This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-05) for 13 February 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 end below).

 HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Persuasive evidence of two different Kelp Gulls in Trinidad provide further confirmation of their unprecedented expansion into the region. On 10 February, an adult KELP GULL* (1st for T&T) leisurely viewed through telescopes as it swam with a raft of other gulls only 50 metres off the pier at San Fernando, Trinidad, clearly lacked the conspicuous white-tipped primary feathers present on what appears to be a second adult KELP GULL (2nd for T&T) seen on 21 and 27 January. Although the individual with white-tipped primaries may represent the same bird present in Barbados during 6-10 December 2000 (see SCBA 2000-48), there is evidence that two different birds have been present in Trinidad since September 2000. An adult Kelp Gull carefully studied and photographed at Waterloo from 8-10 July 2000 and at San Fernando on 7 October and 10 November 2000 clearly lacked white-tipped primaries on the folded wing and had green-tinged yellowish legs; however, an adult Kelp Gull at San Fernando on 18 September 2000 possessed white-tipped primaries and yellow-tinged greenish legs (see SCBA 2000-39). Birders observing Kelp Gulls in the future should pay particular attention to the wingtip pattern and leg coloration, as well as eye coloration (dark in African race, recently recorded in Barbados, and pale in Western Hemisphere race), in an effort to distinguish between individual birds.

 For the third time this winter, five species of gulls were noted at San Fernando on 10 February. In addition to the Kelp Gull, a 1st-winter FRANKLIN'S GULL* (3rd for T&T), a 1st-winter RING-BILLED GULL* and five LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS* (three 1st-winter, one 2nd/3rd-winter and one adult) were seen among a 'guesstimated' 1000 LAUGHING GULLS. The Franklin's Gull consistently 'limes' (associates) with the Laughing Gulls just offshore of the Public Fish Market at San Fernando, where it often swims on the water, perches on the anchored boats and routinely flies along the shoreline, snatching fish fragments from the water's edge. The Ring-billed Gull often perches on the anchored boats. The more aloof Kelp Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gulls usually associate with rafts of Laughing Gulls swimming beyond the pier.

An effort to relocate the adult Black-tailed Godwit* (1st for T&T and South America; last reported on 21 January) at Orange Valley on 10 February was unsuccessful. At Waterloo, three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS* (2nd-winter, 3rd-winter and adult) were noted among 2580 LAUGHING GULLS on 10 February, providing a record high of eight different Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen for the day. Other recent sightings from Waterloo include two GREAT BLUE HERONS on 10 February and an adult BLACK-HEADED GULL* on 3 February and 22 January. Late reports from Waterloo include a MARBLED GODWIT (carefully distinguished from the Black-tailed Godwit; apparently both are wintering in the area, but rarely seen) on 6 January and the elusive EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* (1st for T&T) on 18 November. Two RED-CAPPED CARDINALS were seen and a STREAKED-HEADED WOODCREEPER was heard at Pointe-a-Pierre on 10 February.

 In southwestern Trinidad, 97 ROYAL TERNS (highest count for T&T?) were tallied at Cedros on 12 February and 84 on 11 February. Disappointingly no Common Terns were present in an area that provided a major wintering population up until the early 1980s. At Fullarton Swamp, recent observations include a dark-phased LONG-WINGED HARRIER mobbed by YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRDS, two GRAY-HEADED KITES (one giving a wing-trembling display with legs extended while in flight and both mobbed by a SHORT-TAILED HAWK), a GREATER ANI and two SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHERS on 12 February, and 37 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 18 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, six GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAILS, two GREATER ANIS and two SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHERS on 11 February. At Pitch Lake, six OSPREYS, four LEAST GREBES and three GREATER YELLOWLEGS were noted on 11 February.

