This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT July 2005 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 Guadeloupe, a pair of LEAST BITTERNS were found at Port Louis swamp on 9th July and a PURPLE THROATED CARIB was found at Petit Terre Nature Reserve on 25th Interestingly an adult Caribbean Elaenia was found feeding a young flying Gray Kingbird at Ste Anne (10-11th July), Any other similar observations would be welcome

From Barbados, a BLACK TERN was seen in the Oilfields on 3rd July.

From Tobago, news of 9 BLACK SKIMMERS present on Bon Accord sewage lagoons on 5th July and 2 WILLETS were at Lowlands on the 16th.

In central Trinidad , a number of visits to Waller Field during the month produced the following :- a single CRANE HAWK * on 2nd July together with 2 PLAIN BREASTED GROUND-DOVES, 9 RED BELLIED MACAWS, 2 BLUE HEADED PARROTS, single LITTLE CUCKOO, LONG BILLED STARTHROAT, STREAK HEADED WOODCREEPER and WHITE WINGED BECARD. On 13th July, RED BELLIED MACAWS increased to 27 and during an evening visit on the 19th, 60 WHITE TAILED NIGHTJARS, 8 COMMON PAURAQUE, 2 BARN OWLS, 70 RED BELLIED MACAWS, 2 BRAN COLORED FLYCATCHERS and single LESSER ELAENIA and MORICHE ORIOLE were found. Finally on 28th July, a BLACK HAWK-EAGLE * was seen perched in the early morning.

On 3rd July, a probable female LESSER SEEDFINCH was found in Todds Rd Forest reserve (south) together with single CRIMSON CRESTED WOODPECKER and SHORT TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT. At Piarco lakes single PIED BILLED GREBE, LEAST BITTERN, PLAIN BREASTED GROUND-DOVE, RINGED KINGFISHER and MASKED YELLOWTHROAT were found on 13th July. On 17th July, 32 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAIL, 8 BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS and 3 FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS were found on Caroni Rice Project together with 2 PINNATED BITTERNS, 14 LIMPKINS, 120 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 150 BLACK NECKED STILTS, a BARN OWL and at least 6 MASKED YELLOWTHROATS.

From north east Trinidad, parties numbering several hundred COMMON TERNS and BROWN NODDIES were feeding offshore at Galera Pt on 30th July together with 5 SOOTY TERNS and 3 ROSEATE TERNS. Overhead a male CARIBBEAN MARTIN was feeding with GRAY BREASTED MARTINS

On the east coast of Trinidad, an early morning hike into Bush Bush reserve on 23rd July produced single BAT FALCON, PLAIN BREASTED GROUND-DOVE, 5 CHANNEL BILLED TOUCANS, 2 WHITE BELLIED ANTBIRDS, and a WHITE THROATED SPADEBILL. Mammals included at least 25 Red Howler Monkeys, 12 White fronted Capuchins and a Tree Porcupine. Outside of the forest, the parrot roost contained at least 17 YELLOW CROWNED PARROTS and 47 RED BELLIED MACAWS, whilst the wet meadows held single PINNATED BITTERN and WHITE TAILED GOLDENTHROAT.

On the west coast of Trinidad, a flock of 85-90 CARIBBEAN FLAMINGOES * including at least 15 adults were found in various bays between Orange Valley and Carli Bay on 5th July. Also at Orange Valley was an unseasonal, heavily moulting RING BILLED GULL. At Sumaria trace, single PINNATED, STRIPE BACKED and LEAST BITTERNS were found on 8th July and a party of 12 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAIL flew past Waterloo. The high tide roost at Brickfields on 16th July produced an exceptional volume of birds including the first WILSON'S PLOVER of the season, 314 LAUGHING GULLS, single CAYENNE TERN,46 COMMON TERNS, 540 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 215 YELLOW BILLED TERNS and 110 BLACK SKIMMERS

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"