This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 38) for 4th October 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 the Caroni plain of Trinidad, on 28th Sept, at Caroni ricefields the juvenile PURPLE HERON * was again seen sunning itself atop a bush beside the reeds at 6.10am. The following day it was again found in the reeds hunting and showing between 5.00-5.15pm when an overhead flying SAVANNAH HAWK caused it to crouch down and not reappear. Also on the ricefields for 29th Sept were 4 PINNATED BITTERNS, 15 FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS, 3 BLUE WINGED TEAL, 4 LONG WINGED HARRIERS, a BAT FALCON , 23 RED KNOT, 12 HUDSONIAN GODWITS and at least 15 BANK SWALLOWS .
0n 1st October, the PURPLE HERON and SNAIL KITE were still present along with 4 PINNATED BITTERNS, 5 STRIPE BACKED BITTERNS, including one very recently fledged young and 10 of the HUDSONIAN GODWITS recorded earlier. At dawn, at least 500 BARN SWALLOWS flew out from overnight roost. On 3rd Oct, highlights included the first returning COMMON SNIPE of the autumn and a WHITE TAILED GOLDENTHROAT.
On the west coast, the first autumn NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was found in Brickfields mangrove on 30th Sept and there was a report of a possible BLACK TAILED GODWIT (regrettably no sign the following day ). On 1st Oct, the high tide roost included 75 COMMON TERNS and 2 CAYENNE TERNS.
A survey of the agricultural fields in south Aranguez on during the week produced 62 species including a STRIPE BACKED BITTERN, 5 BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS, a MASKED YELLOWTHROAT, a RED CAPPED CARDINAL and a LESSON's SEEDEATER. Whilst seedeaters have been decimated in the wild by the cage bird trade, there is believed to be a post breeding dispersal to Trinidad from the mainland during the autumn.
In Barbados, there were 3 CLIFF SWALLOWS at Inch Marlowe 0n 28th Sept and the EUROPEAN WHIMBREL still at Chancery Lane 27-28th Sept. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was reported at GH Swamp on 25th Sept and 2 EASTERN YELLOW WARBLERS were seen there on 27th. Finally,a YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO was found at Harrison's Point on 28th Sept.
In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, shorebird numbers are gradually declining at Turpentine Run, where a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER turned up on 30 September, along with the usual species including a STILT SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER.
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.