This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002- 41) for 25th October 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).

INFORMATION REQUEST :- A band (ring) has been recovered from a SCALY NAPED PIGEON killed on Guadeloupe (GB88 J37454). It is likely that the beird has been banded somewhere on the Lesser Antilles and we would welcome any information available. Please Email Anthony Levesque (Email address "anthony.levesque@wanadoo.fr" ) or Martyn Kenefick.

RECENT BIRD SIGHTINGS :- In Central Trinidad on 13th Oct, 2 MORICHE ORIOLES were found on the disused airfield at Wallerfield.  At Caroni ricefields on 25th Oct, numbers of shorebirds had reduced significantly. However, of note were a HUDSONIAN GODWIT, 4 WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER and 5 STILT SANDPIPERS. Also on the ricefields, 2 LEAST GREBES were chaperoning 2 chicks, one of 2 PIED BILLED GREBES was in very juvenile plumage indicating that it bred nearby, 3 MASKED DUCKS remained hiding in a small marsh, 3 BOBOLINKS were amongst a feeding flock near the airfield and birds of prey included 2 PEREGRINES, 2 SAVANNAH HAWKS and the regular SNAIL KITE.

In Tobago, the first YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO* of the autumn, and  a BOBOLINK* were reported from Speyside.

In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE and three AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were noted at Mangrove Lagoon on 20 October. Four SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at Turpentine Run on 21 October were a season high.

In Barbados, some belated news that a pair of BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING- DUCKS have successfully bred in the north of the island; 12 ducklings were seen on 29th Sept . This constitutes the first breeding record for the island  There has been a strong showing of YELLOW BILLED CUCKOOS with 3 at Harrison Pt on 13th Oct and 2 on 20th Oct. Elsewhere, there was a single bird seen at Bailey Hill on both 17th & 20th Oct Other noteworthy records have been an AMERICAN BITTERN at Mangrove on 12th Oct; a NIGHTHAWK sp at Bailey Hill on 16th Oct; a CONNECTICUT WARBLER at Harrison Pt on 19th Oct (3rd record for Barbados) and a WOOD PEWEE sp also at Harrison Pt on 20th Oct (3rd or 4th record for Barbados).

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