This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT December 2004 summary of sightings through the Region. Sponsored by the T&T Field Naturalists Club, our aim is to promote birding and ornithology by fostering communication among resident and visiting birders regarding the study of birds in the region. The SCBA and information about TTFNC, T&T Rare Bird Committee and our Photo Gallery are accessible atof "http://www.wow.net/ttfnc" . Reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick tel 674.7609; Email "martynkenefick@hotmail.com" The T&T Rare Birds Committee requires details for species indicated with an asterisk.

From Antigua comes a report of a BROWN TREMBLER found at Battalion Park, St Johns in mid November .This is the first report of this species for the island in recent times. A 1st winter BONAPARTE'S GULL was found at McKinnons Pond on Dec 28th. and a cumulative total of 3 NORTHERN PARULA, 1 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, 2 BLACK THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, 3 AMERICAN REDSTARTS and 1 HOODED WARBLER were found on visits to Walling Reservoir between Dec 28-30th.

From Dominica, news of seabirds found on a whale watching pelagic on Dec 31st where 2 POMARINE JAEGERS, 3 RED FOOTED BOOBY and 30 BROWN BOOBY were present.

From Guadeloupe, 14 hours of seawatching during the month from Petit Terre produced single MANX and AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS, 2 CORY'S SHEARWATERS and 1 "STORM PETREL SP". From the same site on 2nd Dec a late WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER and a CLIFF SWALLOW were found. On 13th Dec, the EURASIAN WHIMBREL (first found 11th Nov) was still present.

From Tobago, the first returning RUBY TOPAZ of the season was found at Plymouth on 5th Dec and the first returning WHITE NECKED JACOBIN to the central range hill forest was found the following day (Jacobins appear to be altitudinal migrants in Tobago, leaving the rainforest for the lowlands during the period Aug - Nov) Also on 6th Dec, 2 early nesting WHITE TAILED SABREWINGS were found in the central range, and at least 50 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAIL were present at Bon Accord together with BELTED KINGFISHER and LITTLE EGRET. On the 7th, RUBY TOPAZ had crossed the island to reach Speyside, and a BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER* was found on Gilpin trace (seen on two more occasions during the month). On 28th Dec, a NIGHTHAWK SP (COMMON/ANTILLIAN)* only the 2nd report for T&T was seen hawking shortly after dawn at Bon Accord. At the years end a STRIPED OWL was found along Spring trail in the central range on 30th Dec and 2 WHITE TAILED TROPICBIRDS were reported from Little Tobago.

From the northern range of Trinidad, a BLACK HAWK-EAGLE * was seen soaring over the Blanchisseuse Rd, below Asa Wright on 20th Dec. Early morning at Morne Bleu and Las Lapas on 26th Dec produced a total of 70 species including single BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER* and GRAY THROATED LEAFTOSSER, together with 3 COLLARED TROGONS, 2 SLATY CAPPED FLYCATCHERS and 2 HEPATIC TANAGERS. Amongst the more commoner species present were STREAKED XENOPS, SPECKLED TANAGER, CHESTNUT WOODPECKER and RED CROWNED ANT-TANAGER. Meanwhile at Asa Wright, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was reported from the balcony. On 29th Dec, an adult ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE soared low over Las Lapas, and 2 adult BROAD WINGED HAWKS were seen in the upper Arima valley

From central Trinidad, a CRANE HAWK * was again present in the Carlsen Fields area by Chase village on 5th Dec and 2 birds were seen together on the 9th At Aripo Livestock Station upwards of a dozen GRASSLAND YELLOW FINCHES were present on 14th Dec together with a male RUDDY BREASTED SEEDEATER and 2 unidentified SNIPE sp (Wilson's snipe is a winter visitor to Trinidad; South American Snipe is - we believe- resident, and they cannot be separated in the field). On 26th Dec a YELLOW BELLIED SEEDEATER * was seen at the Aripo Agriculture Stn and 2 MORICHE ORIOLES were found at Waller Field.

In north west Trinidad, a hike to Morne Catherine on 5th Dec produced a total of 57 species, all regularly occurring in T&T, including SQUIRREL CUCKOO, RUFOUS TAILED JACAMAR, WHITE TAILED TROGON and TRINIDAD EUPHONIA. RARE BIRD REPORTING :- many of the identifications from Trinidad and Tobago reported in the SCBA are tentative. The T&T Rare Birds Committee, founded 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 - Email "martynkenefick@hotmail.com"