This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-13) for 13 April 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).

We begin with an apology to our subscribers for the long delays in issuing alerts in recent weeks. Our primary compiler has been burdened with a heavy load of academic work this semester.

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In northeastern Trinidad, two male CARIBBEAN MARTINS* (3rd for Trinidad) but no GRAY-BREASTED MARTINS were seen at Galera Point on 7 April; the following day, 8 April, five GRAY-BREASTED MARTINS but no CARIBBEAN MARTINS were seen. Other landbirds seen included two EARED DOVES on 7 April, a COMMON GROUND-DOVE on 7 April, and six LILAC-TAILED PARROTLETS on 7 and 8 April.

Although seabirding from Galera Point has been highly productive in April during the past several years, this year has been disappointing thus far. A 1.5 hour seabird watch from Galera Point on 7 April produced only 20 MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS, nine BROWN PELICANS, a COMMON TERN, four ROYAL TERNS and, most intriguingly, a ROCK DOVE that flew northward toward Tobago and eventually disappeared from view through a telescope. The following day, 8 April, a 0.5 hour seabird watch produced only two MAGNFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS, four BROWN PELICANS and two ROYAL TERNS.

At Grande Riviere, up to seven TRINIDAD PIPING-GUANS* have been seen in recent months 1 kilometre south of Grande Riviere, but none could be found on 8 April. However, four TRINIDAD PIPING-GUANS* were noted about 1.2 km S of Grand Tacarib Bay on 10 April. At Grande Riviere, a BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA was heard and a group of five BLACK-TAILED TITYRAS was seen on 8 April. At Montevideo, two WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGERS, two FOREST ELAENIAS and a RUBY-TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRDS sere seen on 7 April. Two WATTLED JACANAS were noted at Toco on 8 April.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL* was noted among thousands of LAUGHING GULLS, five YELLOW-BILLED TERNS, eight LARGE-BILLED TERNS and a ROYAL TERN at Waterloo on 12 April. A PINNATED BITTERN, a STRIPE-BACKED BITTERN and a CLAPPER RAIL were noted at Waterloo on 5 April, but surprisingly no unusual gulls were seen.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, at least 2,000 DICKCISSELS were noted in the southern sector of the Caroni Rice Fields in the late evening of 11 April. Other birds noted in the rice fields on 11 April included three PINNATED BITTERNS, 20+ LIMPKINS, two light-phased LONG-WINGED HARRIERS, two (possibly three) PEREGRINE FALCONS, four SOLITARY SANDPIPERS and three GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, two LONG-BILLED STARTHROATS, a RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER, a SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, a WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL, a FUSCOUS FLYCATCHER, a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER and a male YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSH were seen at Morne Bleu on 13 April. A BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER, a male HEPATIC TANAGER and a SOOTY GRASSQUIT were noted at Morne Bleu on 4 April.

Along the east coast of Trinidad, thousands of DICKCISSELS and a RINGED KINGFISHER were noted at the Plum Mitan Rice Fields on 7 and 9 April. A BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO* was observed at Brigand Hill on 6 and 9 April. At Bush-Bush, two BAT FALCONS mauled a TURKEY VULTURE attempting to perch on their roost--which may have been a nest site--on 6 April. A PEREGRINE FALCON was noted at Brigand Hill on 6 April.

In Tobago, two kettles of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, the first of 140 individuals and the second of 150, soared northeastward over Crown Point between 9:30 and 10:00 am on 9 April. We received a tantalizing report of several extreme rarities, though all observations were brief and unverified; these include a COMMON GROUND-DOVE* (potentially 1st for Tobago) at Store Bay in April (date not provided), a possible PLUMBEOUS KITE (potentially 1st for Tobago) and a possible TROPICAL PARULA* (purportedly known only from a few old specimens) near Cuffie River Resort on 11 April.

CORRIGENDA: The Red-legged Kittiwake reported from Galera Point, Trinidad, in last week's alert was actually a Red-legged Honeycreeper. The birds (and mammals) reported from Heights of Aripo, Trinidad, in last week's alert were actually observed on 1 April, not 4 April.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Check back later.

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.