This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-39) for 26 October 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).

PHOTO GALLERY: A new website, the Southeastern Caribbean Birds Photo Gallery (http://www.geocities.com/secaribbirds), has been launched in conjunction with the SCBA and T&TRBC to present documentary photographs of rare birds in the region and to provide further information on bird identification. We request birders to submit photos of rare birds throughout the region for posting at this site.

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Along the west coast of Trinidad, a gull thought to be an adult KELP GULL* (potential 2nd for T&T or one of last year's gulls returning for a second consecutive winter), described as having a "deep black back" and a head that was "pure white with just a little black dot behind the eye", was observed at Waterloo on 20 October. However, it was not seen the following day, 21 October, when 550 LAUGHING GULLS were counted at Waterloo, 600 at Orange Valley and 450 at San Fernando. Birders should be on the lookout for this species as well as other rare species of gulls during the upcoming weeks, but should be aware that adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls can look quite dark in poor light conditions. An adult Kelp Gull should be larger with a relatively heavier bill than a Lesser Black-backed Gull and lack dark feathering on the head.

At South Oropouche Swamp, a dark-morph LONG-WINGED HARRIER, a BANK SWALLOW and two PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were noted on 20 October. Noteworthy sightings from the west coast on 21 October include a WILSON'S PLOVER, a GREAT BLUE HERON and ten RED KNOTS at Waterloo, two WILSON'S PLOVERS at Carli Bay, a dozen COMMON TERNS at San Fernando and 22 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS at La Romaine.

In southern Trinidad, a LEACH'S STORM-PETREL (earliest date for T&T) was studied as it foraged with a flock of about 100 COMMON TERNS just offshore of Erin on 18 October. On 20 October, an attempt to relocate the two BLACK HAWK-EAGLES seen on 13 and 14 October in forest north of San Francique, near Palo Seco, was unsuccessful. Other noteworthy raptor sightings include a GREAT BLACK-HAWK* along the Cunapo Road, near the Ecclesville Forest Reserve, on 21 October, and a PEREGRINE FALCON at Mora Reservoir on 20 October.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, Nearctic migrant shorebird populations in the Caroni Rice Fields have diminished greatly as expected at this time of the year. However, an immature male RUFF*, apparently the third different individual of the season, was found on 19 October in the southeastern sector. In the Trincity Sewage POnds, a non-breeding plumaged LITTLE EGRET was noted on 21 October.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, three HEPATIC TANAGERS, including a pair and a juvenile, were noted along with a male AMERICAN REDSTART at Morne Bleu on 21 October.

In Tobago, the elusive WESTERN REEF-HERON* (1st for Tobago, 2nd for T&T and South America) turned up along the coast at the west end of Turtle Beach on 14 October. A correspondent informed us that the colour flagged/banded RUDDY TURNSTONE at Blue Waters Inn, Speyside (see SCBA 2001-37), was banded between 9 and 17 May 2001 along the Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA.

In Barbados, we neglected to mention a few reports from the first weekend in October, when Tropical Storm Jerry passed just south of the island on 7 October but failed to produce any significant vagrant birds. Nearctic landbird migrants trickling through Harrison Point over the past weekend include three YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS on 20 October and two on 21 October, three BLACKPOLL WARBLERS on 20 October, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on 21 October and a BOBOLINK on 20 October. Landbird migrants noted at Harrison Point earlier in the month include three YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS on 7 October, a RED-EYED VIREO banded on 6 October and a BOBOLINK seen on 6 October; at Bailey Hill, another YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was noted on 8 October. Nearctic waterfowl migrants noted recently in local wetlands include a GREEN-WINGED TEAL among three BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Mangrove on 19 October and another fifty BLUE-WINGED TEAL at East Point on 21 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: In a recent publication titled "Translocation of the Blue and Gold Macaw Ara ararauna into its historical range on Trinidad" (Bird Conservation International 11:129-141, 2001), D. A. Oehler and eight coauthors provide a summary of their attempts to reintroduce this extirpated species in Nariva Swamp, Trinidad. Six males were released on 15 December 1999, two males and five females on 13 January 2000, and two of unstated sex on 15 March 2000. From June to August 2000, at least ten of the 15 birds, including a western group of four and an eastern group of six, were regularly observed within 16 km of the release site. One bird was found dead of an undetermined cause.

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.