper part of the hard hat, which transmits as radio wave in a specific frequency range the transmitting frequency transmitted by the transponder to a mobile or stationary transmit-receive unit arranged outside the field.
25. (canceled)
26. Hard hat to be used on the head of a person according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is suitable to perform wireless transmission of physiological values of the hard hat user, for example, skin temperature, skin moisture, pulsation.
27. Hard hat to be used on the head of a person according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is suitable for wireless transmission of physical values, for example, shock effects on the hard hat.
The invention concerns a hard hat involving wireless data transmission and a procedure to transmit the data from a hard hat to a stationary or mobile data reception unit.
The invention refers to hard hats of the usual kind, in particular hard hats that are used for sports, but also hard hats used in police and firefighter operations or other operations, miners, construction workers and the like.
It involves the requirement to transmit human values, such as temperature, pulse, moisture and other values that can be collected from the head, wirelessly to a stationary or mobile reception unit in order to monitor the physical constitution of the hard hat user.
For instance, during the American Football league, it was observed that, in 2006, a total of 160 players died as a result of heat shock in the course of the game.
Also firefighter operations require wireless monitoring of the physical constitution of the firefighter in order to avoid that he becomes incapable of action and loses consciousness in the fire or in other dangerous areas.
Previously it was only known to use so-called communication hard hats which have a built-in reception device for wireless voice radio connection so that the player can receive signals during the game from his coach standing outside of the field.
However, the above-mentioned hard hats are not suitable to guarantee that the physical constitution of the hard hat user is monitored. In particular, the above-mentioned hard hats are not suitable to guarantee wireless and relatively uninterrupted monitoring of the physical constitution.
It is therefore the objective of the invention to design a hard hat and a respective transmission procedure for data collection at and in the hard hat so that all data collection in the hard hat is transmitted wirelessly and practically uninterrupted to a stationary or mobile reception unit in radio range of the hard hat.
The technical information included in claim 1 shows how the invention solves the problem.
A significant characteristic of the invention at hand is the fact that each hard hat is equipped with a transponder which, in turn, is connected with several measuring sensors arranged in and at the hard hat. The transponder is also connected with an antenna located in the upper part of the hard hat. This antenna is able to transmit as radio waves the transmitting frequency transmitted by the transponder in a specific frequency range to a stationary or mobile transceiver located outside of the field.
The provided technical information provided involves the significant advantage that wireless data connection is established between a transponder located in the upper part of the hard hat and a retrieving unit located outside of the application area.
For the first time, this results in the possibility to collect human measuring values which then can be transmitted to the retrieving unit via wireless data connection.
Furthermore, it is intended that the transmitting frequency is not transmitted as omnidirectional wave (spherical wave transmitting in circumferential direction) but, instead, as radiated beam, which transmits, for example, via a 120° angle forward and backward.
Transmission as spherical wave, at which the antenna is located in the upper area of the hard hat (preferably at the crown of the head), has the advantage that reception in the reception unit is guaranteed to be always consistent, independent of the inclination of the hard hat and its direction in relationship to the reception unit. The radio waves transmitted from the upper part of the hard hat are not blocked or disrupted by obstacles. As a result, they are transmitted to the reception unit in radio range always with consistent strength. Each hard hat user is its own "radio tower," as it were, from which a spherical wave is transmitted into all directions.
Instead of transmitting a spherical wave, an alternative embodiment provides for the use of antennas having radiated beam characteristics. By means of the antennas it is possible to determine the direction in which the hard hat user is moving. Such hard hats are used, for example, at oil platforms because the people wearing hard hats there are moving only in channels, permitting to ascertain only one particular direction, either forward or backward. The same applies to underground mines which also have narrow channels in which it is required to determine the direction of the people wearing the hard hat.
In such narrow channels it is necessary to generate an omnidirectional wave. Generating a wave having directivity has the significant advantage that it is necessary to assemble only a small and compact antenna to the hard hat. The antenna can be attached to the outside of the hard hat, on top of the hard hat, for example, by applying a conductible coat, or in the interior of the hard hat, provided it allows electromagnetic waves to penetrate.
Such a radiated beam antenna transmits, for example, in a radio range of 60 degrees forward and 60 degrees backward. The use of another radiated beam characteristic also permits a transmission of 60 degrees forward and 60 degrees backward.
