This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 40) for 18th 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, a number of the species found during the previous week were still present :- throughout this week up to 5 MASKED DUCKS * were still to be found. On the weekend of 12th & 13th October, the 5 adult and 2 chick LEAST GREBES and one of the PIED BILLED GREBES, up to 12 BOBOLINKS and an adult AZURE GALLINULE were seen On the 14th at least 5 PINNATED, 2 LEAST and a STRIPE BACKED BITTERN; the first reported PEREGRINE of the winter and a lingering single HUDSONIAN GODWIT were present.. On 18th Oct, 2 YELLOW BREASTED CRAKES were found in the south west quadrant and, a very unusual CLAPPER RAIL was seen north of the airfield. These are birds much more regularly seen in the brackish water of the mangrove west of the highway.
On the west coast of Trinidad at Brickfields, a party of 9 adult BLUE AND WHITE SWALLOWS were found on the 14th and further south, at Roussilac, late nesting SCARLET IBIS were seen on 18th.
In north east Trinidad, there was no notable seabird passage from Galera Pt on 12th October, although an abundance of small fish near the surface, maintained a flock of 120 BROWN NODDIES, 45 COMMON TERNS and a single ROSEATE TERN. There was also a lack of migrant landbirds, indeed the only noteworthy sighting was an out of place BLACK CRESTED ANTSHRIKE in the roadside hedgerows.
In the northern range of Trinidad on 15th October, a morning spent in the Morne Bleu and Las Lapas areas produced single RED RUMPED WOODPECKER, STREAKED ZENOPS, GREY THROATED LEAFTOSSER, OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW LEGGED THRUSH; 2 SLAY CAPPED FLYCATCHERS and 2 SOOTY GRASSQUITS . Further north, on the Marianne river, at least 4 different SILVERED ANTBIRDS were seen on 17th Oct.
In south Trinidad, an APLOMADO FALCON * was seen at South Oropouche on 13th October.
Finally, in south eastern Trinidad, near Biche the UPLAND SANDPIPER * first found on 6th October was still present together with small numbers of more usual migrant sandpipers.
In the US Virgin Islands, two birders tallied 64 species of birds seen or heard on St. Thomas and St. John on 13 October, breaking the previously published 'Big Day' record of 30 species. The totals included three established exotic species: BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET, ROCK DOVE and HOUSE SPARROW. The highlights are listed below.
In St. John, US Virgin Islands, a hike along the Bordeaux Mountain Road on 13 October produced six species of Nearctic migrant warblers, including a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (1st for St. John, 3rd for Virgin Islands), an OVENBIRD, a PRAIRIE WARBLER, three BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, three BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS and five AMERICAN REDSTARTS. Other noteworthy birds seen on 13 October include: an AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER at Lagoon Point; a WILSON'S PLOVER and two WHITE-WINGED DOVES at Coral Bay, and four WHITE-WINGED DOVES at East End. LESSER ANTILLEAN BULLFINCHES were seen and heard throughout the arid eastern side of the island.
In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, four WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 35 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS provided season high totals at Turpetine Run on 14 October. Noteworthy bird sightings on 13 October include: three PIED-BILLED GREBES at Raphune Pond; a BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a WHITE-WINGED DOVE at Sugar Bay; another WHITE-WINGED DOVE at Red Hook; a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and roughly 75 STILT SANDPIPERS at Compass Pond; a WILSON'S SNIPE at Turpentine Run on 13 October; and four ROYAL TERNS and three SANDWHICH TERNS at Water Island. On 12 October, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE and two WILSON'S SNIPES were seen at the University of the Virgin Islands.
In Guadeloupe, on 15th October there was a male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS at the Petite-Terre nature reserve.
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