This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 37) for 27th September 2002. 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 survey of the Cascade hillside north of Port of Spain on 21st Sept produced a list of 49 species - highlight being an adult male WHITE WINGED BECARD.
Highlight of the birding week however was found on Caroni ricefields on 24th Sept when a juvenile PURPLE HERON * (1st for T&T, 2nd for South America) flew into a reed bed and played hide and seek with observers for a couple of hours before flying into a totally inaccessible area. Also found on the ricefields were 2 PINNATED BITTERNS, 1 STRIPE BACKED BITTERN and 10 WHITE FACED WHISTLING DUCKS The PURPLE HERON was seen again, twice in flight, on 26th Sept along with 10 BANK SWALLOWS which were the first returning migrants for the autumn, the long staying SNAIL KITE, 1 STRIPE BACKED BITTERN and 3 PINNATED BITTERNS.
On 25th Sept a probable female/immature LESSER SEEDFINCH was found in Guaya forest.
On 27th Sept, at Galera Pt in north east Trinidad, a 3.25 hour seawatch produced 546 BROWN NODDIES, 114 COMMON TERNS, 23 ROSEATE TERNS, 16 BLACK TERNS and 2 BRIDLED TERNS.
In Tobago, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was found at Bloody Bay savannah on 25th Sept.
In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, seven WHITE-WINGED DOVES were tallied at Compass Point on 22 September. According to local birders, this species has been present on the island for about 3 years. Other noteworthy bird sightings on 22 September include an obviously escaped female COCKATIEL, a PIED-BILLED GREBE and a PRAIRIE WARBLER at the Mahogany Run Golf Course, five STILT SANDPIPERS and 10 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Turpentine Run, and 70 HOUSE SPARROWS roosting at the Sugar Estate Post Office. A boat trip around St. John, US Virgin Islands, on 19 September produced 10 SANDWICH TERNS and 13 ROSEATE TERNS (including one feeding a juvenile) at Carval Cay, three AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS at Newfound Bay, and nesting BROWN PELICANS at Congo Cay and East End.
In Barbados, a European race WHIMBREL was found at Chancery Lane on Sept. 24th (no doubt a product of Tropical Storm 'Lili'; about the 8th island record). Also a juvenile PURPLE GALLINULE was at Graeme Hall on Sept. 24th (fifth record in the past ten years) and the first PEREGRINE for the autumn was found at Bennetts on Sept. 25th.
PHOTO GALLERY: New photos of White-winged Dove (St. Lucia), Red-breasted Blackbird (Tobago) and Stripe-backed Bittern (Trinidad) are posted at the SCBA website.
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