This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT October 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.
In Barbados, the highlights for the month were a WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN (5th Record for Barbados) and an AMERICAN BLACK TERN at Bright Hall, St. Lucy on 19th Oct. Even rarer, an ARCTIC TERN (1st for Barbados) seen and photographed at Golden Grove, St Philip on 22nd Oct. At least three pairs of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were found breeding at St Philip during the month.
From Guadeloupe, the undoubted star bird of the month was a BLACK KITE present from 23rd - 29th at Gaschet Reservoir (1st for Guada and only 3rd for the Caribbean). The other major rarity found on the island this month was an ORCHARD ORIOLE at Pointe des Chateaux on the 10th (1st for Guada and the Lesser Antilles). Other noteworthy sightings in chronological order were 2 TRICOLORED HERONS on 4th Oct at Vieux Habitants, a maxima of 617 CARIBBEAN MARTINS still at Point a Pitre on the 5th; a NORTHERN PINTAIL at Port Louis on the 15th; a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL at Saint Francois on the 17th; the COLLARED PLOVER, first found on 15th Aug, still present at Pointe des Chateaux on the 25th ; visible migration of 50 BLACKPOLL WARBERS through Vieux Habitants on the 28th and finally nesting LEAST BITTERN with 4 eggs at Port Louis swamp on the 29th
From Tobago, higher than usual passage of AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, PECTORAL and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS was noted early in the month and the first MERLIN of the season was found on 9th Oct. The following day, there were 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS* on the Hilton grounds golf course and up to 3 SCARLET IBIS * were reported from the mangrove fringes of Bon Accord lagoon
In the northern range of Trinidad, an adult BLACK HAWK EAGLE flew north over Asa Wright Nature Centre on 14th Oct and the first reported BLACKPOLL WARBLER of the season was in a Surrey village, Lopinot Rd garden on the 19th
In west Trinidad a CRANE HAWK * was seen flying east over St Mary’s on 19th Oct. Birding the tidal mudflats between Brickfields and Orange Valley on 23rd Oct produced a single sub-adult GREATER FLAMINGO, 40 SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS, 11 WILSON’S PLOVERS, 6 RED KNOT, 2 COLLARED PLOVERS, 1 WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER, 8 CAYENNE TERNS, 1 SANDWICH TERN, 1 ROYAL TERN and 4 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS
In south west Trinidad, a single NACUNDA NIGHTHAWK ( the lone remnant of the group first found on 10th Sept) was seen on 21st Oct in South Oropouche together with a PIED BILLED GREBE, 2 LEAST BITTERNS, single STRIPE BACKED BITTERN and COCOI HERON; an adult male SNAIL KITE * and 2 YELLOW BREASTED CRAKES
From north eastern Trinidad, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER at Galera Pt on 28th Oct and 2 rather late WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPERS on a football pitch close to Rampanalgas on the same date
On the east-west corridor of Trinidad, 5 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES (1st for T&T) in suburban Barataria on 23rd Oct.
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”