This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-12) for 6 April 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 Barbados, a breeding plumaged adult GREY HERON unexpectedly turned up at Chancery Lane on 2 April. All previous records of Grey Heron in Barbados were of immatures. However, it remains uncertain whether this represents a new, third individual on the island or one of the two immatures seen earlier in the year that has now moulted into adult plumage. A SORA was also noted at Chancery Lane on 2 April. At East Point, St. Philip, an unprecedented three RUFFS (two males and a female) were seen amongst a flock of GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and STILT SANDPIPERS, plus a pair of CARIBBEAN COOTS with a chick, on 2 April. A nesting LITTLE EGRET with three chicks was noted at Graeme Hall on 2 April.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, an immature RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON* was reported daily during mid-afternoon beside the stream beyond the "swimming pool" at the Asa Wright Nature Centre from 14-20 March. Given the odd locality for this species, the bird could be an immature Fasciated Tiger-Heron (potentially 1st for T&T), which is extremely similar to an immature Rufescent Tiger-Heron but prefers montane forest streams. High quality photographs would be desirable to confirm the identification of either species. An ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE was seen in flight at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on 3 April. At Morne Bleu, the TRINIDAD PIPING-GUAN* continues to be reported irregularly by the security guards, but could not been found on 30 March when other birds found included a SCALED ANTPITTA* heard, a PLUMBEOUS KITE, a flock of eight CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCANS, a CHESTNUT WOODPECKER, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, a male YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSH and two BLUE-CAPPED TANAGERS.

Elsewhere in the Northern Range, noteworthy bird sightings include: an ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE, a MERLIN, about 30 OILBIRDS, three GRAY-THROATED LEAFTOSSERS, an ORANGE-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH, several YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSHES, a BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER, a SPECKLED TANAGER and--well, not quite a bird but certainly the highlight of the day--a COLLARED PECCARY seen and another heard (plus others smelled!) during a hike to Aripo Cave on 4 April; a female SUMMER TANAGER* and a SWALLOW TANAGER at Las Lapas on 3 April; a LITTLE TINAMOU seen at Mt. St. Benedict on 3 April; a pair of SWALLOW TANAGERS and a female RUFOUS-BREASTED HERMIT feeding two large chicks (in a nest just above the road sign) at Brasso Seco Junction on 30 March; two BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILAS heard, a LITTLE TINAMOU seen and a GRAY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER along the Madamas Road on 30 March; and a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER* at Morne La Croix on 24 March.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, two LITTLE EGRETS* (one breeding plumaged with two long head plumes and one in non-breeding plumage) were noted among roughly 30 SNOWY EGRETS at the Trincity Sewage Ponds on 30 March. The parched Caroni Rice Fields produced a PINNATED BITTERN, a dark LONG-WINGED HARRIER, 14 LIMPKINS and two BANK SWALLOWS among a few hundred BARN SWALLOWS on 31 March.

Along the east coast of Trinidad, thousands of DICKCISSELS were noted flying over the Plum Mitan Rice Fields in the morning and evening of 3 April. Other birds noted included a PINNATED BITTERN, a LIMPKIN, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a PEREGRINE FALCON.

Along the north coast of Trinidad, two TRINIDAD PIPING-GUANS*, four WHITE-COLLARED SWIFTS and two nest-building BLACK-TAILED TITYRAS were tallied along the Monte Video Road south of Grande Riviere on 2 April. At Galera Point, a male CARIBBEAN MARTIN* (3rd for Trinidad) and a male RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE were noted on 2 April. Galera Point provides the best land-based vantage point for observing pelagic seabirds in Trinidad. However, the only interesting seabirds recorded during a 45-minute seabird watch were two ROYAL TERNS. In recent years peak numbers of seabirds were recorded during mid-April.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, a CLAPPER RAIL, two PYGMY KINGFISHERS and three AMERICAN REDSTARTS were seen at Cacandee on 31 March. After dark, two COMMON POTOOS were heard in the mangroves at Cacandee and two more were seen perched and hawking for insects in a dry field about 100-200 metres from the forest edge east of the swamp. Four WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJARS were also noted after dark in the fields east of Cacandee.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: A lek is an arena where displaying males compete with each other in a bid to attract and mate with females. Although we have previously discussed leks and studies of lekking in T&T birds in previous tidbits (SCBA 2000-01 to 2000-09, 2001-05), two competing hypotheses for the evolution of lek polygyny have not been discussed. The first is the 'hot spot' hypothesis, which postulates that dominant males select the best (central) territory while losers set up as close as possible to the superior central position. The second is the 'hotshot' hypothesis, which postulates that the most attractive, dominant males select a territory that is most convenient for females, while the subordinate males seek to be seen by females by setting up near the hotshot and intercepting females on their way to the hotshots. (Incidentally, it was these two hypotheses that inspired our SCBA section heading "hotshots in hot spots".)

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.