This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT
(2001-40) for 2 November 2001. Sponsored by the T&T Field Naturalists' Club, our aim
is to promote birding and ornithology in the southeastern Caribbean by fostering
communication among resident and visiting birders regarding the study of birds in the
region. The SCBA and information about the T&TFNC are accessible on the Internet at
http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Floyd Hayes by phone at 662-5918 (H)
or 645-3232 x2206 (W), or by e-mail at floyd_hayes@hotmail.com. The T&T Rare Bird
Committee requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see SCBA website above
and 'BIRD BRAINS' below).
HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Impressive numbers of Nearctic landbird migrants were noted
throughout the region within the past week, highlighting the need for a coordinated
monitoring programme.
In Guadeloupe, a visit to the Nature Reserve of Petitie-Terre on 31 October produced a
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER among 172 other shorebirds, ten YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS and 15
BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. A visit to La Pointe des Chateaux on 31 October produced a MERLIN,
three WHITE- RUMPED SANDPIPERS, six YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS and six BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.
In Barbados, recent observations of Nearctic landbird migrants at Harrison Point include
two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS on 27 October and three on 28 October, a RED-EYED VIREO banded
on 27 October, a male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER on 28 October, an adult female AMERICAN
REDSTART banded on 28 October, five BLACKPOLL WARBLERS on 27 October and eight more on 28
October. In addition, an unfamiliar warbler was heard calling repeatedly from dense
undergrowth whilst moving actively around on both days. At Fosters, roughly 150 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS were present on 27 October but only a dozen remained on 28 October, and a
juvenile RED KNOT was present both days.
In Tobago, recent observations of Nearctic landbird migrants include a YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOO at Bon Accord on 27 October, two BLACKPOLL WARBLERS at Buccoo Swamp and another at
Bon Accord on 28 October, and a female BELTED KINGFISHER at Turtle Beach on 28 October.
Efforts to find the elusive WESTERN REEF-HERON* (1st for Tobago, 2nd for T&T) at
Buccoo/Turtle Beach (last reported 14 October) and the 'EURASIAN' WHIMBREL at Turtle Beach
(last reported 8 October) during 26-27 October were unsuccessful. However, the two
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOWS* (1st for Tobago) were relocated on 27 October at Mt.
Irvine, where they often perch on boats anchored offshore. A basic plumaged LITTLE EGRET*
was noted at Buccoo on 27 October, as well as a colour-banded SANDERLING on the beach with
a dark green flag above the 'knee' and dark blue band below the 'knee' on the left leg,
and an aluminum band above the 'knee' and a dark green band above an orange band below the
'knee' on the right leg. An immature YELLOW- HEADED CARACARA flew over Bon Accord on 27
October. Numbers of gulls and terns along the coasts of Tobago have been remarkably low,
with only a juvenile LAUGHING GULL at Buccoo on 27 October, four ROYAL TERNS at Pigeon
Point on 27 October, and five SANDWICH TERNS off Mt.
St. George on 28 October.
In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a male CARIBBEAN MARTIN* (4th for Trinidad) soared over
Las Lapas on 27 October. On 30 October, two BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were noted south of
Blanchisseuse and two YELLOW- LEGGED THRUSHES were spotted at Morne Bleu.
Along the west coast of Trinidad, a MARBLED GODWIT*, which spooked as a LONG-WINGED
HARRIER flew over, and a GREAT BLUE HERON were seen on the 'Brickfield' mudflats of
Waterloo on 27 October, while an UPLAND SANDPIPER* (tied latest date for T&T) strolled
along a dirt tract beside the concrete ponds. A birder aboard the interisland ferry on 26
October noted two immature BROWN BOOBIES flying just of Monos Island (1st for Monos) and
Huevos Island (2nd for Huevos). Another birder aboard the interisland ferry on 1 November
noted a ROSEATE TERN off the Chaguaramas Peninsula.
In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, Nearctic migrant shorebird numbers have plummeted but
unusual birds are still lingering. Recent sightings include: the immature SNAIL KITE* as
recently as 31 October; a probable APLOMADO FALCON* on 31 October; a NEOTROPIC CORMORANT
(1st for rice fields) on 29 October; a hundred BLUE-WINGED TEAL (highest fall tally) on 29
October; up to four LONG-WINGED HARRIERS (three light-, one dark-morph) on 29 October;
five AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS on 29 October; a lone DICKCISSEL (earliest date for T&T)
on 29 October; and 21 BOBOLINKS. A LESSER NIGHTHAWK was seen hawking above the mangroves
at Caroni Swamp on 31 October.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: On Sunday, 11 November, the T&TFNC Bird Group is sponsoring a
birding trip to Tucker Valley in the Chaguaramas Peninsula of Trinidad, led by Courtenay
Rooks. We will meet by Pier 1, Chaguaramas, at 6:30 am, and spend the morning searching
for birds in a mosaic of grass and forest habitats. Those who wish may search for gulls
and other waterbirds along the west coast in the afternoon.
If you wish to attend, please contact Courtenay Rooks by phone at 622-8826.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Do Green Herons ever feed at night? Although nocturnal foraging has
been widely reported in the closely related Striated Heron, apparently few details have
been published on nocturnal foraging in the Green Heron. In a recent note titled
"Nocturnal foraging by the Green Heron (Butorides virescens) under artificial
illumination in Tobago" (Pitirre 14:1-2, 2001), F. E.
Hayes and D. R. Hardy report an observation of a single bird foraging on frogs under a
streetlight about 90-150 minutes after sunset. The authors encouraged others to publish
observations of nocturnal foraging in this species.
BIRD BRAINS: Do we believe what you see? We want to! Many of the identifications reported
in the SCBA are tentative. The T&T Rare Bird Committee, formed in 1995, requests
details for all rare birds observed (see Species Review List at our website). Please
submit details to the T&TRBC Secretary: Martyn Kenefick, 36 Newalloville Ave., San
Juan, Trinidad and Tobago; e-mail: martynkenefick@netscape.net.