This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003- 06) for 14th February 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 :-.From Guadeloupe, a female RUDDY DUCK with 9 juveniles (1st record for the island) was seen Gaschet Reservoir on 1st and 8th Feb. On 11th Feb, 3 pairs of MASKED DUCKS together with one juvenile, and a female CAPE MAY WARBLER were found on Marie Galante Is.

In Tobago, the YELLOW BREASTED CRAKE * (1st for Tobago) first heard on 22nd Dec 2002, was seen and photographed at Louis d'Or on 11th Feb. On the same date, 4 different VENEZUELAN FLYCATCHERS were seen at various points along the Roxborough-Bloody Bay Rd.

In the northern range of Trinidad on 12th Feb there was a  single BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER *, a SUMMER TANAGER *, and both SLATY CAPPED and DUSKY CAPPED FLYCATCHERS at Las Lapas; several YELLOW LEGGED THRUSHES at Brasso Seco junction; 2 HEPATIC TANAGERS, 8 SCALED PIGEONS together and a SOOTY GRASSQUIT at Morne Bleu and finally a COMMON POTOO roosting at Asa Wright Nature Centre.

In south west Trinidad, 11 members of the Field Naturalists Club saw at least 10 STREAK HEADED and 5 STRAIGHT BILLED WOODCREEPERS, and a MANGROVE CUCKOO at Roussillac Swamp and a GREEN THROATED MANGO at Oropouche Swamp on 9th Feb.

In central Trinidad, a MORICHE ORIOLE was seen at the usual site at Wallerfield, and a RED BELLIED MACAW was seen obviously nesting at Comuto on 12th Feb.

In eastern Trinidad, a GREEN THROATED MANGO was in Nariva swamp on 12th Feb.

In St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, the two NORTHERN SHOVELERS (2nd for St. Thomas) continue to be seen at Perseverance Bay, where they were last reported on 7 February. The AMERICAN COOT at Perseverance Bay was last seen on 5 February. Two BRIDLED QUAIL-DOVES were heard at Perseverance Bay and one was heard in a ravine above Charlotte Amalie (unexpected locality) on 5 February. Single LEAST GREBES were noted at Perseverance Bay and Turpentine Run on 7 February, and at a newly "discovered" freshwater pond at New Herrnhut on 2 February. No ducks have been seen at Compass Point Pond since the AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (1st for VI) was last seen on 28 February.

In St. John, US Virgin Islands, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was reported from Francis Bay and Cruz Bay during 8-10 February. A 2 hour hike along the entire Reef Bay Trail on 12 February produced only four species of warblers, including four AMERICAN REDSTARTS, two BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, an OVENBIRD and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.

MEETING: The Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds will be sponsoring a meeting in Tobago during 21-26 July. Further information is available at the society''s website at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/SCSCB/index.html.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The following abstract is from: Alexander, G. D. 2002. Observations of the Trinidad Piping-Guan, or Pawi (Pipile pipile), in northern Trinidad. Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:119-130. Relatively little is known about the Trinidad Piping-Guan (Pipile pipile), locally known as the Pawi, an endangered tropical forest species of arboreal habits. Pawi were observed at a site in Northern Trinidad in July and early August 1989 and 1991. Individuals or groups of up to three birds foraged in an area including vine forest, secondary vegetation and agriculture habitats. In 1989 the birds fed and spent most of their time in vine forest and were seen to feed on six food types. In 1991 they fed and spent most of their time in secondary vegetation or agriculture habitat and were seen to feed on three food types, predominantly nutmeg in the agriculture habitat. Berries of four tree species and foliage of three plant species were previously unrecorded in the diet of the Pawi. This is the first record of Pawi feeding on foliage. Foraging took place in early morning and late afternoon, with slightly longer foraging periods in mornings. Between the two years, much of the surrounding area of forest was felled and disturbance increased. Pawi showed no apparent effects from disturbance, but appeared to have shifted their feeding area in response to the loss of habitat. Four types of vocalisations were identified. Two of these vocalisations and wing drumming displays were recorded and are described.

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"