This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-23) for 22 June 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).

PHOTO GALLERY: Additional photos of the Kelp Gulls in Trinidad and Barbados are posted along with details of the initial Trinidad record at Bob Lewis's Gull Site on the web at http://www.bway.net/~lewis/birds/trind/trindkl.html HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In Tobago, a small yellow bird whose "chest was bright yellow, the eyes black and the head a deep orange or golden colour" was observed to be "very active foraging among the leaves of the Saman Tree for insects" while giving "several short series of calls (each series about 2 seconds long)... at intervals ranging between 10-90 seconds". Based on this description, taken at Goldsborough on 19 June, we suspect the bird was a YELLOW WARBLER* of the Barbados race (potentially 1st for Tobago). Obviously confirmation is desirable, but this observation adds toward the solution of a few earlier mysteries. Several years ago a nesting YELLOW WARBLER was reported from Grafton Estate. More recently, a singing male YELLOW WARBLER was found at Crown Point on 3 July 1997, but the experienced observer was unable to obtain clear views of the bird's head; efforts to relocate it were futile. Birders should be alert for Yellow Warblers in Tobago during the summer and should check the head orange tones, which would distinguish Lesser Antillean birds from Nearctic migrants. We also request further details on distinguishing Barbados birds from those elsewhere.

Elsewhere in Tobago, a STRIPED OWL* was heard at night on 9 June at Goldsborough; presumably the same bird was seen in January. On 3 June, a few dozen PALM TANAGERS were noted at a communal roost in a tree infested with Mistletoe along the Windward Main Road at King's Bay and a few dozen VIOLACEOUS EUPHONIAS were seen preparing to rest in a Cordia tree along the Windward Main Road at Speyside.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, the female NORTHERN PINTAIL* (1st for T&T) in the Caroni Rice Fields has not been seen since 13 June. However, the flooding of additional fields is attracting more waterbirds, including an assortment of lingering Nearctic migrant shorebirds. Recent sightings include: the immature SNAIL KITE* last reported on 14 June; a LONG-WINGED HARRIER (light morph) on 19 June; a GREAT BLUE HERON on 14 June; two BOAT-BILLED HERONS on 14 June; a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON on 19 June; up to 15 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS on 16 June; up to 31 FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 19 June; up to eight WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCKS* on 14 and 19 June; up to 29 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS on 16 June; up to three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on 19 June; two breeding-plumaged RUDDY TURNSTONES on 19 June; up to 45 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS on 19 June; up to two LEAST SANDPIPERS on 16 and 19 JUNE; up to six STILT SANDPIPERS on 19 June; up to three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on 14 June with one on 19 June (latest date for T&T); up to three SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on 16 June; and up to four MASKED YELLOWTHROATS on 14 June.

Elsewhere in the Caroni Plain, extensive flooding of the Valsayn Rice Fields is also attracting waterbirds. Sightings on 16 June include a PINNATED BITTERN, ten LIMPKINS, four BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and a WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL (thus 30 for the day including Caroni records above; highest count for Trinidad). A PIED-BILLED GREBE was noted among ten LEAST GREBES at Trincity on 17 June. A BAT FALCON was seen at Cumuto on 17 June. About 17 COMMON WAXBILLS were noted at Orange Grove on 17 June.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a STREAKED SALTATOR and two MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULETS were noted along the road to Fort George on 20 June. In the upper Guanapo Valley, an extraordinarily large lek of BEARDED BELLBIRDS was discovered on 13 June, with an estimated 12 calling males (at least eight different birds seen) of which several were immatures. A SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER was also seen and five SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were noted along the Lalaja Road.

In southwestern Trinidad, a possible RUFOUS-NECKED WOOD-RAIL* was briefly noted at Pitch Lake on 16 June. At Sudama Teerath, near Penal, four RED-CAPPED CARDINALS were noted along the banks of the Oropouche River on 18 June. On 16 June, six LIMPKINS were mobbed when flying low by about 30 YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRDS and a dozen WHITE-HEADED MARSH-TYRANTS near Debe.

In Barbados, a pelagic trip to about 10 kilometres offshore on 16 June produced an AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER, a MASKED BOOBY, at least eight RED-FOOTED BOOBIES and about 50 SOOTY TERNS including at least one juvenile. Lingering Nearctic shorebird migrants at Congo Road on 17 June include a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, seven GREATER YELLOWLEGS, an injured SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and a RUDDY TURNSTONE. At St. Bernard's Village, a BLACK SWIFT and two (possibly three) unidentified Chaeturna Swifts, thought to be SHORT-TAILED SWIFTS, were noted on 17 June. There are only two previous records of positively identified Short-tailed Swifts, one in June and one in August; furthermore, there are two June observations of unidentified Chaetura swifts and an October 1999 invasion of Chimney Swifts plus a few unidentified swifts.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: In the "Forty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds" (Auk 117:847-858, 2000), the taxonomy of several birds in the southeastern Caribbean was changed. The GIANT COWBIRD (Scaphidura oryzivora) has now been merged into the cowbird genus Molothrus, based on genetic studies by S. M. Lanyon (1994. Polyphyly of the blackbird genus Agelaius and the importance of assumptions of monophyly in comparative studies. Evolution 48:679-693), S. M. Lanyon and K. E. Omland (1999. A molecular phylogeny of the blackbirds (Icteridae): Five lineages revealed by cytochrome-B sequence data. Auk 116:629-639), and K. P. Johnson and S. M. Lanyon (1999. Molecular systematics of the grackles and allies, and the effect of additional sequence (cyt B and ND2). Auk 116:759-768). Thus, the new scientific name is Molothrus oryzivora.

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: Graham White, Bungalow 16, Waterloo Estate, Waterloo Rd., Carapichaima, Trinidad and Tobago; fax, 868-673-0373; e-mail, g-white@tstt.net.tt.