This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-16) for 3 May 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: A photo of Masked Booby (Barbados) and a new mystery bird photo, plus the answer to the last mystery bird photo, have been added to the SCBA website.

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Although the open ocean, seldom visited by birders or ornithologists, still remains the last frontier of birding in the southeastern Caribbean, much can be learned about seabird migration through the region from strategic vantage points on land. In Guadeloupe, a 3 hour seabird watch at the Natural Reserve of Petite-Terre on 25 April produced staggering numbers of seabirds including five AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS, 245 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS (the observer is experienced with Leach's Storm-Petrel but all appeared to be Wilson's Storm-Petrels), six POMARINE JAEGERS and two PARASITIC JAEGERS. Similar observations from Trinidad and offshore from Barbados (surprisingly few seabirds are ever seen from land in Barbados) within the past few years suggest that peak numbers of certain seabird species such as storm-petrels and jaegers pass through the region in April. We encourage other birders in the region to routinely participate in seabird watches. On 25 April, a PALM WARBLER dropped in at the Natural Reserve of Petite-Terre.

In Barbados, shorebird migration is in full spring with a CURLEW SANDPIPER (1st spring record for Barbados) found at Congo Road on 1 May and a WHIMBREL of the European race (1st spring record for Barbados) at Chancery Lane on 28 April. Northward bound Nearctic songbird migrants are also turning up, with yet another male SCARLET TANAGER at Gregg Farm, St. Andrew, on 26 April, a singing male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at Graeme Hall on 28 April with two reported earlier in the week, and an INDIGO BUNTING (1st spring record for Barbados) at Graeme Hall on 1 May.

In St. Christopher, we received a late report of a GREATER FLAMINGO at Great Salt Pond on 21 March, a WESTERN SANDPIPER and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at Frigate Bay Salt Pond on 17 March, a RING-BILLED GULL and one or two 1st-winter BLACK-HEADED GULLS at Basseterre on 17 March, three AMERICAN COOTS at Frigate Bay Salt Pond (date not given), and a PRAIRIE WARBLER at Caribelle Batik on 22 March. Although more than a year late, the following records from 2000 are worth reporting: two PIED-BILLED GREBES at South Friar's Bay Salt Pond on 23 February; an adult male NORTHERN SHOVELER at South Friar's Bay Salt Pond on 20 February; three adult male, one 1st-winter male and two female RING-NECKED DUCKS at South Friar's Bay Salt Pond on 23 and 26 February; two female LESSER SCAUPS on Great Salt Pond on 23 February; four AMERICAN COOTS at South Friar's Bay Salt Pond on 23 February; a COMMON SNIPE at Cockleshell Bay on 20 February; four SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS at South Friar's Bay Salt Pond on 20 and 23 February; and two HERRING GULLS at Basseterre during 18-24 February.

In Antigua, a late report of birds seen on 19 March include: a female RUFF on salt ponds at Runaway Bay on 19 March; two WESTERN SANDPIPERS at Dark Wood Beach and three at Runaway Bay on 19 March; and 20 RUDDY DUCKS, a MALLARD, a WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL, 18 RING-NECKED DUCKS, a PEREGRINE FALCON, 30 CARIBBEAN COOTS and a 2nd-winter HERRING GULL at Potsworks Reservoir.

In Trinidad, we regret to announce the closure until further notice of two prime birding localities: the Aripo Livestock Station (also known as the Agricultural Research Station) in an effort to contain the spread of foot and mouth disease, and the Trincity Sewage Ponds purportedly due to an incident with local youths.

In northwestern Trinidad, a hike from Teteron Bay to Scotland Bay on 30 May produced a possible VENEZUELAN FLYCATCHER* (potential 1st for Trinidad), a STREAKED SALTATOR, a BLUE-TAILED EMERALD and a BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO*.

In northeastern Trinidad, seabird counts from Galera Point remain disappointingly unproductive. A 40-minute seabird count on 1 May produced good numbers of BROWN PELICANS but the only larids seen were three LAUGHING GULLS; surprisingly no terns were seen, though their numbers seem lower than usual in T&T this year. Landbirds seen at the point included 28 LILAC-TAILED PARROTLETS (overdue in Tobago?) and two RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPERS. The two male CARIBBEAN MARTINS* (3rd for Trinidad) present earlier in the year appear to have departed (last reported on 7 April).

