This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT Sept 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.
 
This is the first bulletin since the spring. In my absence, few sightings were reported but island highlights include the 1^st RINGED KINGFISHER for Tobago, the 1^st breeding record of SOUTHERN LAPWING for Barbados and the first AMERICAN KESTREL for at least seven years was in south west Trinidad.
 
During September, in Guadeloupe, the first PROTHONOTARY WARBLER of the season appeared at Port Louis on 1^st together with a WHITE CROWNED PIGEON. At the same site, 2 GULL BILLED TERNS were found on the 12^th whilst an UPLAND SANDPIPER was at Pole Caraibe airport. By the 17^th, 3 WILSON’S PHALAROPES were at Pointe des Chateaux and on the 19^th, 23 RUDDY DUCKS were found at Gaschet reservoir. Of much rarer occurance, a juvenile BLACK TERN was watched from Pointe des Chateaux from 20^th-26^th at least, accompanied on the 22^nd by 2 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAILS and single BOBOLINK, BLACK NECKED STILT and BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER on the 26^th. During this period, 2 BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at Pole Caraibe airport on the 23^rd and the monthly maximum of 1540 CARIBBEAN MARTINS were at Pointe a Pitre on 25^th Sept, accompanied by at least 6 PURPLE or CUBAN MARTINS
 
From Petit-Terre Nature Reserve, 25 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were seen in flight on 3^rd Sept; 4 PURPLE THROATED CARIBS were found on the 4^th; 2 BLUE WINGED TEALS on 8^th; the first BELTED KINGFISHER of the season on 14^th; a BANK SWALLOW on 21^st and 50 BARN SWALLOWS on the 22nd.
 
In the northern range of Trinidad, a SMALL BILLED ELAENIA * regularly visited a garden in Lopinot valley from mid May to end Sept. (1^st record for over 50 years). The 1^st reported NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH of the season was at Brasso Seco on 25^th Sept.
 
In central Trinidad, a reaped pumpkin field south of Caroni held an UPLAND SANDPIPER *, 200 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 150 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 30 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and 15 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS on 16^th Sept. At Caroni rice project, 12 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAIL, 2 BLUE WINGED TEAL and good numbers of both STILT SANDPIPER and WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER were present on 29^th Sept. From Mt Tamana, a flock of 41 BLUE HEADED PARROTS were seen together with at least 6 CRIMSON CRESTED WOODPECKERS on 30^th Sept
 
In south Trinidad, a flock of 33 LINED SEEDEATERS *,(1^st for T&T) including 5 adult males were found on 27^th Sept (locality with-held)
 
On the west coast of Trinidad, 4 BANK SWALLOWS were found inland from Carli bay on 29^th Sept, whilst in the bay itself 2 BLACK TERNS and a single BROWN NODDY following a fishing boat together with 30 COMMON TERNS. A few miles north, 5 RED KNOT were seen at Orange valley on the same date
 
From Tobago, the 1^st reported BELTED KINGFISHER of the season was found at Bon Accord on 19^th Sept and up to 60 BLACK SKIMMERS have been at the same site throughout the month.
 

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”