The Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club

Southeastern Caribbean Bird Alert

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March 2009 Summary

This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT March 2009 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.
 
From Barbados, the two EURASIAN SPOONBILLS first found on 17^th Nov 2008 remained all month as did the two SOUTHERN LAPWINGS. On 8^th Mar, a RED BILLED TROPICBIRD was found at the traditional nesting area at Paragon and an early HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL was seen at Inch Marlowe
 
From Tobago, a winter plumaged adult BLACK LEGGED KITTIWAKE * (2^nd for T&T) spent most of the 3^rd Mar close inshore at Speyside Bay. The AMERICAN HERRING GULL, MASKED DUCK and party of RING NECKED DUCKS reported last month were still present until 8^th March at least and a WHITE TAILED TROPICBIRD was seen from the seabird cliffs on Little Tobago on 19^th Mar. Finally two separate breeding pairs of MASKED DUCKS each showed off four ducklings in the south west of the island on 28^th Mar
 
In the northern range of Trinidad, a male BLACKPOLL WARBLER along Lalaja trace and a WHITE THROATED SPADEBILL in Las Lapas both on 11^th Mar and the first reported SWALLOW TANAGER of the season was found along Las Lapas on 16^th Mar
 
In north-west Trinidad, daily early morning hikes during the long end of month weekend in Chaguaramas Country Park produced RUFOUS NIGHTJARS on each day together with both STREAKED SALTATORS and BLUE TAILED EMERALDS and a fine selection of flycatchers including BRAN COLORED, NORTHERN SCRUB, YELLOW BREASTED, BROWN CRESTED, STREAKED and MOUSE COLORED TYRANNULET. Additional sightings included numerous RED EYED VIREOS and single YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO and WHITE WINGED BECARD both on 29^th Mar
 
On the west coast of Trinidad , the seabird roost at Orange Valley still occupied much interest. A 1^st winter BLACK HEADED GULL* was seen intermittently between 7^th - 28^th Mar; the adult GREATER BLACK BACKED GULL* first reported last month were still present on 21st Mar with the 1^st winter plumaged bird regularly seen until the months end. An adult .RING BILLED GULL*, first reported (and last seen) on 24^th Feb was present again from 28^th - 31^st Mar and the first reported CAYENNE TERN of the season was found on the 21st. 
 
From south-western Trinidad, a party of at least 6 RUDDY BREASTED SEEDEATERS were found in an area of arable land at South Oropouche on 1^st Mar with both single CRANE HAWK* and STREAK HEADED WOODCREEPER seen nearby on 14^th Mar. Elsewhere a BLACK HAWK EAGLE* at Penal on the 11^th 
 
From the east coast of Trinidad 2 BLACK LEGGED KITTIWAKES * were seen slowly flying north along Manzanilla Beach on 4^th Mar together with at least 6 LEACH’S PETRELS . On the same date, the WHITE TAILED HAWK * intermittently showing during much of 2008 was again seen over Kernaham village Nariva swamp
 
From north east Trinidad, at least 6 TRINIDAD PIPING GUANS showing well at Montevideo trace, Grande Riviere on 1^st Mar
 
In central Trinidad. 2 pairs of PIED BILLED GREBES and a party of 20 COMMON WAXBILLS at Piarco on 14^th Mar and a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE in Barataria on the 30^th 
 
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 

February 2009 Summary

This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT February 2009 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.
 
Perhaps the most dramatic development throughout the region during the month has been the presence of exhausted, and sometimes moribund BLACK LEGGED KITTIWAKES found on several islands. To date there have been five picked up in Guadeloupe and two in Barbados which all died .A 1^st winter plumaged bird passed South Pt, Barbados on the 22^nd and one in Tobago was picked up in an exhausted state and subsequently released on 13^th Feb. 
 
In Dominica, on 1^st Feb, 6 WHITE -TAILED TROPICBIRDS at the regular breeding site of Tareau, and 2 more south of Loubiere. 
 