The cloud forests atop the highest peaks of the Northern Range in Trinidad remain yet another birding frontier in need of further exploration. An early morning hike to the summit of Cerro del Aripo on 29 April produced two RUDDY QUAIL-DOVES (plus several unidentified quail-doves), two OLIVE-STRIPED FLYCATCHERS*, perhaps a dozen singing ORANGE-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSHES of which at least four were seen, several YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSHES, a BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER and a SPECKLED TANAGER along the highest ridges. Disappointingly no Scaled Antpittas or Band-tailed Pigeons, whose status is poorly known, were heard or seen. The Scaled Antpitta formerly inhabited the Heights of Aripo area but none have been seen or heard during three early morning hikes by an experienced ornithologist to the summits of nearby ridges (Chaguaramal and Aripo Caves) during the past year. The only recent records are from the Asa Wright Nature Centre (1998) and Morne Bleu (1999-present). The Scaled Antpitta formerly inhabited high elevations but has not been reliably reported since 1976; none were seen nor heard during six hikes by an experienced ornithologist to the three highest summits (Cerro del Aripo twice, El Tucuche thrice and Morne Bleu once) during the last 7 years. Two WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILLS and three SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS were noted well below the ridges.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, a male SCARLET TANAGER* turned up in Arena Forest on 2 May. Two MORICHE ORIOLES* were noted at Wallerfield on 2 May. The Arena Reservoir produced a NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, 70 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS and two LARGE-BILLED TERNS on 2 May. An abnormally plumaged CATTLE EGRET seen in the Caroni Rice Fields on 29 April just might have been the "mystery heron" reported near Cumuto on 10 May 2000 (see SCBA 2000-18). It was described as having a "face biscuit brown", "crown and especially nape dark ginger - mid section of nape almost black", mantle "with much more dark biscuit color feathering", "side neck and breast dark ginger" and "underparts and wings predominantly whitish but with sporadic biscuit color feathers". On 2 May, the Caroni Rice Fields produced four PNNATED BITTERNS, 21 LIMPKINS and two BARN OWLS. On 29 April, highlights included a PINNATED BITTERN, 26 LIMPKINS, a light-phased LONG-WINGED HARRIER capturing a YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRD that subsequently escaped, four GREATER ANIS, a FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER and two RED-CAPPED CARDINALS.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, disappointingly few coastal birds were present during low tide on 28 April, with only 300 LAUGHING GULLS (many mating) at Waterloo and 13 at Orange Valley. Three RED KNOTS were at Waterloo on five more at Orange Valley. Tern numbers seem lower than usual, with two ROYAL TERNS and a LARGE-BILLED TERN at Waterloo and six LARGE-BILLED TERNS at Orange Valley. In Cacandee, two CLAPPER RAILS were noted on 2 May. In southwestern Trinidad, a second egg was found in the TURKEY VULTURE nest (latest nesting date for T&T) near Icacos Point on 28 April and two GREATER ANIS were seen at Fullarton Swamp.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: The T&TFNC will be sponsoring a morning birding trip to Upper St. Anns on Sunday, 13 May. If you wish to attend, please contact the leader, Courtenay Rooks, by phone at 622-8826. We will be meeting at CIC Pembroke Street side at 6:30 am.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: At least four hypotheses have been postulated to explain the evolution of polyandry in birds. The fertility insurance polyandry hypothesis predicts that a female benefits by the fertilization of a higher proportion of her eggs. The better sperm polyandry hypothesis postulates that a female benefits by acquiring genetically diverse sperm. The more material benefits polyandry hypothesis proposes that a female receives nuptial gifts or other resources from more than one male partner. Finally, the more parental care polyandry hypothesis predicts that a female benefits by having two or more males provide parental care for her young. Bear in mind that these hypotheses may not necessarily be mutually exclusive; more than one may explain polyandry and one hypothesis may be more relevant to one species than another.

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.