This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-30) for 21 August 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: During 16-17 August, Tropical Storm Chantal roared through the region and caused local flooding (especially in southern Trinidad), but unfortunately we have not received any reports yet of storm-blown birds. Although one outstanding bird (see below) was found in Trinidad after the storm, it clearly was not blown in by the storm.
Along the west coast of Trinidad, an immature MAGUARI STORK* (1st for T&T) was found along the beach at Orange Valley on 17 August and was still present as of 19 August. The bird is moderately oiled with yellowish stains on its head and neck and a darker patch in the breast; such oil stains suggest that it has been in Trinidad a while or in an oil-producing area of Venezuela. Although its relative tameness (allowing approach within 10 metres) suggests it might be an escapee, such tameness could also be explained by its apparent ill health (it may well be dying of oil ingestion). Its young age (evidenced by scattered black wing coverts and dull soft part coloration) and poor choice of habitat (a captive presumably would be seeking handouts from humans), combined with its widely scattered distribution in Venezuela and occurrence during the late wet season when South American waterbirds often visit Trinidad, suggest a wild origin. Local villagers report that it has been present for about 3 weeks though it was missed by visiting birders on 11 August.
To search for the stork, drive southward on the Uriah Butler/Solomon Hochoy Highway from the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway intersection.
After 18.8 km, veer left onto the 0.5 km long Freeport exit and turn right at its end; follow this road 1.0 km to a stoplight on the Southern Main Road and continue straight across the light for 2.0 km (passing the new Waterloo High School on the left) to a T-junction.
Turn left onto Orange Field Road and proceed 4.4 km, and turn left just before reaching the parking lot of a Hindu temple built at the end of a causeway jutting out into the Gulf of Paria. Proceed southward 2.l km to the next village (Orange Valley) and turn right on Bay Street (first paved road). Continue 0.6 km to the coast where a recently constructed causeway stretches a few hundred metres out into the gulf. The stork usually forages along the mudflats just north of the causeway but may be hidden behind boats or a small patch of mangroves along the shoreline; it has also been seen south of the causeway and once flew northward halfway to the Hindu temple.
Other noteworthy bird sightings from the west coast of Trinidad include: an immature GREAT BLUE HERON at Gulf View Drive, San Fernando, on 15 August and another at Waterloo on 11 August; a MARBLED GODWIT* at Waterloo on 11 August (earliest date for T&T); 25 RED KNOTS at Waterloo on 11 August; up to 12 GULL-BILLED TERNS (highest count for T&T) at Orange Valley on 17 August; two adult LEAST TERNS at Orange Valley on 17 August and an immature at Gulf View Drive, San Fernando, on 10 August; and increasing numbers of LAUGHING GULLS, including many juveniles, with tallies of up to 225 at Waterloo on 11 August, 30 at Orange Valley on 11 August, 50 at the San Fernando Public Fish Market on 10 August, and 200 at Gulf View Drive, San Fernando, on 10 August.
In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, recent sightings from the Caroni Rice Fields include: the elusive immature SNAIL KITE* on 15 August; an APLOMADO FALCON* on 17 August; up to six WHITE-FACED WHISTLING- DUCKS on 17 August; up to two BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 12 and 17 August; up to 8 FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 17 August; up to 11 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS on 17 August; and an adult YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON well inland in the east-central section on 17 August.
Elsewhere in the Caroni Plain, a search for the Rufescent Tiger-Heron (see last week's alert) near Cumuto on 19 August was unsuccessful, but a quail-dove thought to be a RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE was clearly heard calling repeatedly from thick swamp-forest. There are no records of this species outside of the Northern Range except for an old record from Soldado Rock, indicating that some long- distance dispersal occurs. Other birds seen nearby include a BAT FALCON, five RED-BELLIED MACAWS and several SULPHURY FLYCATCHERS, and at Wallerfield another six RED-BELLIED MACAWS and a SULPHURY FLYCATCHER. The Trincity Sewage Ponds now appear to be permanently open to birders, who simply need to pull up on a piece of metal to open the gate (and should properly close it when leaving; the guard booth is no longer manned). However, birders traversing the central dike should be careful not to fall into two deep, wide holes currently hidden by tall grass, which recently happened with painful results to two forgetful birders who knew better. On 19 August, two puzzling egrets with dark ceres appeared to be a juvenile LITTLE EGRET* and a juvenile SNOWY EGRET, or possibly even hybrids, but unfortunately they were not seen side-by-side with nearby SNOWY EGRETS.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: How are LEAST TERN and YELLOW-BILLED TERN best identified? In a recent article titled "Identification of Least Tern Sterna antillarum and Yellow-billed Tern S. superciliaris, with a sight record of Yellow-billed Tern from Tobago, West Indies" (Cotinga 15:10-13, 2001), F. E. Hayes pointed out that bill coloration should be a reliable field mark for distinguishing between these two species, contra comments in several field guides. In breeding plumage (black cap with narrow white supercilium), Least Tern usually has a dark-tipped yellow bill and Yellow-billed Tern has a wholly yellow bill. In non-breeding and immature plumages (white cap with black stripe extending across nape from eyes, dark carpal bar on immature), Least Tern usually has a black bill and Yellow-billed Tern has a mostly yellow bill with a dark tip and dark patch around the nostrils. In addition, Yellow-billed Tern averages larger and usually has a proportionately larger bill.
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.