This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003- 04) for 31st  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 the US Virgin Islands, an unexpected assortment of Nearctic migrants within the past week suggests an invasion of refugees fleeing the extremely cold weather gripping the southeastern USA. An unprecedented incursion of KILLDEER into the islands provides the most compelling evidence, with 68 tallied on the golf course and playing field at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, on 27 January, 20 on a small field at Cruz Bay, St. John, on 26 January, and 15 at Sapphire Bay Condominiums, St. Thomas (where none had been seen previously despite numerous visits this winter), on 26 January. Smaller numbers were unusually conspicuous elsewhere.

In eastern St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, a male AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (1st for Virgin Islands) dropped in at Compass Point Pond on 27 January. It was relocated in the morning of 28 January, but could not be found later that afternoon or the following day. Birders elsewhere in the region should be on the lookout. Other noteworthy birds seen at Compass Point Pond include: 13 GREEN-WINGED TEAL (high count for Virgin Islands) including three males on 24 January but only four on 25 January and none thereafter; five BLUE-WINGED TEAL on 25 January and four on 24 January; up to five CLAPPER RAILS and a SORA (all seen) on 28 January; 29 STILT SANDPIPERS on 25 January; up to 16 LESSER YELLOWLEGS on 28 January; two WHITE-WINGED DOVES from 25-28 January; and up to six YELLOW WARBLERS on 25 January. Elsewhere in eastern St. Thomas, noteworthy birds include: a LEAST GREBE at Turpentine Run on 26 January but not subsequently; the usual PIED-BILLED GREBE at New Herrnhut Pond on 26 January; a TRICOLORED HERON at Red Hook Pond on 26 January; 35 STILT SANDPIPERS in the salt pond behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel on 24 January; and the elusive YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at Sapphire Bay Condominiums on 24 January.

In western St. Thomas, exploration of several wetlands on 27 January revealed an unprecedented nine LEAST GREBES, including two at a salt pond at Perseverance Bay, two in a freshwater pond at Fortuna Bay, and five in two freshwater ponds at Bordeaux where two stripe-headed juveniles with two adults and an obvious nesting platform were noted on one pond. This species was unrecorded from the Virgin Islands for several decades until local birders began seeing them several years ago at several sites in eastern St. Thomas; within the past year breeding has been documented on all three major islands, indicating that its numbers have increased dramatically. At Perseverance Bay, other noteworthy birds observed on 27 January include: two female NORTHERN SHOVELERS (2nd for St. Thomas), six BLUE-WINGED TEAL, an AMERICAN COOT, a BRIDLED QUAIL-DOVE well seen plus two others heard, a NORTHERN PARULA, a male AMERICAN REDSTART and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. On 27 January, 140 WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS (high count for St. Thomas) were tallied at six sites scattered throughout the island, including eight chicks at Perseverance Bay; of these, 114 were at two east-end resorts (Sugar Bay and Sapphire Bay) where they receive handouts from tourists.

In south west Trinidad, at Roussillac swamp, 2 STREAK HEADED WOODCREEPERS were found on 27th Jan, whilst  nearby, at Sudama Steps, 2 NORTHERN SCRUB FLYCATCHERS and 4 SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHERS were present. Further north, the midday high tide gathering of gulls at Kings wharf San Fernando produced three 1st winter and one 2nd winter LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS.

On the west coast, an adult winter and a 1st summer LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS were seen at Orange Valley, and a GULL BILLED TERN, both on 30th Jan. At Cacandee mangrove a MOUSE COLOURED TYRANNULET and 2 PYGMY KINGFISHERS were the highlight on 30th Jan.

In the Caroni plain of Trinidad, at Caroni ricefields, 4 unseasonal FORK TAILED FLYCATCHERS were found together with a STRIPE BACKED BITTERN.

In the northern range of Trinidad, a hike down Las Lapas trace on 28th Jan produced a pair of DUSKY CAPPED FLYCATCHERS, and a SLATY CAPPED FLYCATCHER building a nest under one of the banks. Also present were an adult male HEPATIC TANAGER, whilst at Brasso Seco junction, an OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHER was found. A GREEN KINGFISHER flew across the road at Morne la Croix. Is this an altitude record for this species in Trinidad ? We would welcome comments.

From the Bocas Is, a BROAD WINGED HAWK, at least 6 MOUSE COLOURED TYRANNULETS, 3 BRAN COLOURED FLYCATCHERS and a STREAKED SALTATOR were found on Chacachacare on 29th Jan.

From St Martin, RING NECKED DUCKS increased to 11 birds present at Fresh Pond on 24th Jan.

A number of interesting shorebirds records included 2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS at Tintamarre islet on 23rd Jan together with 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES and 1 SANDERLING (all banded/flagged from the Delaware Bay Banding project) present at Orient Pond on 25th Jan. Unbanded birds included 30 SEMI PALMATED SANDPIPERS and 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER at Grand Etang on 24th Jan and 351 STILT SANDPIPERS on Orient ponds .

At Great Salt Pond, 2 LAUGHING GULLS together with 3 adult and 1 2nd winter LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS were found on 26th Jan.

A second CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW was seen foraging around a floodlit restaurant at Grand Case on 24th Jan (the previously reported bird at Lotterie Farm was still present.

American wood warblers have further increased their numbers on the island At Lotterie Farm on 26th Jan there were  3 NORTHERN PARULA'S, 2 PRAIRIE WARBLERS, and 3 AMERICAN REDTSART. At Fish pond  a MYRTLE  WARBLER, 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and a PRAIRIE WARBLER and at Mullet Bay golf course 2 MYRTLE WARBLERS and 2 PRAIRIE WARBLERS.

COLOUR BANDED SHOREBIRDS :- reports of banded shorebirds in the Antilles can be sent from the web page : http://www.vex.net/~hopscotc/shorebirds/cgi-bin/data_entry.cgi?language=en

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The following abstract is from: White, S. A. 2002. A mist-netting study in Guayaguayare and the Victoria Mayaro Forest Reserve, Trinidad, West Indies Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:111-118. During July-August 1999, I conducted a mist-netting study of resident landbirds in four different forest types in southern Trinidad, West Indies: (1) virgin forest; forest managed by the (2) Open Range Method (ORM) and (3) Periodic Block System (PBS); and (4) mixed forest. During 728 mist net hrs, 742 individual birds representing 57 species were captured at the four sites. Species richness, species diversity and capture rates were greatest in the mixed forest and lowest in the virgin forest. The avifauna of the PBS forest most closely resembled that of the virgin forest. However, given the limitations of mist-netting, further censuses are needed to adequately compare avifaunal composition between the four sites.

TTFNC OUTING :- participants for the birding outing to Roussillac swamp and other south west localities on Sunday 9th February should meet on the "north/south" highway at Grand Bazaar at 6.15am. Contact Courtenay Rooks on 622.8826 with any queries.

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"