This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-36) for 5 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: Photos of the Short-eared Owl (Trinidad) and Grey Heron (Trinidad) are now posted at the SCBA website (see address above).

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, the elusive SHORT-EARED OWL* (2nd for T&T) was relocated once again in a dry, grassy field in the extreme southeastern corner of the Caroni Rice Fields on 1 October. Large numbers of migrant shorebirds are still present in the rice fields, with recent sightings including the female RUFF* on 28 September, the UPLAND SANDPIPER* up through 5 October, two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS* on 1 October, the first two HUDSONIAN GODWITS of the season on 5 October and up to 62 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS on 1 October. Other noteworthy bird sightings include: the immature SNAIL KITE* as recently as 5 October; the APLOMADO FALCON* on 5 October; ten BOBOLINKS* on 28 September, with roughly 25, including a few singing birds, tallied on 5 October; a STRIPE- BACKED BITTERN on 27 September; an immature SCARLET IBIS flying eastward on 5 October; two WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCKS and up to 20 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 27 September; up to 12 BLUE-WINGED TEAL on 28 September and 5 October; and two COMMON WAXBILLS, one carrying nesting material (1st direct evidence of nesting, though breeding has long been assumed), on 1 October.

Though the immature GREY HERON* (3rd for T&T) has not been observed in the Caroni Rice Fields during the past week, it dropped in at the Trincity Sewage Ponds on 27 September. Other noteworthy birds at the sewage ponds include a LITTLE EGRET (no longer a review bird) on 27 September and 4 October, and a LEAST BITTERN on 4 October. We inadvertently neglected a report of two BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOWS at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, on 13 September.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, birders failed to relocate the MAGUARI STORK* (1st for T&T) at Orange Valley on 27 September and 5 October. Recent noteworthy sightings from the coast include: a CLIFF SWALLOW* at South Oropouche Swamp on 5 October; a COCOI HERON and BELTED KINGFISHER at Caroni Swamp on 5 October; roughly 100 LAUGHING GULLS but no other gull species at San Fernando on 5 October; 20 BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOWS at Orange Valley on 29 September; and a GLOSSY IBIS* at Waterloo on 28 September.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, 30 BLUE-HEADED PARROTS, ten WHITE- COLLARED SWIFTS and a WHITE-WINGED BECARD were noted at Brasso Seco on 3 October. Farther west, an OILBIRD was found on a porch at Fairways, Maraval, on 4 October.

Along the north coast of Trinidad, a search for Nearctic migrant landbirds at Galera Point on 4 October produced a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO* and a BELTED KINGFISHER, plus a COMMON GROUND-DOVE and a TRINIDAD EUPHONIA. A 1.25 hour seabird watch produced four BROWN BOOBIES, nine BLUE-WINGED TEAL, an astonishing 284 BROWN NODDIES obviously migrating, 25 COMMON TERNS, 14 LEAST SANDPIPERS perched on offshore rocks and six FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHERS arriving from the sea.

Farther west, a BLACK TERN was seen off Blanchisseuse on 23 September.

In Tobago, two WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRDS* (2nd for T&T) briefly flew over Little Tobago on 29 September. Two WHITE-WINGED SWALLOWS (1st for Tobago), presumably the same wandering pair observed previously at Speyside, Little Tobago and Mt. Irvine, was noted flying over Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet on 19 September. In Buccoo Swamp, a SORA was flushed on 4 October and a STILT SANDPIPER was noted on 28 September.

In Barbados, a WILSON'S PLOVER (8th for Barbados) turned up at Chancery Lane on 29 September. An early SORA was noted at East Point, St. Philip, on 29 September. At Harrison Point, two YELLOW BILLED CUCKOOS were seen and a BOBOLINE was heard on 30 September.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Check back later...

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.