This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003- 03) for 25th  January 2003.  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).

BIRDING NEWS :- In west Trinidad, an early morning hike into the mangrove at Cacandee on 20th Jan produced 2 COMMON BLACK HAWKS, 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, a LITTLE CUCKOO, single PYGMY and GREEN KINGFISHERS, 2 STRAIGHT BILLED WOODCREEPERS, 2 BLACK CRESTED ANT-SHRIKES, 6 YELLOW WARBLERS, 1 possibly 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS, 4 AMERICAN REDSTARTS and 6 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. In a nearby, recently cut field, 3 white morph LONG WINGED HARRIERS were found.

In the northern range, both , juvenile HEPATIC TANAGER at Brasso Seco, and a male SUMMER TANAGER* at Morne Bleu were seen on 22nd Jan.

In central Trinidad, on 20th Jan, 2 MORICHE ORIOLES at at the usual site in Wallerfield and on 25th Jan a juvenile RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON was carefully studied near Comuto. On Caroni ricefields, the RUFF (first seen on 28th Dec 2002, reappeared on the 25th; also 2  MASKED DUCKS and up to 7 PINNATED BITTERNS have been seen during the week.

On the east coast, an AZURE GALLINULE, a scattering of DICKCISSELS and a PLAIN BREASTED GROUND DOVE were found at Kernaham on 20th Jan.

On Tobago, 2 WHITE WINGED BECARDS were found in the central range on 22nd Jan.

In St. John, US Virgin Islands, short hikes at Francis Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Reef Bay Trail and Bordeaux Mountain Road on 19 January produced eight species of warblers, including two YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS (Francis Bay), a HOODED WARBLER (Reef Bay Trail), a PRAIRIE WARBLER, four NORTHERN PARULAS, four BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, four AMERICAN REDSTARTS, a YELLOW WARBLER and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. Other noteworthy birds seen include two BRIDLED QUAIL-DOVES at Cinnamon Bay and a singing male LESSER ANTILLEAN BULLFINCH at Francis Bay.

In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, a WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL, three AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, one GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a MANGROVE CUCKOO were noted at Patricia Cay on 17 January.

CETACEAN NEWS :- most, if not all birders, have an interest in other aspects of wildlife and we are always happy to include recent sightings of unusual mammals, cetaceans etc. On 20th Jan a Pilot Whale, estimated between 20-25ft long, beached at Waterloo on the west coast of Trinidad. It appeared to react positively to the second attempt at refloating.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The following abstact is from: Murphy, W. L. 2002. Observations of pelagic seabirds wintering at sea in the southeastern Caribbean. Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:104-110. I report observations, including several significant distributional records, of 16 species of seabirds wintering at sea in the southeastern Caribbean during cruises from Bonaire to the Orinoco River (5-13 January 1996, 3-12 March 1997 and 24 December 1997 - 1 January 1998). A few scattered shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea and Puffinus lherminieri) were seen. Storm-Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus and Oceano-droma leucorhoa), particularly the latter species, were often seen toward the east. Most tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) and gulls (Larus atricilla) were near Tobago. Boobies were common; Sula leucogaster outnumbered S. sula by about 4:1 and S. dactylatra was scarce. Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) were strictly coastal. Several skuas (Stercorarius skua) were seen off Venezuela. Jaegers were common, with a ratio of 90 Stercorarius pomarinus to 8 S. parasiticus to 2 S. longicaudus. Only two tern species were seen: Sterna maxima was widespread and 4,000 S. antillarum were noted southeast of Trinidad.

RARE BIRD REPORTING :- Do we believe what you see ? We want to ! Many of the identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative. For birds found in Trinidad & Tobago, 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 - Email "martynkenefick@hotmail.com"