This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT November 2008 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:///ttfnc.org” . 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.
 
Without doubt the birding highlight of the month came from Barbados with 3 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS present on the island; two on 17^th Nov at St Lucy and one in St Philip. Continuing the old world theme at St Lucy, a BLACK KITE was seen on 18^th Nov and there were records of GRAY HERON, BLACK-HEADED GULL and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL
 
From Guadeloupe, 12 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 4 BARE EYED THRUSHES and a BLACK CROWNED NIGHT-HERON were found at Beautiran on 2^nd Nov. Still 3 CARIBBEAN MARTINS and a single PURPLE/CUBAN MARTIN were present at Pointe a Pitre on 26^th and at Gaschet Reservoir, a male HOODED WARBLER and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were present on 27^th Nov
 
Belated news from Tobago, where on 28^th Oct, there were 3 KILLDEER * at the Bacolet stadium. In November, a YELLOW BILLED CUCKOOS was found at Speyside on the 1^st; 3 RING NECKED DUCKS* at Lowlands on the 3^rd and a further YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO at Bloody Bay on the 7^th.
 
In the northern range of Trinidad, a BROWN VIOLETEAR was seen briefly at Asa Wright Nature Centre on 13^th Nov
 
On the west coast of Trinidad, regular checks on the tidal mudflats roost at Orange Valley and Waterloo during the month yielded maxima of 2000 LAUGHING GULLS, 5 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, 1 RING BILLED GULL, 70 BLACK SKIMMERS, 20 lingering BLACK NECKED STILTS, 14 WILSON’S PLOVERS and 8 RED KNOT together with an over-wintering FORK TAILED FLYCATCHER on the 9^th
 
In south west Trinidad at Rahamut trace, there were 2 STRIPE BACKED BITTERNS and a PINNATED BITTERN on 6^th Nov together with a late migrant WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER, a female RUDDY BREASTED SEEDEATER and a further un-identified female/immature Sporophila seedeater. At the same site, 5 YELLOW BREASTED CRAKES were found on 9^th Nov and the first reported WILSON’S SNIPE of the season whilst on 22^nd Nov a party of 60 BOBOLINKS * were found together with 3 WHITE TAILED GOLDENTHROATS
Elsewhere in the area, single CLIFF SWALLOW* and BANK SWALLOWS were found at Sudama Steps on 11^th Nov. On 15^th Nov, a DOUBLE TOOTHED KITE was seen at Icacos and the following day, 4 GRAY NECKED WOOD RAILS were found inside Oropouche lagoon together with a CLAPPER RAIL
 
On the east coast of Trinidad, an adult WHITE TAILED HAWK* seen at Kernaham on 13^th Nov may well be the same individual seen during Feb-Apr this year and close by a a SHORT EARED OWL* (2^nd record for Trinidad) on the 28^th. Finally, a DOUBLE TOOTHED KITE was found in Bush Bush forest on 14^th Nov.
 
From north east Trinidad, a BLACK HAWK EAGLE* was seen near Toco on 28^th Nov
 
BIRD BANDING
A color banded RED KNOT photographed on the west coast of Trinidad in Aug 2008 had been banded in Rio Negro province, Argentina in March 2006
 
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”