This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-27) for 19 July 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 the Northern Range of Trinidad, 19 participants joined the TTFNC Bird Group's outing to Arima Valley on 14 July. The highlight of the trip was the SCALED ANTPITTA* which, unfortunately, was heard only by two participants. Other highlights included a flock of a dozen BLUE-HEADED PARROTS, a flock of about 15 WHITE-COLLARED SWIFTS, a WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL and a DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, a 'MYSTERY EGRET' resembling a breeding-plumaged Little Egret but with distinct grey tones scattered throughout the plumage (from the top of the head to the thighs and on both sides) was found in the Caroni Rice Fields on 6 July. The possibility of it representing an intermediate-morph Western Reef- Heron* is being considered. Another egret with a few dark markings and a pale basal half to the bill was initially thought to possibly represent a hybrid Snowy Egret X Little Blue Heron, but is now thought to be a dirty Snowy Egret with clay soils on the bill. An obvious quesion is how can one distinguish between dark feathering and dark grime on feathers in a white egret/heron without capturing or killing the bird? Other noteworthy bird sightings from the Caroni Rice Fields include: a non-breeding plumaged LITTLE EGRET on 6 July; two BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 8 or 9 July; up to nine FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 6 July; two WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS on 8 or 9 July; the immature SNAIL KITE* on 8 or 9 July; up to two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS from 8-13 July; a WILLET on 13 July; an immature LAUGHING GULL on 6 July; an apparently dying BLACK SKIMMER missing its lower jaw on 6 July; and up to three PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVES on 8 or 9 July.

Elsewhere in the Caroni Plain, three incredibly late and apparently summering BARN SWALLOWS mingled with about 25 WHITE-WINGED SWALLOWS at the Trincity Sewage Ponds on 14 July (latest date for T&T). Also at the sewage ponds were three carefully studied juvenile SNOWY EGRETS feeding with an adult; one juvenile had pale yellow lores, another had greyish-yellow lores and the third had blackish lores-- thus resembling a Little Egret.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, an unseasonably high count of roughly 100 COMMON TERNS (highest west coast count in at least 5 years) associated with about 300 LARGE-BILLED TERNS and 300 YELLOW- BILLED TERNS--but surprisingly no Royal Terns--at Waterloo on 13 July.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Do Striated Heron and Green Heron ever hybridize? A thorough analysis of geographic variation by R. B. Payne (Bull. Brit. Ornithol. Club 94:81-88, 1974) concluded that hybridization occurred. However, a reanalysis by B. L. Monroe, Jr., and M. R. Browning (Bull. Brit. Ornithol. Club 112:81-85, 1992) concluded that "there is no substantial evidence that there is interbreeding, and certainly if it occurs at all, it must be at a low level." In a recent reanalysis of Payne's data titled "Geographic variation, hybridization, and taxonomy of New World Butorides Herons" (North American Birds 56:4-10), F. E. Hayes demonstrated a concerted increase in variability and intermediacy--the signature of hybridization--in populations where the two taxa meet in southern Central America, the southern Caribbean and coastal northern South America. Stay tuned next week for further conclusions.

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.