This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT June 2004 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 atof "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.

For the study of seabird migration within our region, the prime site is from the Nature Reserve of Petite-Terre on Guadeloupe. A total of 18 hours sensus during June produced the following :- 169 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 55 CORY'S SHEARWATERS, 24 "large SHEARWATER sp", 41 AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS, 4 MANX SHEARWATERS, 2 "small SHEARWATERS sp", 11 WILSON'S PETRELS, 1 LEACH'S PETREL, 8 "storm petrel sp", 1 probable SOUTH POLAR SKUA, 2 "jaegar sp", and 1 MASKED BOOBY. Also breeding news from Guadeloupe where 2 pairs of AMERICAN COOT with 11 chicks were found at Gaschet Res (2nd breeding record for the Is) on 7th June; a pair of PURPLE GALLINULE with one chick were at le Moule on 8th June and a pair of LEAST BITTERN WITH 3 CHICKS WERE AT Les Abymes on 12th June

From St Martin, during point counts at Loterie Farm on 9 June, both AMERICAN REDSTART and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO were found (extreme dates for both species) During wetland surveys on the 23rd; SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS were found at Gallion (20), Orient(5), Grand Etang(2), and Grand Case(5); BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were found at Gallion (2) and Grand Case (2); RUDDY TURNSTONES were found at Great Salt Pond (10), Grand Etang (5), Fish Pond (2), and Grand Case (10); WHIMBREL Gallion(1). At Scrub Island off of Anguilla, a group of 10 WHITE-WINGED DOVES were observed on the north end

From central Trinidad, a pair of CRANE HAWKS * were at Wallerfield on 18th June, activity indicative of breeding.Also at Wallerfield, a BROWN VIOLET-EAR and EULER'S FLYCATCHER (both unusual for the area/habitat). At Trincity sewage ponds 3 CLIFF SWALLOWS were found on 17th June. GRASSLAND YELLOW FINCHES are still being found at the Aripo Agriculture Stn - at least 10 were seen on 16th June

From south west Trinidad, at South Oropouche swamp, the roosting SCARLET IBIS flock numbered at least 200 birds on 13th June and a BLACK HAWK EAGLE * was at San Francique on 26th June

From north Trinidad, at least 12 ROSEATE TERNS flew east past Blanchisseuse on 11th June. On the same date, both GRAY NECKED WOOD-RAIL and SILVERED ANTBIRD were found at the Marianne river and a LONG BILLED STARTHROAT was seen by the Scatter station at Morne Bleu. At the same locality on 15th June a minimum of 25 SWALLOW TAILED KITES (perhaps as many as 40 were present) drifted over and a pair of SWALLOW TANAGERS were present

From north east Trinidad, a SHORT TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT was seen nest building at Monte Video trace on 8th June, and the BROWN VIOLET-EAR reported last month was still present. During a total of 8 hrs seawatch at Galera Pt on 18th and 22nd June, the feeding flock over the convergence waters included species maxima of 225 COMMON TERNS, 60 BROWN NODDIES, 40 BRIDLED TERNS, 3 SOOTY TERNS, 2 ROSEATE TERNS and 2 ROYAL TERNS. A total of 7 large unidentified SHEARWATERS sp (either Great or Cory's) flew north (6 on 22nd between 0850 - 0935)

On the east coast of Trinidad, an early morning hike into Bush Bush on 12th June produced a family party of 4 BAT FALCONS and nesting BLACK CRESTED ANT SHRIKE together with single WHITE BELLIED ANTBIRD and NORTHERN SCRUB FLYCATCHER. On 16th June a max of 6 PINNATED BITTERNS were found in Nariva and a pair of BAT FALCONS were along the Plum Mitan Rd

On the west coast of Trinidad at Sumaria trace, 2 STRIPE BACKED and 1 LEAST BITTERNS were found on 10th June together with single MASKED YELLOWTHROAT and an out of place EULER'S FLYCATCHER. On the same date, a CLAPPER RAIL was seen close to the road at Carli Bay, a light morph LONG WINGED HARRIER flew over Waterloo Secondary school and a CAYENNE TERN was seen at Brickfield.

From central Trinidad, a dead SPOTTED RAIL* was found on Warren Rd on 15th June

From Tobago, a GREAT SHEARWATER* was watched at very close range from a fishing boat approx 1 mile south of Little Tobago on 13th June, and 2 LITTLE EGRETS were at Bon Accord lagoon the following day

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"