In northeastern Trinidad, two male CARIBBEAN MARTINS* (3rd for Trinidad) were seen with five presumed GRAY-BREASTED MARTINS at Galera Point on 11 February. A 0.5 hour seabird watch at Galera Point on 11 February produced 20 BROWN PELICANS, one MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD and four COMMON TERNS; less expected was an adult YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA straying out to sea to chase an immature MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD clutching a fish. A TRINIDAD PIPING-GUAN* was briefly observed in flight on 11 February at Grande Riviere, where at least six different birds are reportedly present in the area. About 15 WHITE-COLLARED SWIFTS were noted at Matura on 11 February. The first PIRATIC FLYCATCHERS of the season were noted at Grande Riviere on 11 February.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a LESSER ELAENIA was reported from the Asa Wright Nature Centre on 23 January and a GREAT BLACK-HAWK was reported from Las Lapas on 9 January.

 In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, the COCOI HERON was seen at the Aripo Livestock Station on 12 February. Nothing unusual turned up at Wallerfield, Aripo Savannas, Cumuto and Orange Grove on 11 February.

In Tobago, the WESTERN REEF-HERON* (1st for Tobago, 2nd for T&T and South America) and a LITTLE EGRET* were seen at Buccoo on 23 January. An immature SWAINSON'S HAWK* (6th for Tobago) was noted above Blue Waters Inn, Speyside, on 28 January. Three COMMON BLACK-HAWKS* were noted about 2.5 kilometres south of the Speyside Overlook on 26 January. An aberrant, partially leucistic BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK with a white throat patch and a whitish orbital ring extending over the base of the the forecrown was seen at the Hilton Hotel on 28 January. At Plymouth/Turtle Beach, an immature BROWN BOOBY, up to 13 SANDWICH TERNS (nine 'Sandwich' and four 'Cayenne') and eight ROYAL TERNS were noted among 300 LAUGHING GULLS on 26 and 28 January. At Arnos Vale Hotel, three RUBY-TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRDS were feuding at the feeders on 28 January. On 29 January, the nesting GRAY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER* and two GREAT BLACK-HAWKS (one a begging juvenile) were noted above Runnemeade on 29 January. GREAT BLACK-HAWKS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS were reported daily from Blue Waters Inn, Speyside, as well as a RUDDY TURNSTONE with a green flag above the left knee, white band above a red band on the left foot, and a green band on the right foot. Another remarkably tame RUDDY TURNSTONE had a deformed bill with a longer lower mandible; its predisposition to feed from humans suggested that it was less efficient than the other birds at feeding naturally.

 In Barbados, single GREY HERONS turned up at Congo Road, St. Philip, and at Golden Grove, St. Philip, on 10 February. Five 1st-winter RING-NECKED DUCKS were seen at East Point, St. Philip, and two males at Chancery Lane, Christ Church, on 10 February. A male AMERICAN WIGEON and a CARIBBEAN COOT carrying nesting material (nesting first recorded in 1999) were noted at East Point on 10 February. At Graeme Hall Swamp, the LITTLE EGRETS and SNOWY EGRETS have begun nest construction.

 ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: A lek is an arena where displaying males compete with each other in a bid to attract and mate with females (previously summarised by tidbits in SCBA 2000-1 to 2000-9). In a recent study of the genetic structure (based on microsatellite DNA) of White-bearded Manakin leks in Trinidad, Lisa Shorey et al. (2000. Fine-scale genetic structuring on Manacus manacus leks. Nature 408:352-353) demonstrated that two leks were composed of clusters of related kin. They proposed that males establish themselves where they find relatives to such an extent that they form groups within leks. Such behaviour supports the hypothesis that kin selection (rather than individual selection) is involved in lek evolution and supports a shift away from the model that leks are primarily arenas for intrasexual competition.

 BIRD BRAINS: Do we believe what you see? We want to! Many of the identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative in nature. 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: Graham White, Bungalow 16, Waterloo Estate, Waterloo Rd., Carapichaima, Trinidad and Tobago; fax, 868-673-0373; e-mail, g-white@tstt.net.tt.