SCBA 2002-44
14 November 2002

In the Caroni plain of Trinidad, on 9th Nov in Caroni ricefields some of the  now regular rarities were still present :- 1 PIED BILLED GREBE, 2 MASKED  DUCKS * and 2 SNAIL KITES * At least one YELLOW BREASTED CRAKE was calling  from a recently harvested field ; 8 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER  and a WILSON’S SNIPE were feeding on wet ploughed fields  and the flock of  BOBOLINKS * west of the airfield had increased to at least 110.  Unfortunately extensive flooding currently prevents large areas of the  ricefields from being covered even with 4WD.

In northern Trinidad, the TTFNC field trip on 10th Nov to the coastal forest  inland from Saut D’eau Is produced a bird list comprising 65 species seen or  heard. Highlights included at least 4 CHANNEL BILLED TOUCANS, 2 COLLARED  TROGONS, 2 WHITE TAILED TROGONS and a VIOLACEOUS TROGON. On 14th Nov, a hike  along the ridge east of Morne Bleu produced 3 YELLOW LEGGED THRUSHES, 2-3  BLUE CAPPED TANAGERS and 2 SPECKLED TANAGERS

In north west Trinidad, 2 probable MOTTLED OWLS were seen and heard on the  forest edge behind Diego Martin on 6th Nov

On the west coast of Trinidad, a census of the gulls roosting at Kings  Wharf, San Fernando on 9th Nov, tallied 220 LAUGHING GULLS together with 2  first winter and 1 adult LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS

Belated news from Tobago, where a birding tour has reported seeing a BLUE  GROUND-DOVE* on Little Tobago, 21st Oct and a RED SISKIN* from the Central  Ridge on the 23rd. Neither species have been recorded previously from  Tobago; indeed Red Siskin has not been reliably seen in T&T for 40 years

In Barbados, on 3rd Nov at the Hope a winter plumaged CURLEW SANDPIPER, and  a  DOWITCHER sp were found. Separating the two species of dowitcher in  anything other than juvenile plumage, is only really possible on call. On  the samedate, the first wintering MERLIN was found at Forsters, St Lucy, and  2 possibly 3 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were at Harrisons Point. Further news on the  breeding of BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS :- now 10 three quarter grown  ducklings were seen at the Hope on 6th Nov

On 10th Nov, at Muddy Waters there were 2 RING NECKED DUCKS; the same day  produced a LESSER SCAUP at Congo Rd, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER at Harrison Point  and YELLOW BILLED CUCKOOS at both Harrison Point and The Hope. On 11th Nov,  at North Point, St Lucy, a juvenile TREE SWALLOW (1st for Barbados) was  found amongst a party of 12 BARN SWALLOWS. Nearby at Bright Hall, a KILDEER  (1st for the winter) and a NORTHERN ROUGH WINGED SWALLOW (2nd for Barbados)  were seen. Whilst at Golden Grove, St Philip, the long staying GREY HERON  was still present together with a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL.

In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, seven species of warblers were found at  Magens Bay on 11 November, including a carefully studied immature female  BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (1st for St. Thomas, 4th for VI) feeding in a clump of  trees with four BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and an immature male CAPE MAY WARBLER;  all six warblers were relocated in the same trees the following day, 12  November, when two additional BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were found nearby. Other  noteworthy birds at Magens Bay include four ROYAL TERNS and three SANDWICH  TERNS on 12 November, and three AMERICAN REDSTARTS (all female), a NORTHERN  PARULA, a PRAIRIE WARBLER, and two NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES on 11 November.

Elsewhere in St. Thomas, a male RING-NECKED DUCK, an AMERICAN COOT and nine  WILSON'S SNIPES were tallied at Turpentine Run on 9 November; the duck was  still present as of 13 November. At Compass Point Pond, 17 BLUE-WINGED TEAL,  40 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and two STILT SANDPIPERS  were present on 12 November. A SANDERLING was found at Frenchman's Bay on 8  November. A pair of RED-BILLED TROPICBIRDS appeared to be prospecting a nest  site at Cas Cay on 7 November. A visit to Water Island on 7 November  produced 17 WILSON'S PLOVERS and eight ROYAL TERNS.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The following abstract is from: Collins, C. T., and  T. A. Araya. 2002. Natal pterylosis of two Trinidadian ovenbirds  (Furnariidae). Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies,  St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:18-22. The number and distribution of  natal downs is reported for two Trinidadian ovenbirds (Furnariidae): the  Gray-throated Leaftosser (Sclerurus albigularis) and the Yellow-chinned  Spinetail (Certhiaxis cinnamomea). The total number of neossoptiles present  is greater than reported for other furnariid species and more typical of  totals reported for open-cup nesting species.

CORRECTION: The correct website for contents, abstracts (English and  Spanish) and information for purchasing "Studies in Trinidad and Tobago  Ornithology Honouring Richard ffrench" is:  http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/occasionalpaper_contents

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