HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Although whale watching has become a popular ecotourism attraction in Dominica, birders seldom take advantage of a splendid opportunity to observe seabirds. On 18 February, a whale watching trip off the west coast produced (in addition to a mother and calf Sperm Whale) six POMARINE JAEGERS and a PARASITIC JAEGER. An earlier trip off the southwest coast on 7 February produced (in addition to three Sperm Whales) seven POMARINE JAEGERS, a PARASITIC JAEGER and a RED-FOOTED BOOBY.
Elsewhere in Dominica, three IMPERIAL PARROTS were noted at Syndicate Parrot Lookout on 8 and 15 February. At Cabrits Swamp, a LEAST BITTERN was flushed from the reeds on 17 February and a female AMERICAN REDSTART was seen on 17 and 18 February. On 16 February, a nightime search for Black-capped Petrels on the north and northwest slopes of Morne aux Diables, which hosted the last known nesting site on the island in 1882, was unsuccessful. On 12 February, an influx of 20+ CARIBBEAN MARTINS was noted at Penville and a singing bird was noted at Calibishie on 18 February. Up to six BROWN PELICANS were noted daily at Anse de Mai and smaller numbers elsewhere north of Portsmouth. A pair of RINGED KINGFISHERS was regularly seen between Woodford Hill Beach and Woodford Hill River.
In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a singing and displaying TRINIDAD PIPING-GUAN* was seen throughout the day (9:45 am to 4:40 pm) at the TSTT's Morne Bleu communication station on 22 February. To our knowledge this record provides only the second in Arima Valley in the last half century and may be a herald of an expanding population recovering from excessive hunting. Other birds noted at the station included a dead BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO* (possibly flew into a guy wire), an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and two male and one female HEPATIC TANAGERS (a pair was apparently carrying food to a nest, which was not observed).
Elsewhere in the Northern Range, a SCALED ANTPITTA* was heard calling high up the steep slopes above the Blanchiseusse Road between Las Lapas and Brasso Seco Junction on 18 February. A BROWN VIOLETEAR was seen and a SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER was captured in a mistnet at Paria Springs on 18 February.
Along the west coast of Trinidad, a possible WHITE-TAILED KITE* was seen near the Waterloo Secondary School on 17 February. At Waterloo, four species of gulls were noted among about 750 LAUGHING GULLS on 17 February, including an adult BLACK-HEADED GULL*, a RING-BILLED GULL* (age not reported) and three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS* (two 3rd-winter and one adult). Five RED KNOTS and a GULL-BILLED TERN were also noted. Sightings at Waterloo on 19 February included two adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS*, a LARGE-BILLED TERN (1st for the year), a YELLOW-BILLED TERN, a COMMON TERN, a SANDWICH ('Cayenne') TERN, four ROYAL TERNS, six RED KNOTS, a SORA and four FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHERS.
In the Caroni Plain, three LITTLE EGRETS* (two breeding plumaged, one non-breeding plumaged) were seen at Trincity on 18 and 19 February. On 19 February, a BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO* was carefully studied at Arena Forest and a COCOI HERON was seen at San Rafael. Two COCOI HERONS were present at the Aripo Livestock Station on 16 February. In the Caroni Rice Fields, six LIMPKINS and a dozen COMMON WAXBILLS were noted on 19 February.
Along the west coast of Trinidad, an APLOMADO FALCON was noted at Nariva Swamp on 18 February. Apparently no Dickcissels have been noted in Nariva Swamp this year, though many have been seen between Freeport and Waterloo on the west coast.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: The T&TFNC Bird Group will be sponsoring a birding trip to the west coast of Trinidad on Sunday, 11 March, led by Graham White. The primary objectives of the trip are to search for rare gulls, including Kelp Gull (1st for T&T), and the elusive Black-tailed Godwit (1st for T&T and South America). If you wish to participate, please contact Graham White by phone (673-4585, evenings) or e-mail (g-white@tstt.net.tt). We will be meeting by the south entrance to the University of the West Indies at 7:00 am, or by the Hindu Temple at Waterloo at 7:30 am.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Birds exhibit a variety of mating systems. The most common mating system is monogamy, in which one male and one female mate and bond with each other during a breeding season. Variations on the theme include serial monogamy, in which a different mate is acquired each season, and life monogamy, in which a pair is mated until one individual dies. An estimated 90% of bird species are thought to be predominantly monogamous. Monogamy is considered to be more prevalent in birds than in mammals because male birds can participate in the incubation of eggs and provisioning of the young, whereas in mammals both of these activities are performed almost exclusively by females.
BIRD BRAINS: Do we believe
what you see? We want to! Many of the identifications reported in the SCBA
are tentative in nature. 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.