This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT Nov 2007 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 Barbados, the only significant sighting was from Packers where 8 RING NECKED DUCKS and approx 100 BLEU WIONGED TEALS were present on 24th Nov. From Guadeloupe, passerines found at Beautiran on 6th Nov included 22 AMERICAN REDSTART, 22 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, 6 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER and 4 BARE EYED THRUSHES together with an OVENBIRD. On 11th Nov 4 RING NECKED DUCKS were present at Gaschet reservoir. Undoubtedly the highlight for the month was a dark morph SNOW GOOSE at Desirade Is, (1st for Guada) on 19th Nov and still present at the end of the month (photos available at www.amazona-guadeloupe.com). Also present were 40 BLUE WINGED TEALS, 3 SORA, 4 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 3 BLACK BELLIED PLOVER, single PEREGRINE and BOBOLINK together with 30 NUTMEG MANAKINS . Finally, 2 EUROPEAN WHIMBREL and a LITTLE BLUE HERON were found at Petite Terre Nature Reserve on 20th Nov From Tobago, a BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER * was found at Lowlands, Tobago on 10th Nov, still present to 29th at least In the northern range of Trinidad, a BOBOLINK * was found at Blanchisseuse on 3rd Nov and the first reported RUBY TOPAZ of the season was at Lopinot on 23rd Nov On the west coast of Trinidad, a RUFOUS NECKED WOOD RAIL was seen at caroni on 7th Nov. North of Claxton Bay, 3 WHITE TAILED GOLDENTHROATS were found in a flooded sugar cane field on 8th Nov together with 7 COMMON WAXBILLS showing a continual southward range expansion of this introduced species. On 30th Nov, up to 5 BOAT BILLED HERONS were seen coming out from roost at last night from the Caroni Information Centre

From south western Trinidad, early morning at Sudama steps on the 6th Nov produced 5 PINNATED and one LEAST BITTERN together with 2 immature CLIFF SWALLOWS and single LITTLE CUCKOO and WHITE WINGED BECARD. From south Trinidad, at least 3 immature/female LINED SEEDEATERS remain at the site documented in earlier reports . We have also received reports of a flock of 4 birds from a site close to Nariva swamp late in the month On the east coast of Trinidad, a LONG BILLED STARTHROAT was found on the western border of Nariva swamp on 8th Nov and single CORY’S SHEARWATER * and brown morph RED FOOTED BOOBY were seen from Manzanilla on the 30th

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”