This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2001-11) for 30 March 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).
PHOTO GALLERY: New photos posted at the SCBA website include Giant Cowbird (Barbados), Kelp Gull (Trinidad), Red-and-green Macaw (Trinidad), Chestnut-sided Warbler (Trinidad) and Ring-billed Gull (Trinidad).
HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In Tobago, the immature WESTERN REEF-HERON* (1st for Tobago, 2nd for T&T and South America) last reported from Buccoo on 26 January was relocated at the Bon Accord Sewage Ponds on 26 March. At the same locality, an AMERICAN COOT* (2nd for Tobago, 3rd for T&T) was found on 24 March. On 24 March, six LEAST GREBES and eight WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS were seen whereas on 26 March, 15 GREAT EGRETS, 20 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, a GREAT BLUE HERON, 17 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL, a BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK and a BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen. A mystery seed-eating finch, described as being grey above and paler below with a massive, pinkish bill but no white wing speculum, was also seen at Bon Accord on 26 March.
Elsewhere in Tobago, we received a second-hand report of a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE* (3rd for Tobago) recently observed in the Main Forest Reserve, but no details have been provided. A GREAT BLUE HERON and a BELTED KINGFISHER were reported from Lowlands on 25 March. Although Buccoo Swamp is currently unproductive due to the severe drought throughout Trinidad and Tobago, 18 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS and a COMMON SNIPE were spotted on 26 March. Along Gilpin Trace, birds seen on 25 March included a at least five WHITE-TAILED SABREWINGS, a mating pair of GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKERS, a mating pair of PLAIN ANTVIREOS, and a WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL.
In Little Tobago, the elusive WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD* (2nd for T&T, presumably one of the same two birds seen periodically since April 1998) checked in on 24 March but was absent as usual on 25 March. An AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER chick estimated to be a week old was seen in a burrow by the jetty on 25 March. At least two pairs of dark-morph RED-FOOTED BOOBIES were attending nests on 14 March and at least five chicks were seen on 25 March. A single white-morph RED-FOOTED BOOBY and a VENEZUELAN FLYCATCHER were seen on 14 March.
In the Bocas Islands, located between Venezuela and Trinidad, a weekend birding trip to Chacachacare was much more productive than a similar trip two weekends ago. A grey-morph adult HOOK-BILLED KITE* (1st for Chacachacare and Bocas Islands) soared overhead and a COMMON GROUND-DOVE was seen along the road to the lighthouse on 24 March. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1st for Chacachacare and Bocas Islands) was spotted at La Tinta on 23 March and three more foraged at Salt Pond on 25 March. An immature night-heron (presumably Yellow-crowned; 2nd for Chacachacare and Bocas Islands) flew over Chacachacare Bay on 23 March. At least two RUFOUS NIGHTJARS and two WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJARS were heard at dawn on 24 and 25 March. Two ORANGE-WINGED PARROTS flew into a tree at the lighthouse on 24 March and seven more flew over Salt Pond on 25 March. A PEREGRINE FALCON patrolled La Tinta on 24 and 25 March. Because most of the trees have lost their leaves, landbirds are especially easy to observe at this time of the year. The common 'Bocas specialties' were conspicuous, including BLUE-TAILED EMERALD, WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN, MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET and STREAKED SALTATOR. However, no seed-eating finches were encountered, providing further evidence of seasonal movements in the region.
A large 'tooth' in the notorious Dragon's Mouth between Venezuela and Trinidad, Chacachacare can be visited by hiring a water taxi from the Island Property Owners Association (tel., 634-4331), located on the Chaguaramas Peninsula of northwestern Trinidad. The minimum cost is TT$300 (US$50), but more may be requested (e.g., as the number of passengers increases). An additional TT$15 (US$2.50) is required for parking. Request to be dropped off at La Tinta and arrange a time to be picked up. From the jetty, follow the paved road across the narrow isthmus to La Tinta Bay and then northward to the top of the island. The road passes through littoral forest along the coast, seasonal forest along the slopes, and anthropogenic grasslands at the summit where a lighthouse is located. The lighthouse provides magnificent views of the region. The trees and shrubs in the vicinity of the lighthouse should be scrutinized for vagrants.
