This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT April 2008 summary of sightings through the Region. Sponsored by the TT 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, TT 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 TT Rare Birds Committee requires details for species indicated with an asterisk.
From St Lucia, a EURASIAN SPOONBILL at Cul de Sac river (apparently found at the end of 2007) and still present on 20th Apr at least and a male ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK at La Toc on 25th Apr. The recent expansion of HOUSE SPARROWS through the Caribbean has reached the town of Gros Islet where several pairs are nesting. Also of interest, 12 probable SHORT-TAILED SWIFTS around Castries
From Guadeloupe, a total of 8 hours sea watching during the month from Petite-terre Nature Reserve produced : 279 MANX SHEARWATERS, 2 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, 17 WILSON’ S STORM PETRELS, 2 LEACHS’S STORM PETRELS, 4 POMARINE and 2 LONG TAILED JAEGERS together with 5 unidentified small shearwaters, 170 storm petrels and 9 jaegers. Also on the island, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER on 14th Apr, 5 WILLET on the 19th a male SUMMER TANAGER and 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS on the 26th
From Desirade Is, a DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT (3rd record for Guada) found on the 12th died the following day. On 15th Apr a male ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK was found and on the 26th there were 3 SCARLET TANAGERS and a female ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK
Seawatching for 8 hours from Point des Chateaux produced a mammoth total of 4327 MANX SHEARWATERS and a RING BILLED GULL was at Point a Pitre on the 29th
From Tobago, a GRAY HERON (1st for Tobago) was found at Bon Accord on Apr 1st. The first BROWN NODDIES of the season were at Smith Is on 20th Apr and on the same date a migrating flock of 100+ BROAD WINGED HAWKS soared over Bon Accord. A female SWALLOW TANAGER * (1st for Tobago) was both seen and photographed at Cuffie River on 23rd Apr
From the northern range of Trinidad, single VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER * and CRIMSON CRESTED WOODPECKER both found at an elevation of approx 1800ft in Lopinot valley on 12th Apr
On the west coast of Trinidad, maxima counts on the tidal mudflats between Waterloo and Orange valley during the month2th Apr include 350 BLACK SKIMMERS, 210 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 90 ROYAL TERNS, 25 YELLOW BILLED TERNS, 16 COMMON TERNS together with 20 RED KNOT, 12 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS, 4 WILSON’S PLOVERS and a LEAST TERN. A SNAIL KITE * was reported from Orange valley on the 7th . At the same locality, a party of 8 GREATER FLAMINGOS * were present on 19th Apr increasing to 16 on the 27th together with the first reported COLLARED PLOVERS of the season and a CLAPPER RAIL
On the east coast of Trinidad, the WHITE TAILED HAWK * found on 22nd Feb was still present at Kernaham on 27th Apr. On the same date, a BLACK COLLARED HAWK was reported from the same locality
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION :- there is, in preparation, an article to appear in the magazine Neotropical Birding on Estrilid finches in the Neotropics. The author would gratefully appreciate information on current status / change in distribution for any such species occurring in the Caribbean islands. Any relevant comments can be sent via “martynkenefick@hotmail.com”
RARE BIRD REPORTING :- many of the identifications from Trinidad and Tobago reported in the SCBA are tentative. The TT 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”