This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003-27) for 27th Aug 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 MONTSERRAT the Soufriere Hills Volcano dome collapsed on 12th July resulting in between 1-15cm of ash falling over the northern half of the island. The immediate effect of the ash was that all active MONTSERRAT ORIOLE nests in the Centre Hills failed and there was widespread tree defoliation in many areas. By early August however most of the fallen leaves had been replaced, and it became apparent that many adult birds were still present in their territories. In early August local guides discovered two new active nests from re-nesting pairs at Jackboy (NE Centre Hills) in one of the least ash-affected areas. One nest (grass basket suspended from a Heliconia leaf) containing three young (2-3 eggs are usually laid) was watched from 11-14 Aug until the young reached fledging point. The diet consisted of a wide-variety of insects and included beetles, caterpillars, green crickets, mole crickets, grasshoppers and even one tree frog! The maximum number of feeding visits counted daily between 8-12 noon was 48 visits and this exceeded nests studied earlier in the season, which could indicate a greater abundance of insects present at this time. Censusing by RSPB (UK) and Forestry staff counted up to a daily maxima of 30 orioles in one part of the Centre Hills in early August. The remaining population of orioles is likely to be in the 'low hundreds' of pairs as the range is only a few square kilometres.

Also in Montserrat at the Belham River Mouth, a LITTLE STINT (1st record) was watched on the 17th Aug with a group of SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS, one STILT SANDPIPER and one SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. Less unusual, at Little Bay a pair of COLLARED DOVES was present on 18th Aug.

In Barbuda, 70+ WEST-INDIAN WHISTLING DUCKS were counted flying into the freshwater pond at Codrington Town in the evening of the 19th Aug. This accounts for most of the resident island population. Also at the same site a silent but apparent ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK (1st record) was observed. Also on Barbuda BARBUDA WARBLERS were found to be common in the dry scrub with many recently fledged young. Also breeding in the dry scrub HELMETED GUINEAFOWLS as evidenced by recently hatched chicks in one location. Of interest the plumage of the Barbuda race YELLOW WARBLER (common in coastal scrub, uncommon in dry scrub) appears very plain and yellow-crowned, compared with other Lesser Antillean races.

In Antigua on 21st August, at East Bus Station, St. Johns; 4+ HOUSE SPARROWS were seen early in the morning, plus one later heard calling from a roof crevice in Market Street. Apparently this species has only been observed for the first time in Antigua very recently but these records indicate it is already established there! At Parham Bay on 21st Aug notable were 100+ STILT SANDPIPERS, 50+ WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAILS and 4 CLAPPER RAILS.

Belated news from the northern range of Trinidad. A hike into Guanapo valley on 12th Aug produced single SCALED ANTPITTA, RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE and SILVERED ANTBIRD.

In north west Trinidad, a visit to Chacachacare on 23rd Aug produced a total of 44 species including a GREAT BLUE HERON (1st documented record for the Bocas Is); 2 SWALLOW TAILED KITES (1st doc record for the Bocas Is); 3 CHESTNUT COLLARED SWIFTS (1st doc record for Chacachacare); 2 RINGED KINGFISHERS (1st doc record for the Bocas Is); a PALE BREASTED SPINETAIL, at least 10 MOUSE COLOURED TYRANNULETS some feeding fledged young; 8 NORTHERN SCRUB FLYCATCHERS some feeding fledged young; 10 BRAN COLOURED FLYCATCHERS some feeding fledged young, several FUSCOUS FLYCATCHERS; numerous, mainly juvenile RED EYED VIREOS, perhaps as many as 20 TROPICAL PARULA'S including a pair feeding nestlings, 8-10 YELLOW BELLIED SEEDEATERS, brief views of what may have been a GRAY SEEDEATER, and a few BLACK FACED GRASSQUITS.

On the west coast of Trinidad, the high tide roost at Brickfields on 26th Aug, included the following :- 1 sub-adult GREATER FLAMINGO, 4 STILT SANDPIPERS, 30 RED KNOT, 12 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS, 250 LAUGHING GULLS, 25 GULL BILLED TERNS, 17 COMMON TERNS, 185 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 105 YELLOW BILLED TERNS AND 90 BLACK SKIMMERS. Over the adjacent scrubland, 3 juvenile BLUE AND WHITE SWALLOWS were hawking insects. An unidentified flock of some 200 "hirundines" over sugar cane fields south of Waterloo, may also have been this species.

OUTING :- T&T Field Naturalist Club next bird outing will be on Sunday 7th Sept visiting Caroni ricefields, Cacandee mangrove and the tidal mudflats at Waterloo, Orange Valley and Carli Bay. Anyone wishing to participate should contact Martyn Kenefick on 674.7609. As usual starting points will be either CIC Pembroke St, POS at 6.10am or alternatively south side of UWI at 6.30am.

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"