This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-34) for 6th 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)
BIRDER NEWS Some may not yet be aware that Floyd Hayes has now left Trinidad to commence a new career in the US Virgin Is. Aside from being the instigator of both this Bird Alert and our Photo Gallery, he has been a very active birder locally, and both his companionship and experience will be sorely missed. Floyd will continue as a member of he T&T Rare Birds Committee. We wish him and his family every success in their new lives.
RECENT BIRD SIGHTINGS :- In Trinidad, an afternoon exploring trails east of Braso Seco in the Northern Range on 29th Aug produced 2 GREY THROATED LEAFTOSSERS, 2 EULER'S FLYCATCHERS and a STREAKED XENOPS whilst a soaring party of many hundred WHITE COLLARED SWIFTS gradually made there way westward. The SCALED ANTPITTA was again heard calling from the densely covered slopes behind Morne Bleu at around 5.30pm.
In the Caroni Rice Fields, on 31st Aug, there was the first sighting for the year of a juvenile APLOMADO FALCON *, perched atop telegraph wires, and later seen hunting the sandpiper flocks. Other raptors found there were the now regular adult female SNAIL KITE, 2 LONG WINGED HARRIERS, and a SAVANNAH HAWK. Shorebird numbers remain high with many hundreds of STILT, SEMI PALMATED, and LEAST SANDPIPERS and LESSER YELLOWLEGS together with smaller numbers of PECTORAL, WHITE RUMPED and SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. However, we still await the first unusual wader for the autumn. Whilst late summer always produces small groups of YELLOW BILLED and LARGE BILLED TERNS, a solitary juvenile LEAST TERN was an unexpected find. On 1st Sept, an influx of shorebirds included 17 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS. 2nd Sept saw an arrival of ducks with 24 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAILS and 2 BLUE WINGED TEAL; AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS had increased to 73 and there were further sightings of both the SNAIL KITE and APLOMADO FALCON
On 4th Sept, the high tide roost at Galeota Pt included 25 BLACK SKIMMERS, 20 BLACK BELLIED PLOVERS, 10 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS. 10 SEMI PALMATED SANDPIPERS and single STILT SANDPIPER and SANDERLING. A survey of various sections of Nariva swamp included 2 YELLOW CROWNED PARROTS with the early morning Macaw flocks, 2 AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHERS, 2 PALE BREASTED SPINETAILS and at least 5 SILVERED ANTBIRDS calling
In Antigua, nine coots that appeared to be an undetermined mixture of AMERICAN and CARIBBEAN COOTS were seen at Jolly Harbor on the west coast and seven WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were tallied near Royals on the north coast on 1 Sept In Guadeloupe, a WILSON's PHALAROPE was found amongst hundreds of migrating shorebirds at La Grande Saline on 1st Sept
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