This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-14) for 3 April 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 are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc; our photo gallery is accessible at http://www.geocities.com/secaribbirds. 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 TT Rare Bird Committee requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see SCBA website above and 'BIRD BRAINS' below).

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: On the French side of Saint Martin, a RUFF was found at Grand Etang on 26 March, a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES was noted at Le Gallion on 27 March, and a PRAIRIE WARBLER turned up at Etang aux Poissons on 27 March. On the Dutch side, two probable adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were noted at Great Salt Pond on 27 March, and a pair of MUTE SWANS (presumably escaped) and a pair of MALLARDS (origin uncertain) were found at Little Salt Pond on 27 March.

In Guadeloupe, the Nature Reserve of Petite-Terre was productive as usual over the weekend, with two female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS on 30 March (one was sick and died later that day) and a WILLET on 30 March. A 1.5 hour seabird watch on 1 April produced a MANX SHEARWATER, a LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, two WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, a MASKED BOOBY and three unidentified birds.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, a survey of bitterns and rails in three more Caroni marshes on 31 March yielded six PINNATED BITTERNS, five STRIPE-BACKED BITTERNS and a YELLOW-BREASTED CRAKE.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a hike at the end of La Laja Trace on 30 March produced a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, an immature RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE, a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, a male WHITE-WINGED BECARD and a female YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSH. On 23 and 24 March, a pair of GREAT BLACK-HAWKS* were carefully studied near Paramin; on the latter date, they were seen mating.

In seldom birded southeastern Trinidad, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was spotted along the Rio Claro Road west of Matura on 30 March.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Continuing with our theme of species concepts, the phenetic species concept views a species as a dense region within a hyperdimensional environmental or phenetic space. According to this concept, species are bounded by gaps in phenotypes and individuals within a species fit within a cluster of phenotypes.

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.