This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT July 2006 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 at "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 total of 13 hours sea watching from Petite Terre produced 134 GREAT SHEARWATERS , 1 CORY'S SHEARWATER, 1 WILSON'S PETREL and 1 POMARINE JAEGER From Gaschet Reservoir on 4th July, peak counts include 495 MOORHENS, 129 PIED BILLED GREBES, 30 RUDDY DUCKS, 18 CARIBBEAN COOTS, 5 AMERICAN COOTS and a further 5 hybrid CARIBBEAN/AMERICANS. On 9th July, 65 BROWN PELICANS were present at Ste Anne. On 21st July, 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS and 1 ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK were at St François. Finally on 25th July a total of 724 CARIBBEAN MARTINS were seen at Pointe à Pitre town center.

In Tobago, a HOOK BILLED KITE* was found over Lowlands on 12th July and on the same date 3 MANGROVE CUCKOOS were at Bon Accord sewage lagoons. At the same site, a party of 13 BLACK SKIMMERS were present from 10th - 17th July at least. Perhaps the most surprising sighting of the month was a totally un-seasonal BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER * found on Gilpin trace on 14th July

From the northern range of Trinidad, sightings at Asa Wright Nature Centre include 2 WHITE WINGED BECARDS 23rd June, a VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER * on 5th July, an ORNATE HAWK EAGLE (also seen 20th July), 2 TRINIDAD EUPHONIAS and a FORK TAILED FLYCATCHER (unusual over hill forest) all on 8th July, a SHORT TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT ON 17th July; 2 GRAY THROATED LEAFTOSSERS on 18th July , a LONG BILLED STARTHROAT on 20th July and a GREAT BLACK HAWK* on 21st July.

From western Trinidad, the first reported LESSER NIGHTHAWKS of the season were flying over the Blue River, Caroni on 8th July and an extremely early GULL BILLED TERN was seen at Orange Valley from 11th - 14th July. Also at Orange Valley, the first reported WILSON'S PLOVERS of the season were found on 19th July. Slightly further north at Brickfield, the roosting BLACK SKIMMER population was estimated at 1,200 on 10th July.

On the east coast of Trinidad, at Matura, an adult BLACK HAWK-EAGLE * was found on 29th June

In central Trinidad, 2 CRANE HAWKS * were seen once more at Carlsen Field on 19th June. At the same site, a partially albino TROPICAL KINGBIRD was found (all head and upper part feathers white) . ON 13th July, early morning at Waller Field produced single LITTLE CUCKOO, LESSER ELAENIA *, BRAN COLORED FLYCATCHER and MASKED YELLOWTHROAT.

NEW GUADELOUPE BIRDING WEBSITE A new birding website has been launched "www.amazona-guadeloupe.com with text in both English and French . 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"