This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-34) for 20 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 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: Photographs of the MAGUARI STORK (1st for T&T), YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (1st documented for Tobago), TRINIDAD PIPING- GUAN (Trinidad), double-shelled TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD egg (Trinidad) and BLACK VULTURE carcasse resulting from an aircraft collision are now posted at the SCBA website (see address above).

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: The T&TFNC birding trip on Sunday, 16 September, was a spectacular success in which all 14 participants leisurely viewed the MAGUARI STORK* (1st for T&T) at Orange Valley and two SHORT-EARED OWLS* (2nd for T&T), an immature GREY HERON* (3rd for T&T) and an immature SNAIL KITE* in the Caroni Rice Fields. A total of 81 species were seen plus two heard. Further details are supplied below.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, the MAGUARI STORK* (1st for T&T) last reported on 1 September reappeared at Orange Valley on 15 and 16 September. Two MARBLED GODWITS* were noted at Waterloo on 9 and 14 September and at Orange Valley on 15 September. A third godwit, described as smaller, paler and shorter-billed with a mostly dark bill, joined the two MARBLED GODWITS at Waterloo on 14 September; suspecting it may have been a BAR-TAILED GODWIT* (potential 1st for T&T), birders unfortunately were unable to relocate it subsequently. Other noteworthy bird sightings at Waterloo include: a GREAT BLUE HERON on 14 September; a LONG-WINGED HARRIER on 14 September; three UPLAND SANDPIPERS* on 14 September; up to four WILSON'S PLOVERS on 9 September; and four COMMON TERNS, three ROYAL TERNS and two GULL- BILLED TERNS on 16 September. A single WILSON'S PLOVER was noted at Orange Valley on 15 and 16 September.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, the Caroni Rice Fields have been spectacularly productive within the past week. The two SHORT-EARED OWLS* (2nd for T&T) near Warren, in the southeastern extremity of the Caroni Rice Fields, were seen again on 16 September, but efforts to relocate them on 15, 18 and 19 September were unsuccessful. The field in which they were seen on 13 and 16 September has been subjected to intense disturbances by local farmers. The immature GREY HERON* (3rd for T&T) had eluded birders nearly every day since 5 September, but reappeared on 16 September in a marsh near the western end of the runway. A PAINT-BILLED CRAKE* (3rd for T&T) was seen along the road near the southwestern entrance to the rice fields on 13 (afternoon) and 16 September (before dawn), but searches for it on 18 and 19 September were unsuccessful. An UPLAND SANDPIPER*, a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER* and a WHIMBREL were noted in the southeastern sector on 19 September. The SNAIL KITE* continues to be seen daily in the vicinity of the runway as recently as 19 September. An elusive APLOMADO FALCON* was seen on 13 and 15 September. The first PEREGRINE FALCON of the season checked in on 19 September. A CLIFF SWALLOW* (earliest date for T&T) and eight BANK SWALLOWS (highest count for T&T) were noted among several hundred BARN SWALLOWS on 19 September. Other noteworthy birds seen in the Caroni Rice Fields include: up to nine WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL on 19 September; up to nine BLUE-WINGED TEAL on 14 and 15 September; up to 16 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 15 September; up to five FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 16 September; up to four LONG-WINGED HARRIERS (two light, two dark) on 19 September; up to 39 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS on 14 September; 8 BLACK- BELLIED PLOVERS on 19 September; 10 WILLETS (rare inland) on 15 September; up to 26 RED KNOTS on 19 September; up to 58 PECTORAL SANDPIERS on 15 September; and up to four GULL-BILLED TERNS on 15 September.

Along the east coast of Trinidad, an AZURE GALLINULE and four PINNATED BITTERNS were reported from Nariva on 29 August. In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, a WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL and a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER were spotted at Morne Bleu on 9 September.

In Tobago, two WHITE-WINGED SWALLOWS* (1st for Tobago) are still lingering at Mt. Irvine, where they were last reported on 17 September. One of the elusive WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRDS* (2nd for T&T) was seen at Little Tobago on 13 September.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Where do ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWKS migrate during winter? In last week's tidbit we discussed its breeding and hypothetical winter range. However, its status in the Lesser Antilles is poorly known. Although nighthawks have been noted during autumn migration in the Lesser Antilles, the birds are invariably silent and cannot be safely identified. Single specimens from Barbados (29 September 1887) and Martinique (16 October, year unknown) represented COMMON NIGHTHAWK. In a recently published note titled "An observation of Antillean Nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii) on Barbados" (Pitirre 13:90, 2000), Martin Frost reported one uttering distinctive vocalizations as it flew over Barbados on 17 May 2000. Thus, this observation provides the first evidence that this species may migrate through the Lesser Antilles (and possibly through Trinidad and Tobago); alternatively, it could have been a vagrant. The possibility of identifying a nighthawk in the Lesser Antilles is greatest in spring and early summer when calling is more likely. Stay tuned next week for news of a recent range extension elsewhere in 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.