This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003-24) for 25TH July 2003 Sponsored by the T&T Field Naturalist Club, our aim is to promote birding and ornithology in the southeastern Caribbean by fostering communication among resident and visiting birders regarding the study of birds in the region. The SCBA and information about the TTFNC, T&T Rare Birds Committee and Photo Gallery are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick by phone at 674-7609 or by Email at "martynkenefick@hotmail.com" The TTRBC requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see website above and RARE BIRD REPORTING below) .
BIRDING NEWS :-
From Grenada, a whale watching tour on 14th July produced a dark morph "CATHARACTA
SKUA sp approx 10-15 miles out from the north west coast. Also found in the area were up
to 40 each of RED FOOTED and BROWN BOOBIES and one subadult MASKED BOOBY
On the west coast of Trinidad, a census of the evening hide tide roost at Brickfields on 17th July produced 200 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 120 YELLOW BILLED TERNS, 5 SANDWICH/CAYENNE TERNS, 3 COMMON TERNS and 155 BLACK SKIMMERS. In addition the lingering adult RUFOUS CRAB-HAWK * flew south at 4.30pm heading for the Carli Bay area, and 2 WHITE CHEEKED PINTAIL flew along the coast.
In the northern range of Trinidad, a flock of approximately 100 WHITE COLLARED SWIFTS flew east past Morne Bleu on 15th July. Also seen in the area were a SWALLOW TAILED KITE, 4 COLLARED TROGONS, 4 CHANNEL BILLED TOUCANS, DUSKY CAPPED and STREAKED FLYCATCHERS . On 23rd July, an OLIVE STRIPED FLYCATCHER was reported from the Oilbird trail at Asa Wright. On 24th July, a juvenile SPECTACLED OWL was seen perched beside the Blanchisseuse Rd at the 3.5 mile mark
In central Trinidad, the TTFNC field trip to Wallerfield and Arena forest on 20th July attracted 10 members, and a total of 45 species were found including RED BELLIED MACAW, SULPHURY FLYCATCHER and BLACK TAILED TITYRA
In Tobago, a REDDISH EGRET * (4th for T&T and 1st for Tobago) was seen briefly at Lowlands on 21st July. On 22nd July, the flooded fields at Bon Accord attracted 15 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 20 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 12 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS and a WESTERN SANDPIPER. The undoubted highlight of the SCSCB conference field trips on 23rd July was a daylight roosting STRIPED OWL seen by most, if not all of the delegates in the central range, together with at least 3 GREAT BLACK HAWKS and good numbers of WHITE TAILED SABREWINGS
RARE BIRD REPORTING :- Do we believe what you see ? We want to ! Many of the identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative. For birds found in Trinidad & Tobago, the T&T Rare Birds Committee, formed 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, Trinidad - Email "martynkenefick@hotmail.com"