In Tobago, belated news of a reported HOODED MERGANSER* at Bon Accord on 22^nd Jan. (potentially 1^st for T&T). At least 3 GRAY THROATED LEAFTOSSERS were present along Gilpin trace on 5^th Feb whilst on the 18^th an adult RINGED BILLED GULL and a sub-adult HERRING GULL* were reported on from Coco Reef Bay. On the same date, a MASKED DUCK appeared on a lake at Lowlands accompanying the party of 7 RING-NECKED DUCKS* which were present all month
 
In Trinidad , the focus of attention for most local birders has been the high tide sea and shorebird roost on the west coast tidal mudflats. Throughout the month there have been up to 2000 LAUGHING GULLS and 5 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS who’s presence obviously lured in a near-adult plumaged GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL * (1^st for T&T) from 31^st Jan - 28^th Feb; a 1^st winter plumaged GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL from 23^rd - 28^th Feb; an adult RING-BILLED GULL and adult BLACK-HEADED GULL both on the 24^th ; a 1^st winter BLACK HEADED GULL on 25^th and a different 1^st winter 26^th - 28^th Feb. Also found in the area were peak counts of 1437 SEMI PALMATED SANDPIPERS, 1100 SEMI PALMATED PLOVERS and 550 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 11 WILSON’S PLOVERS, 2 RED KNOT, 35 LARGE BILLED TERNS (first reported for the season on 18^thFeb) and a YELLOW-BILLED TERN (first reported for the season on 25^th Feb).
Close by the ROSEATE SPOONBILL * previously reported on 6^th Dec 2008 was seen flying over the highway near the Caroni exit and a COCOI HERON was in Caroni swamp both on 16^th Feb. 
 
In south west Trinidad, a COCOI HERON and an unidentified Sporophila SEEDEATER at Sudama Steps on 7^th Feb .
 
On the east-west corridor of Trinidad, 3 WHITE HAWKS flying low over San Juan on 8^th Feb was a surprise
 
From the northern range of Trinidad, at Asa Wright Nature Centre, a BLACK WHISKERED VIREO* was found on 24^th Jan and the first reported SWALLOW-TAILED KITE of the season the following day. A BLACK HAWK-EAGLE * was seen soaring over the valley on 29^th Jan and a BROWN VIOLETEAR was present on 11^th Feb
 

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”

BLACK HAWK-EAGLE
Quinam, Trinidad, April 2008
Photo by Kris Sookdeo

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS
Bon Accord, Tobago, October 2007
Photo by Gene Hilton

WHITE-TAILED HAWK
Nariva Swamp, March 2008
Photo by Nigel Hacking

1st-winter female EURASIAN KESTREL
(1st for Trinidad & Tobago)
Carli Bay, Trinidad
22 December 2003
Photo by Clayton Hull

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE
(1st for St. Martin)
Orient Ponds, St. Martin
17 January 2003
Photo by Adam Brown

Imm. male NORTHERN SHOVELER
(2nd for St. Martin)
Fresh Pond, St. Martin
17 January 2003
Photo by Adam Brown

1st-winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
(1st for St. Martin)
Grand Case Pond, St. Martin
12 January 2003
Photo by Adam Brown

Imm. male INDIGO BUNTING
(1st for St. Martin)
Lotterie Farm, St. Martin
11 January 2003
Photo by Adam Brown

Male KENTUCKY WARBLER
(1st for St. Martin)
Lotterie Farm, St. Martin
6 January 2003
Photo by Adam Brown

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE
(1st for Virgin Islands)
St. John Bay, St. Thomas
26 December 2002
Photo by Floyd Hayes

MANX SHEARWATER
(1st for Dominica)
West coast of Dominica
8 December 2002
Photo by Josiah Sewell

Female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
(1st for Virgin Islands)
Francis Bay, St. John
4 December 2002

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