This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 46) for 30th  November 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 the northern range of Trinidad, at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, and immature male BAY BREASTED WARBLER* was seen from the balcony on 23rd Nov. On the same date, close to Brasso Seco junction, a male SUMMER TANAGER* was seen and heard. Also at Asa Wright, a BAT FALCON was seen on 25th Nov. On 29th Nov, from the road between Morne Bleu and Las Lapas, single OLIVE SIDED, OLIVE STRIPED, EULER'S and DUSKY CAPPED FLYCATCHERS were found.

In south Trinidad, a SPECTACLED OWL was seen by torchlight in a garden close to Penal on 29th Nov.

In Tobago, an adult male RING NECKED DUCK* was found on Bon Accord sewage ponds on 26th Nov.

In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, a PUERTO RICAN FLYCATCHER was found at Magens Bay on 23 November, plus eight species of Nearctic migrant warblers: an immature female HOODED WARBLER, two YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS, an OVENBIRD, two PRAIRIE WARBLERS, three BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, two YELLOW WARBLERS, two AMERICAN REDSTARTS, and five NORTHERN/LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES. Sightings on 24 November include: a CLAPPER RAIL and LEAST SANDPIPER at Compass Point Pond; the male RING-NECKED DUCK, an AMERICAN COOT and a COMMON MOORHEN with two chicks at Turpentine Run; a seemingly healthy adult LAUGHING GULL at Hull Bay; a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Sugar Bay; and the banded WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL at Sapphire Beach, which appears to have been banded as part of a study on Puerto Rico or Culebra several years ago.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The following abstract is from: Restall, R. 2002. Is the Ring-necked Seedeater (Sporophila insularis) from Trinidad extinct, or is it a cryptic species widespread in Venezuela? Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:37-44.
Sporophila intermedia insularis was described as a subspecies of the Gray Seedeater in 1946 from a specimen collected in Trinidad, but was synonymized with S. i. intermedia in 1952. Based on a reanalysis of museum specimens and live birds captured recently in the field, I found that 37 adult male specimens of insularis differed consistently from S. i. intermedia by several plumage traits and bill colouration. Furthermore, bill size, tarsus length and body mass were significantly greater in insularis. Because the two taxa occur sympatrically in Trinidad (possibly extirpated) and throughout Venezuela north of the Orinoco River, I propose that S. insularis should be recognised as a distinct, cryptic species, given the English name of Ring-necked Seedeater and Spanish name Espiguero Collarblanco.

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