This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-17) for 24 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).

CRIME WARNING: Because of two recent incidents involving birders, we urge
all birders to exercise caution when visiting Wallerfield and to remain
either within or close to their vehicles at all times.

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In Trinidad, land-based seabirding is most productive
at Galera Point, at Trinidad's northeastern tip, where a 1 hour seabird
watch at Galera Point on 20 April produced two white-morph RED-FOOTED
BOOBIES* (3rd for Trinidad), 39 LAUGHING GULLS, two ROSEATE TERNS and nine
unidentifed gulls/terns. A 1.75 hour seabird watch at Galera Point on 21
April produced another white-morph RED-FOOTED BOOBY* (4th for Trinidad),
four LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, eight LAUGHING GULLS and three unidentified
gulls/terns. All seabirds were migrating northward, as well as two BARN
SWALLOWS on 21 April. Farther south, along the east coast of Trinidad, 20
LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS were tallied flying north past Manzanilla on 16 April.
A WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROAT was seen at Kernahan on 16 April.

Also at Galera Point, a possible hybrid CARIBBEAN X GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN was
studied as it associated with five GRAY-BREASTED MARTINS on 21 April; it
resembled a male Caribbean Martin, appearing distinctly darker and larger
than the Gray-breasted Martins, but had a paler breast than expected. During
the past 3 years, one or two seemingly pure male Caribbean Martins were seen
repeatedly at this time of year at Galera Point, and may well have mated
with a Gray-breasted Martin.

In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER* turned up (for
the fourth consecutive spring, indicating it is a rare but regular spring
migrant) on 19 April in the first field west of the police station beside
the east entrance of the Caroni Rice Fields; it was associating with 59
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, five LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 20 LEAST SANDPIPERS. The
Buff-breasted Sandpiper could not be relocated on 21 April, but the
leucistic SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was relocated among 113 other conspecifics in
the same field. The SNAIL KITE* continues to be seen irregularly in the rice
fields, where it was last seen on 19 April. Single PEREGRINE FALCONS were
noted in the rice fields on 19 and 21 April. A possible GREEN X STRIATED
HERON hybrid (with a neck coloration scored as 5 on Payne's scale of 1-9)
was carefully studied at the west end of the runway on 19 April.

Elsewhere in the Caroni Plain, two CLIFF SWALLOWS* and the first FORK-TAILED
FLYCATCHER of the season turned up at the Trincity Sewage Ponds on 20 April,
but were not relocated the following day when a YELLOW-BILLED TERN turned up
surprisingly for the first time this year at Trincity. At Wallerfield, two
MORICHE ORIOLES and three SULPHURY FLYCATCHERS were noted at Wallerfield in
the evening of 18 April; after dark, a TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL, a BARN OWL, a
COMMON POTOO, three PAURAQUES and 20 WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJARS were
spotlighted. A COCOI HERON at the Aripo Livestock Station was seen from the
Eastern Main Road on 16 April.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, the SCARLET TANAGER*--a rare but regular
spring migrant in T&T--staged an invasion in mid-April with single males
(presumably representing different individuals) reported from Mt. St.
Benedict on 18 April, Maraval on 17 April, the Kapok Hotel in Port of Spain
on 16 April, and the Asa Wright Nature Centre on 14 April. A late YELLOW
WARBLER was found along the Lower Blanchisseuse Road on 15 April. Two
HEPATIC TANAGERS were noted at Morne Bleu and a SWALLOW TANAGER at Las Lapas
on 15 April.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, a tour of Caroni Swamp on 20 April
produced a BOAT-BILLED HERON, a PEREGRINE FALCON, three GREATER ANIS and two
GREEN-THROATED MANGOS. At Waterloo, four YELLOW-BILLED TERNS (surprisingly
the first along the west coast since 28 January) and two apparently nesting
GREEN KINGFISHERS were noted on 17 April. A NORTHERN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER was
the only noteworthy bird seen at Cacandee on 17 April.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: 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? The Caribbean
Martin is resident from January to October in the Greater Antilles (except
Cuba), Lesser Antilles, and Tobago, and is thought to migrate to South
America from October to December, though small numbers winter in Barbados.
It is a regular migrant in Curacao and Bonaire, occurring only during fall
(8 September to 13 October) and spring (7-30 May), suggesting that it passes
through the islands on its way between the Greater Antilles and South
America. Vagrants have been reported from the southern Bahamas and Cayman
Islands. Although there are sight records from coastal Guyana, there are no
other records from South America except from the continental island of
Tobago, 118 km from the mainland, where it is resident from January to
October. Thus, the wintering destination of Caribbean Martins remains a
mystery. Stay tuned next week for a few recent clues.

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.