Birders wishing to spend the night on Chacachacare may do so freely and safely. A former leper colony, Chacachacare is uninhabited (except for a few men stationed at the lighthouse), with two abandoned 'ghost towns': the leper colony on the north shore and the Nuns' Quarters (NQ) on the south shore of Chacachacare Bay. Camping is recommended in the lower building of the NQ, which provides shelter and spectacular views. Take plenty of drinking water. A small coral reef is worth exploring by mask and snorkel. A trail from the NQ leads westward to a paved road with overgrown vegetation. From the trail/road junction, heading left (south) takes you to the Salt Lake (normally birdless; a 30 min hike from NQ); heading right (north) takes you downhill, eventually skirting a wooded beach and the edge of a rocky bluff to reach the pier at La Tinta (a 30 min hike from NQ).
Along the west coast of Trinidad, a survey for gulls on 28 March produced 2,250 LAUGHING GULLS at Waterloo, 250 at Orange Valley and 200 at San Fernando, but no other gull species were observed--which is quite remarkable considering the record numbers of gulls recorded during the winter. Other noteworthy birds at Waterloo on 28 March included a STRIPE-BACKED BITTERN, 97 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 85 BLACK SKIMMERS and four LARGE-BILLED TERNS. A SANDWICH TERN ('Cayenne' race) was noted at Orange Valley the same day. An early morning hike at Cacandee on 28 March produced three CLAPPER RAILS, two RINGED KINGFISHERS, two PYGMY KINGFISHERS and a LITTLE CUCKOO. At Caroni Swamp, 50 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen in the lagoon where SCARLET IBISES roost on 27 March.
Late reports from the west coast of Trinidad include an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL*, a breeding plumaged YELLOW-BELLIED TERN and a non-breeding plumaged GULL-BILLED TERN at Waterloo on 10 March. At South Oropouche Swamp, three PYGMY KINGFISHERS, a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and two RED-CAPPED CARDINALS were tallied on 17 March. At Caroni Swamp, four STILT SANDPIPERS were reported on 9 March and a COCOI HERON, 200 NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS and two COMMON POTOOS were tallied on 8 March. A RUFOUS-NECKED WOOD-RAIL* and a TRINIDAD EUPHONIA were seen at Cacandee on 5 March.
In the Northern Range of Trinidad, recent reports include: a male WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN at Mt. St. Benedict on 27 March; single OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were noted at Brasso Seco Junction and at Morne Bleu on 6 March; and five SPECKLED TANAGERS and a female HEPATIC TANAGER at Morne Bleu on 6 March.
In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, a COCOI HERON was seen at San Rafael on 7 March. At Wallerfield, a search for the elusive Crane Hawk* (1st for T&T) on 7 March was unsuccessful, but six LEAST SANDPIPERS (roosting on runway after dark), 45 RED-BELLIED MACAWS, a COMMON POTOO, five WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJARS, two WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROATS and three SULPHURY FLYCATCHERS were tallied. Two COCOI HERONS and a PINNATED BITTERN were noted at the Aripo Livestock Station on 5 March. We also understand that the Crane Hawk has been observed at the Aripo Livestock Station.
Along the east coast of Trinidad, we received a second-hand report that up to seven TRINIDAD PIPING-GUANS* have been appearing regularly at the usual site along the Monte Video Road 1 km south of Grande Riviere. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and a SILVERED ANTBIRD were seen along Cocos Bay Road on 12 March. Up to seven SWALLOW-TAILED KITES soared above Rampanalgas on 12 March. Seven WHITE-COLLARED SWIFTS were noted at Galera Point on 11 March. At Balandra, chicks were heard calling from a nest of CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKERS on 11 March.
In Guadeloupe, the reservoir at Gachet (Port-Louis) produced remarkable numbers of waterbirds on 18 March, including 160 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, four GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 80 MASKED DUCKS, a female RUDDY DUCK and 14 AMERICAN COOTS. The first LAUGHING GULL of the season appeared on 22 March at Baie-Mahault and the first LEAST TERN of the season turned up at Petite-Terre.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: As mentioned last week, the resource defense polygyny hypothesis postulates that males defend clumped resources that receptive females come to exploit. According to the deception hypothesis (a form of the resource defense hypothesis), a male defends two (or more) territories, each with a female. However, each bonded female does not realise that its male has a second female. Although females produce fewer surviving offspring than they would if their male was monogamous, males enhance their reproductive success by producing young with two (or more) females.
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.