This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 35) for 13th September Sponsored by the T&T Field Naturalist 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, T&T Rare Birds Committee and Photo Gallery are accessible at
http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick by phone at 674-7609 or by Email at "martynkenefick@hotmail.com" The TTRBC requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see website above and RARE BIRD REPORTING below)

RECENT BIRD SIGHTINGS :- In Trinidad a trip into the west coast mangrove at Cacandee on 7th Sept produced a juvenile RUFOUS NECKED WOOD-RAIL *, 2 RINGED KINGFISHERS, a pair of NORTHERN SCRUB FLYCATCHERS feeding a newly fledged young, at least 5 BLACK CRESTED ANT-SHRIKES and the first AMERICAN REDSTARTS of the autumn. On the same day, shorebirds  on the Caroni ricefields included 30 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS and 10 RED KNOT. Also present were 2 juvenile LEAST GREBES, 7 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAIL,  a GULL BILLED TERN and a PLAIN BREASTED GROUND-DOVE

The TTFNC group outing to Caroni Ricefields and the west coast mudflats on 8th Sept produced a total of 74 species during the morning including 22 species of shorebirds. Highlights include close perched views of both immature APLOMADO FALCON and GREEN KINGFISHER, a LEAST TERN and a light phase LONG WINGED HARRIER hunting over Brickfields.

On the north east coast at Galera Pt, a 4.25 hour seawatch on 11th Sept produced 220 COMMON TERNS, 168 BROWN NODDIES, 40 ROSEATE TERNS and single ROYAL, LEAST and GULL BILLED TERNS. Shorebird passage was much in evidence Whilst flocks totalling 130 birds were only identified as small "calidris" sandpipers, 10 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS,  8 WHIMBREL, 5 SANDERLING, 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 2 SEMI PALMATED PLOVERS, a WILLET and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER were positively identified. Migrating landbirds were few and far between, although parties totalling 112 FOR TAILED FLYCATCHERS were seen flying in off the sea. Other birds of note were two PEARL KITES  hunting from overhead wires and a late immature RUBY TOPAZ (there appears to be a post breeding dispersal to the South American mainland between August - November)

A further visit to Caroni ricefields on  13th Sept produced 1 LEAST BITTERN, 2 PINNATED BITTERNS and an impressive total of 83 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS.

In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, four STILT SANDPIPERS and two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen among an assortment of shorebirds at Turpentine Run on 13 September. On 12 September, roughly a dozen MASKED BOOBIES and an AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER were seen on Cockroach Cay and 32 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS and nine BLACK-NECKED STILTS were tallied on the salt ponds of Saba Island. Single PRAIRIE WARBLERS were noted at Fortuna and Klok Hill on 8 September.


RARE BIRD REPORTING:- Do we believe what you see ? We want to ! Many of the identifications reported in 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 TTRBC Secretary : Martyn Kenefick, 36 Newalloville Ave, San Juan, Trinidad & Tobago - email :- martynkenefick@hotmail.com