This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 36) for 20th September
2002  Sponsored by the T&T Field Naturalist 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 TTFNC, T&T Rare
Birds Committee and Photo Gallery are accessible at
http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick by phone
at 674-7609 or by Email at "martynkenefick@hotmail.com" The TTRBC requests
details for species indicated with an asterisk (see website above and RARE
BIRD REPORTING below)

RECENT BIRD SIGHTINGS :- In Tobago, on 11th Sept, 2 WHITE TAILED TROPICBIRDS
once again put in their occasional appearance at the seabird cliffs on
Little Tobago Is. On the same date, the first AMERICAN REDSTARTS this autumn
for Tobago were found at Gilpin trace

In Trinidad, the first reported returning YELLOW WARBLERS were on Fort
George on 9th Sept. In the Caroni plain, a LESSER NIGHTHAWK flew at dusk on
13th Sept close to the boat moorings at Caroni swamp. On the 14th, in Caroni
ricefields a good selection of wildfowl included 6 BLUE WINGED TEAL, 5 WHITE
CHEEKED PINTAIL, 3 FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS AND 1 BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING
DUCK. Additionally, the juvenile APLOMADO FALCON was again found as were 2
YELLOW BREASTED CRAKES and what was undoubtedly a juvenile SAFFRON FINCH; a
new species for the rice project.

At Trincity Ponds on 15th Sept good numbers of passage shorebirds including
30 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a  STILT SANDPIPER and a SEMI PALMATED SANDPIPER. The
inclement weather over the weekend impeded forest birding, the only notable
find being  an adult male LONG BILLED STARTHROAT at Las Lapas on 15th Sept.
Also on the 15th, at Kernaham in Nariva swamp, an AZURE GALLINULE showed
well at 5.30pm

On 16th Sept, a HUDSONIAN GODWIT, the first for the autumn, was reported on
the beach at Sans Souci.

On 17th Sept in the Caroni ricefields, 2 BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPERS were the
first of the autumn Also present were 34 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS.. Further
down the coast, at Brickfields 2 WILSON's PLOVERS were found amongst the
high tide roost together with a further 10 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS and 120
COMMON TERNS.

By the 18th, a 3rd BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER had appeared on Caroni
ricefields; the adult female SNAIL KITE put in a reappearance after a few
weeks absence; flocks of 18 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAIL and 17 BLUE WINGED TEAL
were present, as were a group of 5 PINNATED BITTERNS in one small field.

On 20th Sept, a 2.75 hr seawatch from Galera Pt in north east Trinidad
produced at least 660 COMMON TERNS, 130 BROWN NODDIES, 7 ROSEATE TERNS, 6
BLACK TERNS, 3 SANDWICH TERNS, 2 CAYENNE TERNS and a ROYAL TERN.
Additionally whilst the majority of shorebirds were too distant to name,
those identified included 52 SANDERLING, 12 WHIMBREL,  12 LESSER YELLOWLEGS,
5 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHER and a WILLET

In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE (possible 1st for St.
Thomas; previously recorded on St. John and St. Croix) was found at
Turpentine Run on 18 September. An obviously escaped RINGED TURTLE-DOVE was
at Sugar Bay on 15 September (eight are being kept in a cage at Compass
Point). Thirteen species of shorebirds were tallied in eastern St. Thomas
within the past week, including 12 STILT SANDPIPERS, two SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS, two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a WESTERN SANDPIPER at Turpentine
Run, and 90 STILT SANDPIPERS and another WESTERN SANDPIPER at Compass Point
Pond on 15 September. A CLAPPER RAIL and a PRAIRIE WARBLER were seen at
Compass Point Pond, and a SANDWICH TERN at Vessup Bay on 15 September. An
OSPREY with band number 788-19748 was found at Fortuna Bay on 15 September
and was dead when relocated on 17 September. Ten HOUSE SPARROWS were noted
at Bovoni on 8 September and another eight at Charlotte Amalie on 6
September.

RARE BIRD REPORTING:- Do we believe what you see ? We want to ! Many of the
identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative. The T&T Rare Birds
Committee, formed in 1995, requests details for all rare birds observed (see
Species Review List at our website). Please submit details to the TTRBC
Secretary : Martyn Kenefick, 36 Newalloville Ave, San Juan, Trinidad &
Tobago - email :- martynkenefick@hotmail.com