This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-25) for 21 June 2002. Sponsored by the TT Field Naturalists' 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, TT Rare Bird Committee and photo gallery are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Floyd Hayes by phone at 662-9327 (H) or 645-3232 x2206 (W), or by e-mail at floyd_hayes@hotmail.com. The TTRBC requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see website above and 'BIRD BRAINS' below).

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In Barbados, a HOUSE MARTIN (3rd for Barbados and West Indies, and 1st summer record) was present at St. Bernard's Village, St. Joseph, during 9-11 June. It seems highly probable that this was the same individual reported from Plymouth, Tobago, on 7 April (see SCBA 2002-15).

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, the adult male COMB DUCK* (5th for T&T) was seen repeatedly northwest sector of the Caroni Rice Fields from 14-16 June, but has not been seen subsequently; however, it almost certainly is lingering somewhere in the Caroni Swamp area.

Other noteworthy bird sightings from the rice fields include: a LITTLE EGRET with a short head plume on 16 and 20 June; the immature SNAIL KITE* as recently as 20 June; up to two LONG-WINGED HARRIERS (dark, light) on 16 June; up to four WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 19 June; up to six BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 14 June; up to 28 FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 19 June; up to five WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS on 20 June; the first three BLACK-NECKED STILT fledglings of the year on 20 June; up to 75 COLLARED PLOVERS on 19 June; a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on 16 June; up to two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on 19 June; up to seven STILT SANDPIPERS on 16 June (all Nearctic migrant shorebirds in non-breeding plumage); a pair of PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVES in the southeastern sector on 16 June and one on 15 June; an adult male GREEN-THROATED MANGO on 19 June; and two COMMON WAXBILLS on 20 June.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, a 1st-summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL turned up among 170 LAUGHING GULLS and a surprisingly high tally of 18 COMMON TERNS at Waterloo on 15 June. About 15 ROYAL TERNS were still lingering at Orange Valley on 15 June.

Along the east coast of Trinidad a PINNATED BITTERN and a pair of PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVES were seen at Kernahan and a SWALLOW- TAILED KITE near Fishing Pond on 16 June.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a PLUMBEOUS KITE was noted at Morne Bleu and a DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE in lower Arima Valley on 16 June.

Finally, we urge birders to keep an eye out for ELEGANT TERNS within the region. Elegant Terns nest in western North America and winter southward to Chile, but have been turning up with increasing frequency in western Europe and eastern North America. Given the paucity of birders in the southeastern Caribbean, they could easily be overlooked among the local 'Cayenne' Terns (yellow-billed race of Sandwich Tern) and Royal Tern. Elegant Tern is intermediate in size between Cayenne and Royal Tern with a long, thin, orangeish bill that is often yellowish and drooped downward at the tip. However, some Cayenne Terns apparently have orangeish or reddish coloured bills, and could be nearly indistinguishable from Elegant Tern; some have speculated that such individuals may even represent hybrids with Elegant Tern in the Dutch West Indies. We just learned of recent sight records of Elegant Tern at Waterloo in March 1998 and March 1999. Given the difficulties in distinguishing these two taxa, any potential sightings of Elegant Tern should be documented with detailed descriptions and photographs.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Are there taxonomic differences among birds in their neophobia and ability to solve problems? In Barbados, recent studies by S. J. Webster and L. Lefebvre (2001. Problem solving and neophobia in a columbiform-passeriform assemblage in Barbados. Animal Behaviour 62:23-32) explored neophobia and problem solving in the Zenaida Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Carib Grackle and Shiny Cowbird. Habituation to a new food patch, willingness to feed near a novel object, and the ability to obtain food from a new apparatus were studied both in the wild and in captivity. The passerines, especially Carib Grackles, were far more innovative and successful in problem solving than the doves, providing evidence of taxonomic differences among birds in these aspects of behaviour. Stay tuned next week for yet another similar study in Barbados.

BIRD BRAINS: Do we believe what you see? We want to! Many of the identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative. The TT Rare Bird 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 and Tobago; e-mail: martynkenefick@netscape.net.