This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT June 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 Guadeloupe, a maximum of 320 SNOWY EGRETS were at saline du Gosier on 11th Jun. On the 17th there were 6 MASKED DUCKS at Bel Etang and the first ever summer record of a GULL BILLED TERN at Port-Louis
During June, the main attention is on the seabird passage. From a total of 6 hours watching at Petite-terre Nature Reserve, there passed 164 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 33 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, 11 large shearwater sp 8 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS, 1 LEACH’S STORM PETREL, 5 storm-petrel sp, 6 AUDUBON’S SHEARWATERS, 2 MANX SHEARWATERS and a small shearwater sp However, these figures were totally eclipsed on 27th June where from Pointe des Chateaux, there passed 1281 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 7 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, 145 large shearwater sp
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5 AUDUBON’S SHEARWATERS and 2 MANX SHEARWATERS ,
 
From Tobago, a flock of 65 BLACK SKIMMERS at Bon Accord on 29th June
 
In northern Trinidad, at least 3 BAT FALCONS were present close to La Filette on 1st June and up to 5 birds in Lopinot valley throughout the month. On Morne Bleu a non-breeding plumaged male RUFOUS SHAFTED WOODSTAR * was found on 8th June. It remained for at least a week being joined by a second similarly plumaged bird on the 14th and, incredibly a third, in full breeding dress was seen briefly on the 15th. In the same general area 2 TRINIDAD PIPING GUAN, up to 10 CHANNEL BILLED TOUCANS fed in fruiting trees a party of 8 AMERICAN SWALLOW TAILED KITES fed on low flying insects on 14th - 15th. Also on the 15th, a male LONG BILLED STARTHROAT. Certainly even more unexpected was a GRAY NECKED WOOD RAIL seen and photographed feeding actually on the tray tables from the balcony at Asa Wright on the 14th In Surrey village Lopinot, single male BLUE TAILED EMERALD and LONG BILLED STARTHROAT were seen regularly throughout the month, a probable adult BLACK HAWK EAGLE drifted over on the 11th and a SMALL BILLED ELAENIA was found on the 17th, at the same site as in 2007
 
On the west coast of Trinidad, the party of GREATER FLAMINGOS first reported from Orange Valley on 19th Apr peaked at 37 birds on 7th June, with 35 still present on the 14th and remaining to month’s end. Monthly maxima at the high tide roost included 600 BLACK SKIMMERS, 70 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 50 ROYAL TERNS, 45 YELLOW BILLED TERNS, 29 RED KNOT, 10 COLLOARED PLOVERS and 4 WILSON’S PLOVERS
 
In south west Trinidad, 2 male LEAST BITTERNS and a single PINNATED BITTERN at Sudama Steps on 10th June
 
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