This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-20) for 1 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).
HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In Tobago, the WESTERN REEF-HERON* (1st for Tobago, 2nd for South America) continues to be seen, but has become quite elusive. On 24 May it was relocated in the small patch of mangroves just south of the Buccoo Beach Facility parking lot, but it quickly flew deep into Buccoo Swamp. Simultaneously a breeding plumaged LITTLE EGRET* was stalking fish at Buccoo Beach. Efforts to find both species on 25 May were unsuccessful, though a YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA* was glimpsed flying over Buccoo.
Elsewhere in Tobago, an adult STRIATED HERON* and an immature GREAT BLUE HERON were found at the large pond beside the Claude Noel Highway in Lowlands on 24 May; presumably the same STRIATED HERON* was relocated the following day in the Bon Accord Sewage Ponds. At least 111 ROSEATE TERNS were tallied at a breeding colony on a small rock just offshore from Fort James, Plymouth, where two chicks were observed on 24 May. In the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the forest birds are busily breeding in anticipation of the wet season. A nesting GRAY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER* was seen near the south entrance to Gilpin Trace on 25 May. Further nesting activity seen along Gilpin Trace on 25 May include one BLUE-CROWNED MOTMOT, one OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, one BLUE-BACKED MANAKIN, two STRIPE-BREASTED SPINETAIL and four RED-EYED VIREO nests. An active WHITE-TAILED SABREWING nest was found earlier in the year.
In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, an adult LITTLE EGRET* and a RINGED KINGFISHER were seen at Trincity on 30 May. The Caroni Rice Fields continue to attract more waterbirds as predicted last week, especially in the recently flooded southwestern sector. The star attraction was a subadult female SNAIL KITE* seen on 26 and 27 May, often perched on the small patches of bamboo southwest of the runway. Other highlights included a PIED-BILLED GREBE both days, two PINNATED BITTERNS on 27 May, a GREAT BLUE HERON on 26 May, a light-phased LONG-WINGED HARRIER on 26 May, a minimum of 39 LIMPKINS (highest count for T&T; previous high was 37) on 27 May, a high of 20 COLLARED PLOVERS on 26 May, four STILT SANDPIPERS on 26 May, 20 LARGE-BILLED TERNS on 27 May, a BLACK SKIMMER on 26 May and three MASKED YELLOWTHROATS on 26 May.
A rather bizarre incident occurred in the rice fields on 27 May when a heavy black object suddenly slammed into a plowed field about 50 metres from a carload of birders. Several startled CATTLE EGRETS flew away from the object, but quickly returned to investigate it. The object turned out to be a BLACK VULTURE whose torso and secondary flight feathers had been severed by an aircraft's propellor (Liat flight #303) moments earlier. Although the aircraft's crew reported flying through birds during their final approach to Piarco International Airport, they did not report an actual bird collision, indicating that such incidents are under reported. Fortunately such incidents are extremely rare and have yet to cause a human fatality in T&T (but have elsewhere). However, an aircraft's windscreen was recently smashed by a bird during a collision over Trinidad.
Along the west coast of Trinidad, a hike at Cacandee on 27 May produced a RINGED KINGFISHER, a PYGMY KINGFISHER, two NORTHERN SCRUB-FLYCATCHERS and two dallying NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES (latest date for T&T).
In the Northern Range of Trinidad, five ORANGE-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSHES were seen and several others heard along Lalaja-Paria Trace and along the ridge leading westward toward Morne Bleu on 30 May. Other birds seen in the vicinity include a LITTLE TINAMOU, two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES, a PLUMBEOUS KITE, three RED-RUMPED WOODPECKERS, a BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH, a WHITE-BELLIED ANTBIRD and a few YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSHES.
In Barbados, three BLACK SWIFTS were noted at Melvins Hill, St. Joseph, on 27 May.
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 were changed. One such change is the Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus), which has now been split into three distinct species based on an analysis of plumage, morphology and hybridization published by C. J. Dove and R. C. Banks (1999. A taxonomic study of Crested Caracaras (Falconidae). Wilson Bulletin 111:330-339). The three species are SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus) of South America (including Trinidad, where it is very rare), CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway) of North America, Central America and Cuba, and the extinct GUADALUPE CARACARA (Caracara lutosa) of Guadalupe Island (Mexico). Stay tuned for further taxonomic changes.
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.