Consequently, this involves the advantage that the size of the attached antenna can be reduced even more if it is decided not to use an omnidirectional transmission antenna in the hard hat at the hard hat or on the hard hat. In this context, the term "omnidirectional" refers to an antenna emitting at a 360 degree angle.
In this regard, it is especially preferred if the transponder is designed as an RFID [radio frequency identification] unit and covers a range of up to 500 m. Preferably, it transmits in different frequency bands, for example, in the UHF frequency band or microwave band, for example, at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.
With regard to this transmitting frequency it is especially important that the hard hat generates omnidirectional wave transmission from all directions of the hard hat and in all situations, independent of the shape of the hard hat. In particular, the shape of the hard hat itself should not disrupt wave transmission.
Therefore, it is preferred in a preferred embodiment of the invention at hand that the antenna is located in the upper part of the hard hat, because from the upper part of the hard hat, (omnidirectional or directional) waves can be transmitted to the distant retrieving unit without being blocked or disrupted.
In order to simplify the explanations, the following description assumes that such a hard hat is designed to be used for sports and that several players on the field are equipped with such hard hats.
However, the invention is not restricted to this use because, as explained at the beginning, it refers also to firefighter hard hats, construction worker hard hats and the like, so that the following examples for use should be considered as exemplifications. Based on a game situation it is important that, in the case of physically extremely active games, it has to be guaranteed that the human values of the respective player are monitored to such an extent that he does not collapse, become unconscious or even experience a cardiac arrest.
The invention at hand also has the advantage that a collection of human values in and at the hard hat and its transmission to a retrieving unit can also take place during periods of training. As a result, the players can be monitored regarding their physiological data in an uninterrupted fashion, providing a training profile or profile for the individual player.
For reasons of simplicity, the subsequently described embodiment shows how skin temperature of the hard hat user is measured by means of a temperature sensor. Preferably, the temperature sensor is designed as thermal resistor with its measuring window directed toward the forehead of the hard hat user. In addition to measurements touching the skin, the invention also provides for measurements recording merely heat radiation of the skin.
Thus, merely the skin temperature on the forehead is measured, which possibly is subject to certain incorrect measurements. On the one hand, because of evaporative heat loss, the forehead significantly cools down and therefore does not reflect the correct body temperature. On the other hand, the temperature of the forehead does not represent the physiological condition of the hard hat user.
Therefore, another embodiment of the invention at hand preferably measures the core temperature of the hard hat user. This involves several possibilities.
A first embodiment provides to measure by means of an infrared diode the proximity of the auditory canal of the human ear. Preferably, the infrared diode aims at the auditory canal to record the temperature of the internal ear.
Another embodiment of the invention arranges to position such a temperature sensor in the area of the nostrils, if possible even reaching into the nostrils, in order to measure the temperature inside the nose, which also correlates with human core temperature.
A third embodiment provides to record the temperature at other places of the human body, for example, in the area of the scalp or at other areas. It is also possible to position several temperature sensors, combining the various values and transmit the combined values to the retrieving unit.
In addition to measuring the core temperature of the hard hat user, there are several other measuring arrangements which are also included in the invention at hand. In this context, it has been arranged to measure skin moisture. Preferably, skin moisture is measured by means of resistance measurement at the scalp or another part of skin in the hard hat area, in order to record perspiration of the hard hat user.
A fourth embodiment provides to measure the pulse, arranging particularly for an ultra sound pulse measurement.
For example, by means of a respective ultra sound sensor, it is possible to read the aorta at the temples, allowing for measuring the pulse in this area.
Also the skin temperature in the area of this aorta can be recorded, allowing for the possibility to determine the temperature of the blood flowing through this area.
A further embodiment provides to connect a shock sensor to the head in order to record respective shock effects on the head. Such shock effects can be life threatening (as is known, for example, with boxers) and such shock effects can be perfectly recorded in the hard hat by connecting a specific shock sensor to the head in order to record such effects on the head.
Another application area for such shock sensors would be their usefulness to outsiders who could observe acoustically and optically the shock effects a player has to deal with during a game.
