This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-26) for 4 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 Guadeloupe, a 1.5 hour seabird watch from the Nature Reserve of Petite-Terre produced a SOOTY SHEARWATER, 49 GREATER SHEARWATERS, a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL and an unidentified SKUA (South Polar?) on 22 June. A nesting pair of BLACK-NECKED STILTS incubating four eggs was discovered on 23 June, providing the first nesting record for the Nature Reserve.

In Antigua, a surprisingly large flock of 22 WEST INDIAN WHISTLING- DUCKS was found on 26 June at Rabbit Island, which is now rat-free thanks to the efforts of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG).

Only a dozen were spotted at the same spot a year ago, suggesting that they may be nesting there or on a nearby islet. For the second consecutive year and for the second brood this year, a docile ZENAIDA DOVE is nesting in a windowsill only a metre from a desk in the EAG office building in St. John's.

In St. Kitts, a GREATER FLAMINGO that has apparently been present since early 2001 was seen at Great Salt Pond on 27 June; it is banded with a greenish metallic ring on its right tibia, with at least two black numerals ('98') that are visible. Other birds tallied at Great Salt Pond on 27 June include 24+ BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 20+ WILSON'S PLOVERS, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 12 RUDDY TURNSTONES, a SANDERLING, 10 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 16 ROSEATE TERNS and 8+ LEAST TERNS (nesting). A RED-TAILED HAWK was noted at Brimstone Hill Fort on 28 June.

In the southwestern peninsula of Trinidad, an immature MUSCOVY DUCK*, almost certainly a natural vagrant from Venezuela, was seen flying eastward along the south coast of Trinidad at Chatham on 23 June. A probable POMARINE JAEGER* was seen off Vesigny on 26 June. Other birds noted in the area on 23 June include: a LIMPKIN, three RED- BELLIED MACAWS and a SCALED PIGEON at Chatham Forest; a ZONE-TAILED HAWK south of Chatham Junction; two COCOI HERONS at Los Blanquizales Lagoon and a LITTLE CUCKOO a few kilometres to the north of the lagoon; 34 COMMON TERNS (one breeding-plumaged, all others immatures), one ROYAL TERN, five LARGE-BILLED TERNS and a nest- building pair of SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHERS at Columbus Bay; and a nesting pair of LEAST GREBES with a single egg on a floating nest, 16 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS, a COMMON TERN (1st inland record), 137 LARGE-BILLED TERNS and 34 BLACK SKIMMERS at Pitch Lake.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, the WHITE-TAILED KITE* was spotted again as it flew and hovered over a residential area adjacent to fields just east of the Waterloo High School on 1 June. At San Fernando, only 30 LAUGHING GULLS and nine COMMON TERNS were present during an afternoon high tide on 23 June.

In the Caroni Rice Fields of Trinidad, the SNAIL KITE* continues to be seen in the vicinity of the runway, where it was last reported on 25 June. An intrepid birder wading into a few marshes on 25 June spooked up four STRIPE-BACKED BITTERNS, two LEAST BITTERNS, a GRAY- BREASTED CRAKE, three YELLOW-BREASTED CRAKES, and a STRIPED CUCKOO fledgling being fed by a busy pair of YELLOW-CHINNED SPINTETAILS. A blue-lored LITTLE EGRET with a partial head plume was seen on 23 June. A WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK, 15 FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS and two BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS--but not the Comb Duck* last reported on 16 June--were tallied on 25 June.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a possible lek of four singing BROWN VIOLETEARS was found at Paria Springs on 26 June. At Fort George, two STREAKED SALTATORS and a BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER were noted on 26 June.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Can innovative behaviours be transmitted culturally by birds? A famous example is that of tits throughout mainland Britain learning to pilfer milk by opening the cardboard caps of bottles. In Barbados, S. M. Reader, D. Nover and L. Lefebvre (2002. Locale-specific sugar packet opening by Lesser Antillean Bullfinches in Barbados. J. Field Ornithol. 73:82-85) first noticed Lesser Antillean Bullfinches opening packets of sugar in the grounds of the Colony Club hotel on 16 May 2000. The subsequent placement of sugar packets at 40 sites in 10 west coast areas revealed that only those in the vicinty of the Colony Club opened the sugar packets.

Inquiries at other hotels and restaurants revealed that the Colony Club was the only open-air establishment serving sugar in packets, suggesting that this innovative behaviour would be unlikely to spread to other bullfinch populations.

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.