This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-18) for 18 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).

MYSTERY SOLVED: Well, not exactly. Videotape footage of the "mystery seed-eating finch" at Bon Accord, Tobago, on 26 March (see SCBA 2001-11), revealed a grey seedeater that was darker in the face and possessing a pale bill, a white wing speculum (not noted in the field), and a pale belly gradually merging with the grayer breast and sides. The bird appears to have been a male GRAY SEEDEATER* (1st for Tobago), though a distinct white patch on the left malar region (absent on the right) suggests it may have been the 'ring-necked' variety initially described as a subspecies of the Gray Seedeater (Sporophila intermedia insularis), later synonymized with the nominate race of the Gray Seedeater (S. i. intermedia) and currently suspected of representing a distinct, cryptic species--the Ring-necked Seedeater (S. insularis), based on unpublished studies currently in progress. However, the origin of the Tobago bird is suspect. In Trinidad, the Gray Seedeater and perhaps the Ring-necked Seedeater as well were formerly common but now appear to be extirpated; to our knowledge the last record of Gray Seedeater was from 1994. But many are imported from Venezuela and sold in local pet shops; undoubtedly some escape, which may explain the appearance of the seedeater in Tobago.

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: We received a late report from Grenada of a EURASIAN WIGEON* (1st for Grenada), which arrived with a flock of 41 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, at La Sagesse from 24 January to 15 February; it left when the majority of the teal departed. Previous records from the region include one in Barbuda and three in Barbados. A LEAST GREBE* (1st for Grenada and southern Lesser Antilles) was also present at La Sagesse from 20 March to 1 April.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, the TTFNC field trip to Upper St. Ann's on 13 May produced 50 species of birds, including CHESTNUT WOODPECKER, STREAKED XENOPS, SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER and TRINIDAD EUPHONIA. A hike to the Salybia Waterfall and beyond on 13 May turned up a BEARDED BELLBIRD (heard only), a singing BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (heard only), a COLLARED TROGON and several WHITE-NECKED THRUSHES; this site may represent the lowest elevation in Trinidad for the bellbird, trogon and thrush.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, a hike into the mangrove swamp at Cacandee on 12 May produced an adult COCOI HERON, a CLAPPER RAIL, a RINGED KINGFISHER, an incubating or brooding EARED DOVE and at least three lingering NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES. The highlights of a hike along the edge of Teteron Bay on 10 May included three BLUE-TAILED EMERALDS, a STREAKED XENOPS, three MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULETS and about ten STREAKED SALTATORS (this appears to be the only Trinidad locality where this species has been recorded in recent years).

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: In a recently published paper titled "Breeding biology of the White-tailed Sabrewing at Tobago, West Indies" (Journal of Field Ornithology 71:597-605, 2000), F. E. Hayes, N. A. Trimm, B. Sanasie and R. P. ffrench summarised data based on observations at seven nests. Breeding occurred during the dry season from February-April. Nests were placed 1.75-11 m high in small dicot trees, bamboo and palms in the forest interior, usually near streams. Two white eggs were laid in bulky (7-35 cm high), cup-shaped nests; one nest contained spines from a palm. The camouflaged nestlings were quiet. During the late nestling period, a female made 1.27 feeding trips/hour (10.25 hours of observation) to the nest; feeding sessions averaged 0.93 minutes with an average of 2.0 regurgitations/nestling, and recesses off the nest averaged 44.26 minutes. The female fed on arthropods and nectar, and vigorously defended the nestlings.

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.