This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-18) for 30 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, 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 northeastern Trinidad, 40 distant storm- petrels, suspected to be WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS* (2nd for T&T), were seen foot-paddling (Leach's Storm-Petrels seldom foot-paddle) in the vicinity of a Leatherback Turtle at dawn off Galera Point on 30 April. Other seabirds noted during a 2.25 hour seabird watch on 30 April include three LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, ten BROWN BOOBIES, two POMARINE JAEGERS*, nine PARASITIC JAEGERS and 17 ROSEATE TERNS (plus hundreds of distant, unidentified terns).

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK* was found along the Blanchiseusse Road on 24 April.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, waterbird numbers in the Caroni Rice Fields are clearly increasing, with locally breeding populations augmented by northbound Nearctic shorebird migrants and intratropical migrants from South America. Recent sightings include: a PINNATED BITTERN on 25 July; two WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 25 April; six FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 27 April; the SNAIL KITE* as recently as 28 April; single light-and dark-morph LONG-WINGED HARRIERS on 27 April, plus a light-morph on 25 April; a late PEREGRINE FALCON feeding on a dead CATTLE EGRET (presumably killed by the falcon) on 25 April; a late MERLIN on 25 April; a COLLARED PLOVER on 25 April; up to 200 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on 27 April (highest count for rice fields); up to 120 LEAST SANDPIPERS on 25 April; up to 100 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS on 27 April; four WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on 25 April; a PECTORAL SANDPIPER (5th spring record) on 25 April; up to 11 FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHERS on 25 April; and 100 late DICKCISSELS on 25 April. Elsewhere in the Caroni Plain, a STRIPE-BACKED BITTERN was flushed at the Trincity Sewage Ponds on 25 May.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, a breeding plumaged LITTLE EGRET, three 1st-winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, about 450 LAUGHING GULLS and 25 COMMON TERNS were tallied during high tide at San Fernando on 25 April; at the same locality, a GREAT BLUE HERON, an adult light- morph PARASITIC JAEGER, only seven LAUGHING GULLS and 25 COMMON TERNS were tallied during low tide on 28 April. Farther north, an immature BROWN BOOBY, 10 RED KNOTS, 1170 LAUGHING GULLS, six ROYAL TERNS, three COMMON TERNS, a ZONE-TAILED HAWK and a SAVANNA HAWK were seen at Waterloo on 28 April.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: On Sunday, 12 May, the TTFNC Bird Group will be hosting a birding trip to Fort George to search for seasonal forest specialties of northwestern Trinidad such as Blue-tailed Emerald, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet and Streaked Saltator. We will be meeting at the corner of Mucurapo Road and Foreshore Highway (on the Mucurapo side) at 6:30 am. If you wish to participate in this field trip, please call the leader, Courtenay Rooks, at 622-8826 (home) or 678- 9737 (cell).

The Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute in Chaguaramas, Trinidad, will be sponsoring a Birdwatching / Birding Guide Certificate Programme. Scheduled for Monday and Wednesday evenings at 5-8 pm from 6-22 May, the programme will include a series of evening lectures by local ornithologists / birders / tour guides plus two field trips in Trinidad. For further details, please contact Claudelle McKellar (tel. 634-1314, e-mail: claudemckellar@hotmail.com).

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Where does the Caribbean Martin winter? Migrating Caribbean Martins may be expected to pass through Trinidad along a potential migratory pathway connecting its breeding range in the Caribbean and its postulated winter range in continental South America. In a paper titled "First records of Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis) for Trinidad, with comments on its supposed migration to South America" (Pitirre 14:61-62, 2001), W. L. Murphy and F. E. Hayes report single males observed at Galera Point, Trinidad, 14-15 May 1999 and 9 April to 27 May 2000, and two males during 11 February to 7 April 2001. Searches elsewhere in Trinidad were unfruitful.

Because these observations occurred only at Trinidad's closest point to Tobago, within a narrow range of dates and without any evidence of courtship or nesting, the martins were probably non-breeding individuals merely wandering across from their nearest known breeding locality in Tobago. There is no substantial evidence that the Caribbean Martin migrates through Trinidad and its winter range still remains a mystery.

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.