This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003- 11) for. 22nd March 2003.  Sponsored by the T&T Field Naturalist Club, our aim is to promote birding and ornithology in the southeastern Caribbean by fostering communication among resident and visiting birders regarding the study of birds in the region. The SCBA and information about the TTFNC, T&T Rare Birds Committee and Photo Gallery are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick by phone at 674-7609 or by Email at "martynkenefick@hotmail.com" The TTRBC requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see website above and RARE BIRD REPORTING below) .

BIRDING NEWS :-In south west Trinidad, a MANGROVE CUCKOO was seen at south Oropouche and 2 SWALLOW TAILED KITES were found at Mora dam, on 15th March On the west coast of Trinidad, watching the seabird roost at Brickfields remains rather uninteresting - just 1750 LAUGHING GULLS, 1 adult LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, 2 CAYENNE TERNS, 1 LARGE BILLED TERN and 16 ROYAL TERNS.

In the Caroni plain of Trinidad, DICKCISSEL numbers are building up nicely - at least 15,000 were in the eastern quadrant of Caroni ricefields on 22nd March (with 3 adult PEREGRINES in attendance) and at least that number, if not more were roosting in the canefields at Wilderness. Also on the ricefields, 2 PINNATED BITTERNS, 1 YELLOW BREASTED CRAKE, 2 SAVANNAH HAWKS and a light morph LONG WINGED HARRIER.

From Guadeloupe, the MARSH HARRIER (first found back on 11th Nov 2002) was still present in the Grand-cul de Sac-Marin on 17th March. Wildfowl counts on18th March on Gaschet Reservoir included  87 BLUE WINGED TEAL, 31 RUDDY DUCKS, male and female  LESSER SCAUP and a NORTHERN PINTAIL Also on the same date, at Beautiran, Port-Louis : 5 Northern Waterthrushes, 2 American Redstarts were found.

RARE BIRD REPORTING :-  Do we believe what you see ? We want to ! Many of the identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative. For birds found in Trinidad & Tobago, the T&T Rare Birds Committee, formed 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, Trinidad - Email "martynkenefick@hotmail.com"