Another embodiment of the invention at hand even provides for the possibility of using intervening measuring methods, as, for example, performing blood analysis. In this case, it would be required to open a respective vein in the area of the head. It would also be possible to perform a chemical analysis of the perspiration which would open the way to evaluate several human parameters.
With all measuring arrangements it is important to perform the transmission by means of RFID transmitting technology. This means that a somewhat rod-like or band-like antenna of, for example, 60 mm in length is positioned inside the hard hat, in the upper are of the hard hat, provided the antenna transmits in a frequency range of 900 MHz.
Said antenna is connected to the transponder, which preferably is located in the upper and frontal area of the hard hat.
Preferably, the transponder is mounted in the space between the outer shell of the hard hat and the padding because there it will be relatively protected. The transponder is being supplied by a button cell-shaped battery and can be, for example, 50 mm in length and 25 mm in width.
The transponder has one or several connections for the sensors, whereas the following embodiment shows merely one connection for the temperature sensor. However, as already mentioned, the invention is not restricted to this embodiment.
As described at the beginning, arranging the transmitting antenna in the upper part of the hard hat guarantees that the dispersing transmission wave is not blocked or disrupted by the hard hat itself and that the waves can be transmitted to the retrieving unit positioned outside of the hard hat and in the radio field of the hard hat.
For this purpose, the transmitting antenna can be arranged in the interior space of the hard hat or on the outer side of the hard hat.
The invention at hand can also be developed to the extent that the antenna is not only transmitting but also receiving.
For example, such reception is required in order to transmit data signals from the retrieving unit, which is located on the outside, to the transponder. To this end, the retrieving unit located on the outside is able to transmit data signals to the hard hat requesting that the transponder and data memory located inside the hard hat should transmit their stored data.
The data signal can also indicate that only one hard hat should transmit its data whereas all other hard hats receiving the signal do not respond.
Such data signals can include also acoustical information heard by the hard hat user.
The subject matter of the invention at hand does not only involve the subject matter of the individual claims, but can also involve a combination of the various claims.
All statements and characteristics disclosed in the documents, including the abstract, but especially the space-related design depicted in the drawings are claimed to be a substantial part of the invention, to the extent that individually or in combination they are new compared to prior art.
Subsequently, the invention is explained in further detail by means of drawings which represent several models. The drawings and their descriptions disclose further characteristics and advantages significant for the invention.
It is shown:
FIG. 1: Schematic top view on a field including several players equipped with hard hats moving on the field.
FIG. 2: Timing diagram regarding the programs of different transponders
FIG. 3: Top view on a transponder
FIG. 4: Cross section through a hard hat according to the invention
FIG. 5: Cross section through the housing for the temperature sensor
FIG. 6: Block diagram of a transponder
FIG. 7: Frontal view of a hard hat according to the invention
FIG. 8: Top view in the direction of the arrow VIII in FIG. 7.
FIG. 1 shows a field 14 on which several players are moving, whereas the players are moving randomly over the field 14 in the directions indicated by the arrow. The field extends over the entire length of the drawing according to FIG. 1, providing a total field length, for example, of between 100 m and 150 m and a width of 50 m.
Each player wears a specific hard hat 7-11, whereas the hard hats 7-11 are designed identical, so that subsequently only one hard hat has to be described in more detail.
Each hard hat has a transponder 1 in its frontal area and the antenna 17 connected to the transponder 1 is positioned in the upper part of the hard hat 26. In this way, each hard hat can transmit signals from the field 14 in the depicted directions of the arrow, producing omnidirectional propagation (see propagation direction 40). For example, a coach bench 13 is located at the edge of the field. Several people are seated on the bench, with one person having a manual scanner 15 and another person having a GSM terminal 16.
The radio waves of the transponder 1 are received by a retrieving unit 2, by means of its antenna 6. In one embodiment, said antenna is designed not only as receiving antenna but also as transmitting and receiving antenna.
The retrieving unit 2 can be connected to a module which can be designed, for example, as GSM module 3, in order to transmit data of the retrieving unit 2 to the GSM network and from there to the GSM terminal 16.
In addition, the GSM module 3 can also have an Internet interface 12, transmitting the data collected by the retrieving unit 2 via the Internet and associated Internet interface 12 directly to the manual scanner.
