This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT Oct 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 Guadaloupe, sightings at the Petite-Terre Nature Reserve included the first YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO of the season on 1st Oct; a GRAY HERON (1st for Guadeloupe - found exhausted, taken into care and subsequently released on the 18th) on the 3rd together with a RED KNOT; an immature MASKED BOOBY on the 4th; 3 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and single YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO and RED EYED VIREO on the 9th; BOBOLINK and PRAIRIE WARBLER on the 10th; a BLACK BILLED CUCKOO on the 16th and another MASKED BOOBY on the 22nd

Elsewhere on the island, the undoubted highlight was at Pointe des Chateaux where a phenomenal total of 800 - 100 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS per hour passed through on 13th Oct. Also from this site, a SNOWY PLOVER was found on 2nd Oct ; 2 BLACK NECKED STILTS, a BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER and a RED KNOT were found together with the unfortunate sight of a MERLIN catching and eating a YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO on 8th Oct. Finally a CASPIAN TERN (4th for Guadeloupe) was located on the 25th. From Port Louis swamp, 3 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAILS together with a BARE EYED THRUSH and a RED EYED VIREO were seen on 3rd Oct; 3 LEAST BITTERNS together with single WILSON‘S SNIPE, GULL BILLED TERN and 2 PRAIRIE WARBLERS were found on the 7th and from Lalanne Port Louis, an immature HOODED WARBLER and a BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON were seen on 28th Oct

From Deshaies, a BOBOLINK was seen on 7th Oct; from Gosier a SWALLOW TAILED KITE (2nd record for Guadeloupe) was found on the 10th and from Desirade Is. 10 YELLOW BILLED CUCKOOS, 18 BOBOLINKS and 30 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were found on the 16th. Finally, the month high total of CARIBBEAN MARTINS at Pointe a Pitre was 711 including 7 male PURPLE/CUBAN MARTINS and a immature/female PURPLE MARTIN

In BARBADOS, there was significant rainfall in October and at migration spots there were above average numbers of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS. BOBOLINKS were generally few and far between and the only report of a RED-EYED VIREO was one near Friendly Hall on 21st Oct. A flock of 24+ CLIFF SWALLOWS and 2 BANK SWALLOWS was reported south of Harrison Point on 14th Oct. The group of 5 SOUTHERN LAPWINGS remained at Spring Hall throughout the month. A single RED KNOT was at Chancery Lane on 28th Oct and a NORTHERN SHOVELER was at Graeme Hall Swamp also on 28th Oct.

From Grenada, a SOUTHERN LAPWING (1st for Grenada) was found at Telescope St. Andrews on 21st Oct; Elsewhere on the island, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER was at Point Salines on the 24th; a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at Mt Hartman on 26th Oct; a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at la Sagesse ,St. Davids on the 28th whilst large numbers of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were in the south of the island from the 24th,

From Tobago, 2 BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPERS* were found at Bon Accord sewage lagoons on 2nd Oct and up to 6 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS* were seen along the Roxborough -Bloody-Bay Rd on 20th Oct. On 21st Oct, the first reported SORA RAIL of the autumn was found at Lowlands together with a PIED BILLED GREBE, whilst a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was present at Bon Accord

From the northern range of Trinidad, on 7th Oct, single BLACK WHISKERED VIREOS* were found at Morne Bleu and at Paria junction. On 21st Oct, 2 TRINIDAD PIPING GUANS were found not too far from the favored area at Morne Bleu, together with 2 YELLOW LEGGED THRUSHES, single LONG BILLED STARTHROAT and CHESTNUT WOODPECKER. On the same date, single BRIGHT RUMPED ATTILA and SHORT TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT were found at Asa Wright. Another BLACK WHISKERED VIREO* was seen along the upper Blanchisseuse Rd on 23rd Oct and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was found in a Lopinot garden on the 24th

From the north west peninsula, a YELLOW BELLIED SEEDEATER was found on Chacachacare on 28th Oct

From the west coast of Trinidad, at least 2 WILSON’S PLOVERS and a CAYENNE TERN were present at Orange valley on 9th Oct. At the same site, 78 BLACK NECKED STILTS (the highest documented count at this site) were present on the 27th; the WILSON’S PLOVERS were still there, a BANK SWALLOW flew over and 2 ROYAL TERNS were found (uncommon in October) at Carli Bay

From south west Trinidad, early morning at Sudama steps on 8th Oct produced 3 PINNATED BITTERNS, a LEAST BITTERN, at least 4 LONG WINGED HARRIERS, BAT FALCON, several SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHERS, a BANK SWALLOW, large numbers of YELLOW WARBLERS and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES and 2 RED CAPPED CARDINALS. At the same site, at least 5 PINNATED BITTERNS were on view on the 18th together with a probable immature CLIFF SWALLOW

From South Trinidad, just one adult male LINED SEEDEATER * was still present on 18th Oct from the flock found in Sept

From eastern Trinidad, an adult CRESTED CARACARA * was seen perched high in mangrove along Cocos Bay Rd on 8th Oct, and an immature APLOMADO FALCON* was seen inside Nariva swamp, close to Kernaham. A flock of birds roosting on the mud at the mouth of the Nariva river included a party of 33 LEAST TERNS, 6 SANDERLING and a RED KNOT.

From north eastern Trinidad, between 28th - 30th Oct up to 10 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were found feeding at Galera Pt together with single PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO. From central Trinidad, early morning in the Aripo Agriculture Stn on 8th Oct produced single PINNATED BITTERN, 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER and a BLACK WHISKERED VIREO *

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”