This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-19) for 9 May 2002. Sponsored by the TT 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, TT Rare Bird Committee and photo gallery are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Floyd Hayes by phone at 662-9327 (H) or 645-3232 x2206 (W), or by e-mail at floyd_hayes@hotmail.com. The TTRBC requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see website above and 'BIRD BRAINS' below).

HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: In the Caroni Plain of Trinidad, the recent flooding of many rice fields in Caroni created a bonanza of habitat attracting the largest assemblage of shorebird migrants ever recorded inland in spring. Within the past week, 14 shorebird species were recorded in the rice fields. The highlight was a long-anticipated CURLEW SANDPIPER* (1st for T&T), half moulted into breeding plumage, seen intermittently in the southwestern sector from 1-5 May but not subsequently. Noteworthy shorebird counts included up to six COLLARED PLOVERS on 5 May, two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on 4 May, single STILT SANDPIPERS (different individuals) on 2 and 4 May and up to 27 WHITE- RUMPED SANDPIPERS on 5 May. Other noteworthy shorebirds observed earlier in the rice fields included a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER* on 19 April and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on 25 April, bringing the total observed inland this spring to 16 species.

Also in the rice fields, five unfamiliar whistling-ducks seen from 2- 4 May were eventually identified as juvenile WHITE-FACED WHISTLING- DUCKS, the first juveniles seen in Trinidad. The SNAIL KITE* continues to be seen as recently as 8 May. Other noteworthy bird sightings from the rice fields include: a STRIPE-BACKED BITTERN on 5 May; a LITTLE EGRET on 5 May; a possible hybrid LITTLE BLUE HERON X SNOWY EGRET on 5 May; up to seven WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCKS on 4 May; up to seven FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS on 8 May; up to 15 WHITE- CHEEKED PINTAILS on 5 May; up to four BLUE-WINGED TEAL on 8 May; a COMMON GROUND-DOVE on 4 May; and a PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVE on 5 May.

Along the west coast of Trinidad, two lingering 1st-summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS accompanied 275 LAUGHING GULLS and 30 COMMON TERNS at San Fernando on 8 May; one of the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS was kleptoparasitized (fish stolen) by two marauding MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS. At Waterloo, 13 species of shorebirds, including 25 RED KNOTS and two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, plus 24 ROYAL TERNS, were tallied on 8 May.

In the Northern Range of Trinidad, two BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSHES, four YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSHES and three BLUE-CAPPED TANAGERS were tallied at Heights of Aripo on 8 May.

In Tobago, an adult STRIPED OWL* and its juvenile were noted in the Main Ridge on 2 May.

In Barbados, a 4-hour pelagic trip cruising 25 km offshore on 28 April produced only a 1st-summer PARASITIC JAEGER, a LAUGHING GULL and about 20 dark-backed terns thought to be SOOTY TERNS. Previous observations from shore and a few earlier pelagic trips off Barbados have inexplicably failed to produce substantial numbers of seabirds, in stark contrast with those observed in Guadeloupe.

In Guadeloupe, recent Nearctic landbird migrants noted at the Nature Reserve of Petite-Terre include a male BLACKPOLL WARBLER on 7 May and a female YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on 3 May.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Due to scheduling conflicts, the T&TFNC birding trip to Fort George on Sunday, 12 May, has been postponed to Sunday, 9 June. We will be meeting at the corner of Mucurapo Road and Foreshore Highway (on the Mucurapo side) at 6:30 am. If you wish to participate in this field trip, please call the leader, Courtenay Rooks, at 622-8826 (home) or 678-9737 (cell).

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Does the Little Egret breed in Trinidad and Tobago? The Little Egret is an Old World species first recorded in the New World on 16 April 1954, when a breeding plumaged adult female was collected at Graeme Hall Swamp, Barbados. The first breeding colony of Little Egrets in the New World was established in December 1994 at the same locality, where they nested with Snowy Egrets. The first Trinidad record was on 13 January 1957, when a bird was shot in Caroni, and the first Tobago record was on 4 January 1990, when a dark-morph immature was photographed. All pre-1992 records from T&T were summarized by: Murphy, W. L. 1992. Notes on the occurrence of the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) in the Americas, with reference to other Palearctic vagrants. Colonial Waterbirds 15:113-123. Stay tuned next week for a more recent summary and clues for the answer to our question.

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.