This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-01) for 11th January 2002. Sponsored by the T&T 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 T&TFNC are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc; our photo gallery is accessible at http://www.geocities.com/secaribbirds. Please note that reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick by phone at 674-7609 or by e-mail at martynkenefick@netscape.net. The T&T Rare Bird Committee requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see SCBA website above and 'BIRD BRAINS' below).

RECENT REPORTS :- In northern Trinidad, a visit to the Northern range on 6th January produced a minimum of 4 HEPATIC TANAGERS, 3 SPECKLED TANAGERS, 2 DUSKY CAPPED and a single EULER'S FLYCATCHER at Morne Bleu while a BROAD WINGED HAWK and 4 WHITE COLLARED SWIFTS flew east overhead.. Single SLATY CAPPED FLYCATCHERS were found both at Braso Seco junction and in the Upper Arima valley.

In the far north west, a brief visit to Scotland Bay on 4th January produced single FUSCOUS FLYCATCHER and STRIPED CUCKOO. During a second visit on 9th January a single BROWN BOOBY was seen offshore and a small falcon likely to be a female AMERICAN KESTREL briefly soared overhead. Also on 9th January, a visit to Chacachacare produced a WHITE HAWK, and 2 SCRUB FLYCATCHERS.

In central Trinidad, MORICHE ORIOLES continue to feed at Wallerfield, with two present late afternoon on 3rd January. Also present were 12 BLUE HEADED PARROTS, a BRAN COLOURED FLYCATCHER and at least 4 SULPHURY FLYCATCHERS. In the Caroni plain, the immature SNAIL KITE * last seen in late November was again feeding on Caroni ricefields on 5th January.

>From western Trinidad, an early morning census at Cacandee mangroves on 8th January totalled only38 species but included GREY HEADED KITE, CLAPPER RAIL, several male RUBY TOPAZ, RED RUMPED WOODPECKER and PYGMY KINGFISHER.

In southern Trinidad, there was a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in the Oropouche mangrove on 5th January and reports of a GREAT BLACK HAWK over Penal on 9th January.

>From Tobago, visits to Bon Accord sewage ponds on 10th & 11th January found the WESTERN REEF HERON * (1st for Tobago, 2nd for South America and first reported back on an 16th December 2000) now in full adult plumage. Also present was an immature drake AMERICAN WIGEON * and a PROTHONOTARY WARBER. At Goldsborough, a STRIPED OWL was heard calling briefly at 8.00pm and an OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER was the highlight of a visit to Grafton Sanctuary. Throughout the island, male RUBY TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRDS were much in evidence, having recently returned from the mainland.

>From Barbados, details of their Christmas Bird count held on 30th December, included the following highlights :- male KENTUCKY WARBLER, 3rd for Barbados at Turners Hall Woods together with 2 BLACK WHISKERED VIREOS; CURLEW SANDPIPER at Congo Road; single GREY HERON and AMERICAN COOT at Graeme Hall; another AMERICAN COOT at Chancery Lane; female RING NECKED DUCK at Muddy Waters; 10 ROYAL TERNS at Brighton. LITTLE EGRETS totalled 17 individuals islandwide including two nests (one with 3 eggs and one with chicks) whilst there was an islandwide total of 26 SNOWY EGRETS with one nest found.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, two AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS (2nd for St. Vincent and the Grenadines) were noted at Monkey Point, Mayreau Island, on 27 December. In Union Island, a dozen SANDWICH TERNS (all 'sandwich' race) were noted among 25 ROYAL TERNS and five LAUGHING GULLS at Ashton Harbour on 27 December. A ferry trip from Union Island to St. Vincent via Mayreau Island, Canouan Island and Bequia Island on 28 December produced the following birds: three MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS; about 28 BROWN PELICANS (between Union and Canouan, mostly on Pelican Cay between Mayreau and Canouan); 13 BROWN BOOBIES; 10 RED-FOOTED BOOBIES (nine adult brown morph, one adult white morph); 23 unidentified immature boobies; one LAUGHING GULL (Union); 36 ROYAL TERNS; and four SANDWICH TERNS (all of 'sandwich' race at Union).

In St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, an AMERICAN COOT was seen picking up debris from the bottom of shallow water and presenting it to a CARIBBEAN COOT in what appeared to be a courtship display, after which both swam together into the mangroves at Altona Lagoon on 6 January; also present were a dozen WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL including two ducklings, a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a SORA. At the Carambola Golf Course, two PIED-BILLED GREBES were noted in a pond on 6 January. Three immature BROWN BOOBIES, 50 RUDDY TURNSTONES (of which three were colour-banded/flagged on both legs), a SANDWICH TERN ('sandwich' race) and 55 ROYAL TERNS (nine of 34 were banded, eight on the right leg and one on the left leg, with a single aluminum band) were noted at Frederiksted on 7 January. An active nesting colony of incubating CATTLE EGRETS was noted at Protestant Cay on 4 January. HOUSE SPARROWS were widely distributed in western St. Croix.

>From Guadeloupe, an adult CASPIAN TERN was found on 27th December 2001 at Anse du Canal together with a 1st winter FORSTERS TERN (1st documented record for Guadeloupe).

BIRDING OUTINGS :- please note that the next TTFNC field trip will be a visit to Wallerfield and Arena Forest on Sunday 20th January. Meeting points will be (a) CIC Pembroke St side at 6.10am and ( b) UWI south gate at 6.30am. Anyone interested in participating, please contact Courtenay Rookes on 622.8826 or Martyn Kenefick on 674.7609.

BIRD BRAINS: Do we believe what you see ? We want to. Many of the identifications reported to 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 T&TRBC Secretary; Martyn Kenefick. 36 Newalloville Ave, San Juan, Trinidad - Email martynkenefick@netscape.net