For example, PDA is one of these scanners.
The data can also be transmitted to a GSM terminal 16.
In this context, the GSM module 3 transmits to the GSM radio network by means of a transmitting and receiving antenna 5.
FIG. 2 shows that the different transponders 1 are able to transmit in various time slots. For example, on the ordinate, two transponders 1 are drawn, whereas one of them is depicted as transponder T1 and the other one as transponder T2. It is noticeable that each transponder transmits its data packet to the retrieving unit 2 at a distance of 15 s±0.5 s. It is also noticeable that the transmission of transponder 1 occurs time-delayed with regard to the transmission of transponder 2 and each data packet has a width of 2.5 ms.
In this way it is possible that quite a number of transponders 1 located in the hard hats 7-11 can transmit time-delayed data packets to each other, requiring, of course, that each data packet is equipped with an ID number so as to be able to assign at the retrieving unit 2 the transmitted data to the respective hard hat.
The data packets are transmitted as frequency modulated signals, which means that transmission is considerably less interference-prone than comparable AM modulated transmission.
In this context it is important that for a specific transmitting signal transmitted by the retrieving unit 2 a memory can be activated in the associated hard hat 7-11, which then selects the stored data and transmits it to the radio interface at the retrieving unit 2.
FIG. 3 shows an exemplified structure of a transponder 1 having a battery 19 and several components 20 in a housing, for example, of 50 mm length and 25 mm width. At the side, an interface 21 to connect a temperature sensor 44 has been provided. It is important that the antenna 17 has, for example, a length of 60 mm and is designed in the form of a flexible band so as to be able to relocate the band easily on the inside of the hard-hat 7. Therefore, the antenna transmits omnidirectional wave propagation 18 which extends spherically in all directions.
That is to say, if said antenna 17 is arranged in the upper part of the hard hat 26, the upper part of the hard hat generates a spherical wave extending horizontally together with the wave propagation 28 so that the hard hat itself (independent of inclination and angle toward the ground) does not present a disruption factor for the wave propagation 18.
FIG. 4 shows that the temperature sensor 44 is designed as a thermistor which is preferably directed in direction of the arrow 41 (measuring direction) toward the forehead of the hard hat user. In this way it is easy to record the skin temperature at the forehead. The temperature sensor 44 is connected to the transponder 1 via a connection cable 25. In this regard, it is important that the entire transponder unit 1 is positioned between the outer shell 24 and the padding 23 as well as the inside shell 22. In this way, the entire measuring device is relatively protected against impacts and other damages. It also can be exchanged easily.
The picture does not show that a thermistor or IR diode has been placed in the opening area of the ear, directed toward the auditory canal, in order to be able to measure the core temperature 44 of the hard hat user with considerably more precision than, by way of comparison, would be possible by means of the temperature sensor 44 directed in measuring direction 41 toward the forehead of the hard hat user.
FIG. 4 also does not show that, because of a resistance measurement between two measuring pads that are electrically conductible connected to the skin of the hard hat user, an additional temperature measurement can take place in the area of the upper part of the hard hat 26. By means of this resistance measurement of the skin conclusions can be drawn with regard to skin moisture.
It is also not shown that a pulse monitor is arranged at the lateral temple area, which consists mainly of an ultra sound sensor recording artery pulsation on the forehead, converting the measurement reading and preparing it for transmission.
FIG. 5 shows a detail of the temperature sensor 44 showing that it has been placed in a plastic housing 27. The front side of said housing is covered by a sensor membrane 28 and a casing 29 consisting of thermically conductible material is located at its rear side. Imbedded in said casing is the temperature sensor 44 which is designed as thermistor casing 29. In this way, the temperature sensor 44 is connected in a heat-conductible manner to the casing 29 which, in turn, is connected in a heat-conductible manner to the sensor membrane 28.
FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a transponder 1 according to the invention, showing that a CPU 31 suitable to prepare and record measurement values is arranged in a control unit 34 which is designed as housing of the transponder 1. In the same housing of the transponder 1, a pulse generator 33 has been arranged as well as a memory 32 for potential storage of the recorded measuring values. The entire pulse is produced by an oscillator 30. The diagram shows that the temperature sensor 44 is designed as a resistor that can be modified.
