This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-08) for 1 March 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 TTFNC are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc; our photo gallery is accessible at http://www.geocities.com/secaribbirds. Reports should be sent to Floyd Hayes by phone at 662-5918 (H) or 645-3232 x2206 (W), or by e-mail at floyd_hayes@hotmail.com. The TT Rare Bird Committee requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see SCBA website above and 'BIRD BRAINS' below).
HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Along the west coast of Trinidad, LAUGHING GULL numbers appear to be increasing at King's Wharf, San Fernando, with about 2000 present on 26 and 23 February. Noteworthy larid sightings at King's Wharf include: a 2nd-winter RING-BILLED GULL* on 26 and 23 February; six LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (adult, three 2nd- or 3rd-winter, two 1st-winter) on 26 February and four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (one adult, two 2nd-winter, one 1st-winter) on 23 February; and a light-morph PARASITIC JAEGER on 26 February.
Elsewhere along the west coast, a male AMERICAN REDSTART and a BLUE-TAILED EMERALD were seen at Point Gourde on 27 February. A fine variety of landbirds, including a GREEN-THROATED MANGO, six STREAKED-HEADED WOODCREEPERS, two NORTHERN SCRUB FLYCATCHERS, ten TRINIDAD EUPHONIAS and four RUDDY-BREASTED SEEDEATERS* were tallied in the vicinity of Roussillac Swamp on 23 February. At Sudama Steps, along the South Orophouche River, two SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHERS and a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER were seen on 23 February. Two YELLOW-BREASTED CRAKES were found in the reed ponds of Waterloo on 23 February. An estimated 4000 LAUGHING GULLS swarmed the mudflats at Waterloo on 24 February; no other gulls were noted, but a leucistic SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was carefully studied.
A weekend birding trip to Chacachacare Island during 22-24 February produced a LESSER YELLOWLEGS (1st for Chacachacare and Bocas Islands) and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Salt Pond on 24 February. Several ORANGE-WINGED PARROTS were heard on 22 and 24 February. The usual 'Bocas specialties' were seen, including BLUE-TAILED EMERALD, WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN, MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET and STREAKED SALTATOR. A TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL was heard on 24 February but no nightjars or rails were heard.
In northeastern Trinidad, four TRINIDAD PIPING-GUANS*, three SWALLOW-TAILED KITES and a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER* were tallied at Grande Riviere on 28 February. A cavity occupied by a nesting pair of CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKERS was found in a hollow tree beside Dougies on the right side of the main road at Manzanilla on 28 February.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: The TTFNC Bird Group is sponsoring a birding trip along the west coast of Trinidad on Sunday, 17 March. We will be visiting Cacandee, Waterloo, Orange Valley, Carli Bay and San Fernando. If you wish to attend, please call the leader, Martyn Kenefick, at 674-7609. We will be leaving from CIC Pembroke Street side at 6:10 am and at Grand Bazaar Plaza at 6:30 am.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The ecologic species concept defines a species as a lineage (or a closely related set of lineages) that occupies an adaptive zone minimally different from that of any other lineage in its range and which evolves separately from all other lineages outside its range. In this concept, a species is bounded by a geographic limit, ecological niche and evolutionary discontinuities; individuals within a species occupy an ecological unit of one or more lineages evolving in unison.
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.