This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003- 07) for 22nd 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 Barbados, A female SCAUP sp. first seen at Packer's on the 15th February was relocated in the nearby Oilfields the following day where it was conclusively identified as a GREATER SCAUP (1st record for Barbados). The species was previously listed by M.B. Hutt based on a hunter's written description of a male scaup sp. shot in Nov 1979, but the record was recently reevalauted and the description is ambiguous on some critical features and does not adequately eliminate Lesser Scaup. The GREY HERON now in full breeding plumage was seen at Congo Road on 16th Feb. and four female MASKED DUCKS females were back at Bayfield Pond on February 9th.

On the west coast of Trinidad on 15th Feb,, an immature PARASITIC JAEGAR was watched harrying feeding gull flocks whilst up to 12 BROWN BOOBIES fed offshore at Orange Valley ;45 RED KNOT and 50 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS were on the mudflats at Waterloo. Further north at Cacandee, 2 PYGMY KINGFISHERS, 2 GREEN THROATED MANGO'S, 3 STRAIGHT BILLED WOODCREEPERS, a NORTHERN SCRUB FLYCATCHER, 10 AMERICAN REDSTARTS and 8 YELLOW WARBLERS were found.

From St Martin, During banding and point counts from the 10th-16th at the Lotterie Farm secondary Forest Site, EPIC biologists observed 11 NORTHERN PARULAS, 2 BLACK THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, 4 PRAIRIE WARBLERS, 1 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLERS, 5 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 2 HOODED WARBLERS, and 3 MANGROVE CUCKOOS. Waterbird surveys at Orient Pond on the 13th, produced 7 TRICOLOURED HERONS together (island high count). An adult HERRING GULLl was observed at Great Salt Pond on the 14th. During banding and point counts at the Fish Pond mangrove site, EPIC biologists observed 3 MYRTLE WARBLERS a WHITE WINGED DOVE, 3 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS, and 3 PRAIRIE WARBLERS. While completing seabird surveys at Tintamarre island off of St. Martin, 2 AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS were found incubating eggs. Resident birds of note this week included the arrival of BLACK WHISKERED VIREOS to the scrub habitat of Lotterie Farm (2 banded and 5 heard) and the arrival of CARIBBEAN MARTINS to Maho (their annual nesting area) where 5 birds have been observed daily foraging amongst the hotels.

In Guadeloupe, on 15th Feb at the Nature Reserve of Petite-Terre the PIPING PLOVER (first found on 30th Nov). On 16th Feb on Gaschet Reservoir , there were 41 BLUE-WINGED TEALS, 2 AMERICAN COOTS, 1 CARRIBEAN COOT, 5 LESSER SCAUPS, 9 RUDDY DUCKS (plus 6 chicks) and 1 CLIFF SWALLOW. At Beautiran on the same day,  1 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, 2 OVENBIRDS, 10 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, and 5 AMERICAN REDSTARTS.

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"