This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003- 18) for 1st June 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 Guadeloupe, an adult male BLACK THROATED BLUE WARBLER was found on the Nature reserve at Petite-Terre on 23rd May . On 1st June, at Gaschet Reservoir, there were 5 RUDDY DUCKS, 1 LESSER SCAUP (with a broken wing), 2 AMERICAN COOTS and a CARIBBEAN COOT.

On Dutch St Maarten  LITTLE EGRETS was seen on Fresh Pond and Little Bay Pond on 24th May. Also at Fresh Pond an adult BLACK CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and 8 GREAT WHITE EGRET nests. On 25th May, at Saltpond a 1st year GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL (2nd record for St Maarten) was seen amongst a flock of 2400 LAUGHING GULLS.

On French St Martin, a male SCARLET TANAGER was found in the hills of Pic Paradis.

On the west coast of Trinidad, shorebird counts at the high tide roost at Brickfield included a GREAT BLUE HERON, 130 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS, 9 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 8 COLLARED PLOVERS, a 2nd winter LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL,  120 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 14 ROYAL TERNS and 710 BLACK SKIMMERS. Additionally a mixed flock of several hundred SEMI PALMATED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS were seen.

In the northern range of Trinidad, a hike along Las Lapas trace and adjacent woodland on 29th May produced 51 species including 3 WHITE TAILED and 3 COLLARED TROGONS, 3 BLUE CROWNED MOTMOTS, 4 RED RUMPED and a CHESTNUT WOODPECKER, WHITE THROATED SPADEBILL and 4 SWALLOW TANAGERS.

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"