This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-19) for 25 May 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 Guadeloupe, the Nature Reserve of Petite-Terre is developing a reputation as a premier landbird vagrant trap as well as a seabird watch site. Recent landbird sightings include a TENNESSEE WARBLER (1st for Guadeloupe) on 11 May, a MAGNOLIA WARBLER and a RED-EYED VIREO on 14 May, and two PALM WARBLERS on 16 May. Meanwhile seabird watches continue to be productive. A 1-hour seabird watch on 8 May produced a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, a probable MANX SHEARWATER and a POMARINE JAEGER. Another 1-hour seabird watch on 9 May produced 174 AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS and two CORY'S SHEARWATERS. A half-hour seabird watch on 15 May produced a single WILSON'S STORM-PETREL and an unidentified STORM-PETREL.

In Tobago, two LARGE-BILLED TERNS* (1st for Tobago), including an adult and an immature, were noted at the large pond beside the Claude Noel Highway in Lowlands from 15-21 May. A SAVANNA HAWK* (2nd for Tobago) was seen at Fort George (curious locality) on 5 May and relocated in Lowlands on 21 May. The WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD* (2nd for T&T) continues to be seen sporadically at Little Tobago, where it was last reported on on 10 May. Five BLACK-NECKED STILTS* (3rd for Tobago) were noted in Bon Accord Lagoon on 16 May. A CARIBBEAN COOT* was at Buccoo Swamp on 21 May. A dozen MASKED BOOBIES* were noted at St. Giles on 29 April.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, an unidentified Streptopelia dove, either a RINGED TURTLE-DOVE* (potential 2nd for T&T) or a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE* (potential 1st for T&T, predating Waterloo record in late 2000; see SCBA 2000-20, 2000-39), was reported once again in Valley View, Maracas Valley, during the 2nd week of May. Observers who stumble across a Streptopelia dove are urged to listen for its call, comprising two (Ringed Turtle-Dove) or three (Eurasian Collared-Dove) syllables, and to search for the coloration of the basal half of the tail (pale in Ringed Turtle-Dove, dark in Eurasian Collared-Dove), which is best seen when the bird spreads its tail when it turns or just before it lands, or from below when it is perched above.

Elsewhere in the Northern Range, a hike along the Lalaja-Paria Trace on 20 May produced a LITTLE TINAMOU (seen), a RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER, two ORANGE-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSHES (heard only) and a male SWALLOW TANAGER. Three SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were seen along the Lalaja Road.

Along the east coast of Trinidad, an adult RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON* and two BAT FALCONS, one eating a bird, were noted at Bush Bush, Nariva Swamp, on 7 May.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, numbers of LAUGHING GULLS have declined sharply in recent weeks, with only about 100 at Waterloo, one at Orange Valley and about 150 at San Fernando on 19 May, with no rare gulls noted. Meanwhile, numbers of terns are rising, with 67 LARGE-BILLED TERNS, 44 YELLOW-BILLED TERNS and two ROYAL TERNS at Waterloo and ten COMMON TERNS and two LARGE-BILLED TERNS at San Fernando on 19 May. Shorebird numbers at Waterloo and Orange Valley were unimpressive, though a breeding-plumaged RED KNOW was at Waterloo on 19 May. Elsewhere, two RED-CAPPED CARDINALS were noted at Pointe-a-Pierre on 19 May and the TURKEY VULTURE nesting at Icacos Point still had two eggs on 19 May (latest date).

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, a few of the Caroni Rice Fields have finally been flooded, with six BLACK-NECKED STILTS and 23 LIMPKINS joining the usual herons and egrets on 22 May. A mixed flock of YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRDS and SHINY COWBIRDS exceeded 1000 individuals and a MASKED YELLOWTHROAT was also noted. We predict that increasing numbers of waterbirds will be attracted to the fields in the upcoming weeks.

Along the north coast of Trinidad, a search for TRINIDAD PIPING-GUANS* at Grande Riviere on 8 and 9 May was unsuccessful, though the local resident continues to see them regularly. Five SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were seen at Montevideo on 9 May.

Although not birds, we decided to include reports of two recently stranded PILOT WHALES along the west coast of Trinidad, providing further evidence that not all is well with the marine environment. The first blundered its way up the Madame Espanol River on 7 May and died despite a herculean rescue attempt. The second was found dead and partially butchered at McDerm Beach, 3 kilometres to the north on 8 May.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: A recently published paper titled "Grenada Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus mirus) surveys and nesting activity" by R. Thorstrom, E. Massiah and C. Hall (Pitirre 13:92, 2000), reports an estimated 15 individual kites found during surveys from 22-28 February and 2-10 August 2000, mostly in the southwestern section of the island. In August, two nests were located 2.7 km apart, 15 and 17 metres high in Ceiba pentandra and Erythrina micropteryx trees, respectively. Of 156 prey items carried to a nestling in the first nest, 133 were identified to species (all snails); of these, 55% were Drymaeus dominicus, 34.6% were Orthalicus undatus, and 9.8% were Pleurodonte perplexa. The male delivered 46.8% and the female 53.2% of the snails.

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.