This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT August & September 2005 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, on 31st July, and ALPINE SWIFT was seen over Newcastle St John, and on 1st Aug a WHITE COLLARED SWIFT was found at Bell Point. On 23rd - 24th Sept, a SMOOTH BILLED ANI (1st for Barbados) was present at Marshalls Pond and a corpse of a MARBLED GODWIT was produced by hunters from Golden Grove on 26th Sept.

From Guadeloupe, on 23rd Aug a RUDDY TURNSTONE, colour banded at Delaware Bay, returned for its 5th consecutive winter at Petit Terre Nature Reserve and a peak count of 1,730 CARIBBEAN MARTINS were roosting on 25th Aug in Pointe a Pitre. In Sept, an immature BLACK CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was found at St Francois and 342 BARN SWALLOWS and 6 CLIFF SWALLOWS passed Pointe des Chateaux on the 4th. At Pointe a Pitre airport, 5 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were found o the 7th with a BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER and a GULL BILLED TERN there on the 9th. On 11th Sept, a EURASIAN WHIMBREL was found at St Anne whilst on 19th a GLOSSY IBIS appeared at Desirade Is. At Port Louis swamp, 38 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, 3 AMERICAN REDSTART, 3 BLACKPOLL WARBLER together with single OVENBIRD and PRAIRIE WARBLER were found on 28th Sept. Finally a RUFF was present at Point a Pitre airport from 28th-30th Sept.

From Tobago, at least 22 BLACK SKIMMERS were found at Bon Accord on 1st Aug (This species was recorded for the first time on Tobago only last year). At the same location, 2 BLACK NECKED STILTS * were present on 13th Aug. On 31st Aug a CLIFF SWALLOW *(1st for Tobago) was found with a small party of Barn Swallows at Turtle Beach. Perhaps the same individual appeared over Bon Accord sewage ponds on 18th Sept. A BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER * was found at Bon Accord on 20th Sept and on 29th Sept a BAT FALCON* (1st for Tobago) was carefully studied perched beside the Parlatouvier - Bloody Bay Rd and the first BELTED KINGFISHERS of the season were found at Bon Accord and Lowlands.

On the east coast of Trinidad, on the evening of 7th Aug, 2 adult CRESTED CARACARAS * were seen at Manzanilla Bay. On the same date, the river journey into Bush Bush produced a COCOI HERON, pairs of both BAT FALCONS and PEARL KITES, 2 GREEN KINGFISHERS and one RINGED KINGFISHER.

From central Trinidad, visits to Waller Field recorded the following :- on 3rd Aug, 2 PLAIN BREASTED GROUND DOVES, 14 BLUE HEADED PARROTS, 2 LITTLE CUCKOOS, 2 WHITE TAILED GOLDENTHROATS, STREAK HEADED WOODCREEPER and 2 BRAN COLORED FLYCATCHERS. On 3rd Sept 2 MORICHE ORIOLES were found together with a female WHITE WINGED BECARD and on 23rd Sept highlights were 2 daytime roosting SPECTACLED OWLS; also 12 WHITE COLLARED SWIFTS,2 BLACK TAILED TITYRAS, 2 MORICHE ORIOLES and a single WHITE TAILED GOLDENTHROAT

On the west coast of Trinidad, the RING BILLED GULL * first reported on 5th July was still present at Orange Valley on 21st Sept. A few miles to the north at Brickfields, the first LEAST TERN and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS of the season were found together with a CLAPPER RAIL Roosting totals of commoner birds for both sites included , 505 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 67 SEMI PALMATED SANDPIPERS, 59 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS, 215 COMMON TERNS, 109 YELLOW BILLED TERNS and 50 LARGE BILLED TERNS. The first YELLOW WARBLER of the season was found at Waterloo on 3rd Sept; the first NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at Cacandee on 21st Sept and the first AMERICAN REDSTART was at Caroni on 27th Sept

From north west Trinidad, the first returning PEREGRINE of the season was seen from Fort George on 11th Sept

From south western Trinidad, report of a female GREEN WINGED TEAL* with a party of Blue winged Teals at Icacos Swamp on 25th Sept

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"