This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT September 2006 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 Guadeloupe totals of CARIBBEAN MARTIN at Pointe a Pitre maximized at 1800 on 6th Sept. Also present were 2 male (either PURPLE or CUBAN MARTINS) Elsewhere on the island single UPLAND and BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPERS were present at Pole Caraibe airport on 14th Sept and a BOBOLINK there on the 24th.

Autumn arrivals included a BELTED KINGFISHER at Petite Terre on the 10th Sept (earliest date for Guadeloupe); the first NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES arrived on 14th Sept and a MERLIN at Gosier on the 29th Sept was also the earliest date for the island.

A TRICOLORED HERON was found at Port Louis swamp on 14th Sept. From Petite-Terre the first ever GREAT EGRET for the reserve, a PURPLE THROATED CARIB, a WHITE CROWNED PIGEON and a BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLER were all present on 27th Sept

From Barbados A juvenile BROWN PELICAN (still a great rarity in Barbados) has taken residence in Bridgetown by the Main Bus Terminal 23 September till month end. A FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was reported near Gibbs, St. Peter on 17 September

From Tobago, 19 BLACK SKIMMERS were present at Bon Accord sewage lagoon 27th - 29th Aug

From central Trinidad, early morning at Waller Field disused airfield on 16th Sept produced single WHITE WINGED BECARD and STREAKED XENOPS. Also present were at least 10 each of both BLACK THROATED MANGO and RUBY TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRD (species which traditionally would have moved to the mainland by mid September) However local birders should be aware that this site is now becoming severely degraded - bush clearance work is not restricted to one area, and key indicator species (Red bellied Macaws, Sulphury and Bran colored Flycatchers) were neither seen nor heard.

On the west coast of Trinidad, an OSPREY returned to a Carapachima garden on 8th Sept. This individual has returned to the same roosting site for the last 12 years, initially arriving on 3rd Sept 1994 and in most years is first seen in 10 days of the month. From the same site, a MERLIN flying north on the 20th Sept is the first report of the season. During the period 18th - 20th Sept totals of roosting birds on the mudflats between Brickfields and Carli Bay included 160 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 85 YELLOW BILLED TERNS, 40 COMMON TERNS, 2 CAYENNE TERNS, 2 ROYAL TERNS, 1 LEAST TERN, adult and 1st winter LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL. Also seen in the area were 2 RUFOUS NECKED WOOD RAILS * 6 YELLOW WARBLERS, 2 AMERCIAN REDSTARTS and a STRAIGHT BILLED WOODCREEPER. ON 27th Sept 10 CARIBBEAN (GREATER) FLAMINGOS were at the low tide roost at Orange Valley

On the north east coast of Trinidad, a 3.5 hour seaweatch at Galera Pt on 22nd Sept produced 227 COMMON TERNS, 137 BROWN NODDIES, 13 ROSEATE TERNS, 2 GULL BILLED TERNS, 11 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS and 6 WILLET

From eastern Trinidad, early morning surveys on a number of days in secondary forest, overgrown estates and mangrove between Caigual and Manzanilla produced an adult BLACK HAWK EAGLE * adult RUFOUS CRAB HAWK *, 2 PYGMY KINGFISHERS, 4 CRIMSON CRESTED WOODPECKERS, 8 STREAK HEADED WOODCREEPERS, single WHITE THROATED SPADEBILL and WHITE WINGED BECARD and the first reported AMERICAN REDSTART of the season on the 12th.

NEW GUADELOUPE BIRDING WEBSITE A new birding website has been launched "www.amazona-guadeloupe.com with text in both English and French . 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"