This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-35) for 27 September 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).
HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In Barbados, a brightly plumaged male ORANGE BISHOP (1st for Barbados) turned up at Harrison Point on 23 September, presumably as a vagrant from the resident(?) feral population on Martinique. Other noteworthy birds at Harrison Point on 23 September include two CLIFF SWALLOWS and a BANK SWALLOW among 60 BARN SWALLOWS and 20 CARIBBEAN MARTINS. A dead jaeger, thought to be a PARASITIC JAEGER, was found dead on the west coast on 24 September.
A census of CARIBBEAN MARTINS at their traditional Bridgetown roost on 22 September produced 620 individuals.
Along the west coast of Trinidad, the immature MAGUARI STORK* (1st for T&T)--which now appears healthier--continues to lurk along the mudflats of Orange Valley but apparently wanders out of sight at times; our last report was from 23 September, when it was seen spiralling down from the sky and landing on the beach south of the causeway. A MARBLED GODWIT* and a WILSON'S PLOVER were also noted at Orange Valley on 23 September. The first LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS* of the season turned up at Waterloo, where an adult was noted among increasing numbers of LAUGHING GULLS on 23 September and a 2nd-winter immature on 26 September. Other noteworthy birds at Waterloo include a GREAT BLUE HERON on 26 September, an adult LEAST TERN on 23 September, a MARBLED GODWIT* on 23 and 26 September, and up to four WILSON'S PLOVERS on 26 September. Farther south, an adult STRIATED HERON was seen picking up a piece of bread--presumably to be used as bait for fishing--from a feeder at the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust on 24 September. Unfortunately the heron flew across the pond and out of sight when spooked by a passing group of students.
In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, the two SHORT-EARED OWLS* (1st for T&T) at Warren have not been relocated since 16 September. However, the elusive immature GREY HERON* (3rd for T&T) reappeared in a marsh near the west end of the runway in the Caroni Rice Fields on 23 and 26 September. The immature SNAIL KITE* continues to lurk in the vicinity of the runway, where it was last seen on 23 September. An immature female RUFF* turned up in a marsh east of the runway on 23 September. The UPLAND SANDPIPER* in the southeast sector of the rice fields remained from 19-26 September. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER* numbers in the southeastern sector have increased with up to six noted on 22 September. AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER numbers declined inexplicably from three on 21 September to one on 23 September. Duck numbers seem to have increased, with up to 25 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS on 21 September, up to 12 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 23 September and up to eight FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 23 September. Up to 11 GULL-BILLED TERNS were tallied on 21 September. Most unusual was a female BLUE-TAILED EMERALD on 21 September. A BANK SWALLOW was noted among many BARN SWALLOWS on 21 September.
We neglected to mention that the first YELLOW WARBLER of the season was reported from the rice fields on 14 September. The first NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH of the season was heard in Caroni Swamp on 23 September.
At the Trincity Sewage Ponds, a LITTLE EGRET and a RINGED KINGFISHER were seen on 22 September and two BANK SWALLOWS at the same locality on 23 September. A BAT FALCON, 20 RED-BELLIED MACAWS and two SULPHURY FLYCATCHERS were tallied at Cumuto on 23 September.
In the Northern Range of Trinidad, the SCALED ANTPITTA* was heard once again along the road between Las Lapas and Brasso Seco Junction on 23 September; earlier in the week two different birds were heard calling. In the early morning of 23 September, a SHORT-TAILED NIGHTHAWK, a LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT, a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, two female AMERICAN REDSTARTS, two SPECKLED TANAGERS and a female HEPATIC TANAGER were seen at the Morne Bleu communications station and a WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL was heard just inside the forest east of the station.
In Tobago, a BLACK VULTURE*--presumably the same individual wandering about the island for many years--was seen flying over Goldsborough on 25 September.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: On 23 September, three resident birders tallied 177 species of birds (172 seen by all; total includes naturalised Rock Dove) seen or heard in Trinidad within a single day, breaking the previous 'Big Day' record of 167 species set last year on 7 September [published in Birding 33(3, supplement):31, 2001]. Their itinerary, which began at 3:00 am and ended at 6:40 pm, included the following locations: Maracas Valley (before dawn), Caroni Rice Fields (before dawn), Wallerfield (before dawn), Morne Bleu, Brasso Seco Junction, Las Lapas, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trincity Sewage Ponds, Caroni Rice Fields, Orange Valley, Waterloo, Caroni Swamp, Cumuto and Aripo Savannas. Highlights (see above) included Grey Heron, Maguari Stork, Snail Kite, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Ruff, Lesser Black-backed Gull (3rd Eurasian vagrant of the day), Least Tern, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Scaled Antpitta and Bank Swallow. Biggest misses included White Hawk, Common Black-Hawk, Savanna Hawk, White-tipped Dove, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Short-tailed Swift and Turquoise Tanager.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: What is the status of the ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK in the Lesser Antilles? In last week's tidbit we mentioned a recent sight record from Barbados on 17 May 2000, reported by Martin Frost (Pitirre 13:90, 2000). In another article titled "Premiere mention de L'engoulevent de Gundlach (Chordeiles gundlachii) en Guadeloupe" (Pitirre 14:7-8, 2001), Anthony Levesque reported hearing and seeing an individual near Baie-Mahault on Basse Terre, Guadeloupe, on 21 and 25 June 2000. On 16 July 2000, two birds were observed together, suggesting that they may have been nesting. Recent colonization of Guadeloupe might be attributed to the extensive habitat destruction in Hispaniola resulting from Hurricane George in 1998. Apparently these sightings represent the only reliable records from the Lesser Antilles.
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.