This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 48) for 29th December 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).
In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (possibly 1st for VI) was found at the salt pond at Sapphire Bay on 26 December. Six species of warblers were noted at Magens Bay on 26 December. A CLAPPER RAIL was noted at Compass Point Pond on 8 and 26 December; on the former date, three were heard calling. At Frenchcap Cay, five MASKED BOOBIES including two half-grown chicks, about 50 adult BROWN BOOBIES with numerous eggs and chicks, and a PEREGRINE FALCON were noted on 24 December. At Perseverance Bay, seven BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 16 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS, a PUERTO RICAN FLYCATCHER and three NORTHERN PARULAS were tallied on 18 December. A flock of about 200 BARN SWALLOWS swirling over Vessup Bay on 18 December included at least one smaller individual of another species. Recent high counts of WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL include 58 at Sapphire Bay on 15 December and 50 at Sugar Bay on 26 December. At Turpentine Run, the AMERICAN COOT was last seen on 8 December and the RING-NECKED DUCK on 1 December. Two BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were noted at Sugar Bay on 8 December. The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at Sapphire Bay was last noted on 8 December. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was noted at Anna's Retreat on 6 December.
In the Caroni plain of Trinidad, at Caroni ricefields 2 adult and 2 immature PIED BILLED GREBES were seen on 17th Dec together with a GREAT BLUE HERON and 3 BANK SWALLOWS. On 18th Dec the SCARLET IBIS roost at Caroni swamp was sent into panic when an adult female SNAIL KITE (presumably the same bird present on the nearby ricefields for the last year or so) flew in and landed atop the main roosting hammock. Nearby, on the Blue River an adult male GREEN THROATED MANGO was found. back on the ricefields on 20th Dec, following a prolonged search, 5 MASKED DUCKS, all in non breeding dress were found together with single PEREGRINE, MERLIN and at least 10 FORK TAILED FLYCATCHERS. On 28th Dec, a late flurry of shorebirds included an immature female RUFF * , a very late PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 225 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 30 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 15 SEMI PALMATED PLOVERS. The LEAST GREBES now include 4 adults, 2 immatures (presumably the chicks first seen on 6th Oct) and 2 additional extremely small chicks.
In the northern range of Trinidad, on 15th Dec, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was found above Asa Wright, from the Blanchisseuse Rd, and an OLIVE STRIPED FLYCATCHER was seen at Las Lapas.
In central Trinidad, at Wallerfield, a BLACK HAWK-EAGLE was found on 12th Dec.
In west Trinidad, the first few DICKCISSEL flocks of the season were heard, mainly after dark, flying inland over Carapachaima on 21st Dec and the MARBLED GODWIT was again at Waterloo on 24th Dec.
In Tobago, an exceptionally late YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO * was found at Bon Accord sewage lagoons on 21st Dec. However, far rarer, and tantalisingly only heard with its plaintive two note call, was a YELLOW BREASTED CRAKE * (1st for Tobago) at the freshwater marshes at Louis D'or on 22nd Dec.
From Grenada a juvenile GRENADA DOVE was found on 12th Dec on Mt Hartman Sanctuary.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The following abstract is from: Gochfeld, M. 2002. Avifauna of a 'reclaimed' wetland: Trinidad's Laventille Marsh in the 1960s. Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:54-61. Trinidad has several important wetland habitats that are threatened by human activities. However, there are few published quantitative studies on the avifauna of Trinidad wetlands. I studied the avifauna of Laventille Marsh, an impounded wetland bordering the Caroni River, Trinidad, during February-May 1965, and compiled records from earlier workers. Data are summarised on the occurrence of 125 bird species from the marsh. Although this particular wetland has been destroyed, the information on its rich avifauna should support efforts to protect other comparable wetlands on Trinidad and in the Neotropics.
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