Via the cable 35, the processed values recorded by the CPU 31 are supplied to a high frequency output, which, in the embodiment shown, consists of transmit-receive unit 36 which, in turn, controls the pulse generator 37.
The cable is shown only figuratively. In reality the HF transmit-receive unit 36 is located on the same circuit board than, for example, the CPU 31, the pulse generator and the memory 32.
At the output of the transmit-receive unit 36 the antenna 17 is located, which according to the preceding description, can be designed as a transmitting antenna or as a transmit-receive antenna.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a diagram of the arrangement and assembly area of the transponder 1. FIG. 7 shows that the hard hat has in its frontal area an opening 38 for the face of the hard hat user and that the temperature sensor 44, which is preferably designed as disk and which is directed in measuring direction 41 toward the forehead of the hard hat user, is located in the area of the forehead. It is also shown that at lest the antenna 17 is located in the upper part of the hart hat 26 (see the upward pointing arrows at 26), so that, for example, wave propagation 40 takes place in the area of the crown of the head (i.e., in the upper part of the hard hat). This is also shown in FIG. 8, which shows a top view on the hard hat in the direction of the arrow VIII according to FIG. 7. There it is shown that the antenna 17 is a flexible band which extends up to the top part of the hard hat. Therefore omnidirectional propagation takes place in all directions of the arrow 39 in the entire upper pole area of the hard hat. As a result, independent of the inclination of the hard hat and the size of the hard hat user, unrestricted wave propagation is guaranteed over the entire field in the direction of the retrieving unit 2.
Instead of a flexible band, it is also possible to use an antenna consisting of ceramic material.
DIAGRAM LEGEND
1. Transponder (data carrier)
2. Retrieving unit
3. GSM module
4. Not occupied
5. Transmitting antenna (GSM)
6. Antenna (retrieving unit 2)
7. Hard hat
10. Hard hat
12. Internal interface
13. Coach bench
14. Field
15. Manual scanner
16. GSM terminal user
17. Antenna (hard hat)
18. Wave propagation
19. Battery
20. Components
21. Interface
22. Inside shell
23. Padding
24. Outer shell
25. Connection cable
26. Upper part of the hard hat
28. Sensor membrane
29. Casing
30. Oscillator
31. CPU
32. Memory
33. Pulse generator
34. Control unit
35. Cable
36. Transmit-receive unit
38. Opening for the face of the hard hat
39. Direction of arrow
40. Propagation direction
41. Measuring direction
42. Directions of arrow
43. Opening of the ear
44. Temperature sensor
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul (okzitanisch: Sent Joan e Sent Paul) ist eine südfranzösische Gemeinde mit  Einwohnern (Stand: ) im Département Aveyron in der Region Okzitanien (zuvor Midi-Pyrénées). Belmont-sur-Rance gehört zum Arrondissement Millau und zum Kanton Causses-Rougiers. Die Einwohner werden Jeanpauliens genannt.

Die Gemeinde besteht aus den Ortschaften Saint-Jean-d'Alcas und Saint-Paul-des-Fonts mit mehreren weiteren Weilern.

Lage
Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul liegt etwa 19 Kilometer südsüdwestlich von Millau im Südwesten der historischen Provinz Rouergue. Umgeben wird Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul von den Nachbargemeinden Roquefort-sur-Soulzon und Tournemire im Norden, Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux im Norden und Nordosten, Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon im Osten und Nordosten, Saint-Beaulize im Osten und Südosten, Marnhagues-et-Latour und Saint-Félix-de-Sorgues im Süden, Versols-et-Lapeyre im Südwesten sowie Saint-Affrique im Westen und Nordwesten.

Bevölkerungsentwicklung

Sehenswürdigkeiten
 Höhle von Les Treilles
 Kirche Saint-Jean
 Schloss La Vialette, seit 1984 Monument historique
 Ortsbefestigung (1440–1445) von Saint-Jean-d'Alcas

Weblinks

Ort in Okzitanien

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A very common skin condition in horses. This may occur due to a contact allergy (shavings, plant in pasture, sensitivity to soap, etc) or in reaction to a drug or vaccination. Some horses may be pruritic (itchy) or not be bothered at all.