This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003-29) for 16th Sept  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 north east Trinidad, 2 BLACK HAWK-EAGLES * were seen circling above the Toco road at mile post 50 just north of Cumana on 16th Sept. At Galera Pt, a rather disappointing 2 hr seawatch on 16th Sept produced 295 BROWN NODDIES, 184 COMMON TERNS, 13 ROSEATE TERNS and 2 CAYENNE TERNS. The only noteworthy landbird was a PLAIN BREASTED GROUND-DOVE.

In central Trinidad, early morning on 9th Sept at Wallerfield produced 2 GRAY HEADED KITES, 6 RED BELLIED MACAWS and 2 SULPHURY FLYCATCHERS. Nearby in the Aripo Savannah at Comuto, a BAT FALCON, 4 WHITE COLLARED SWIFTS and a further 15 RED BELLIED MACAWS were seen. Also on 9th Sept, in Arena forest there were 2 DUSKY CAPPED FLYCATCHERS and 2 FOREST ELAENIAS.

In the Caroni plain, at the north marsh on Caroni ricefields 2 LONG WINGED HARRIERS were present along with a PINNATED BITTERN and a smattering of WHITE RUMPED, LEAST, SEMI PALMATED, SOLITARY and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS on 12th Sept.

In north west Trinidad, an unlikely find perched close to the Movie Towne cinema complex during the morning of 12th Sept was a LESSER NIGHTHAWK.

On the west coast of Trinidad, at Brickfield, at least 20 BLUE AND WHITE SWALLOWS, mainly adults, were hawking insects along with much larger numbers of BARN SWALLOWS on 12th Sept. A dark morph LONG WINGED HARRIER was also present. On the 14th, an immature APLOMADO FALCON * perched in a dead tree, and a CLAPPER RAIL fed along the edge of the mangrove. The high tide roost produced 600 LAUGHING GULLS, 110 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 22 YELLOW BILLED TERNS, 12 COMMON TERNS, 2 GULL BILLED TERNS and 53 BLACK SKIMMERS. Shorebirds included 3 WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPERS, PECTORAL SANDPIPER and 12 RED KNOT. The 1st reported BANK SWALLOW of the season accompanied at least 100 BARN SWALLOWS and at least 10 BLUE AND WHITE SWALLOWS.

In south west Trinidad, a YELLOW BELLIED SEEDEATER * was found, somewhat surprisingly adjacent to the mangrove at Godineau on 14th Sept.

BIRD OUTING :- provisional date for the TTFNC birding trip to Chacachacare Island is Sunday 12th October - this date may change  dependent upon the availability of boat transport. We will need to restrict numbers to a maximum of 16 persons. Likely cost will be approximately TT$50 per person  Anyone wishing to participate, please contact Martyn Kenefick on 674.7609. Further details will accompany the next Bird Alert.

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"