This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003-31) for 9th Oct 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 :

Undoubtedly the highlight of recent days comes from Guadeloupe, where a CORN-CRAKE was present on the Nature Reserve of Petite-Terre between the 28th September and the 2nd October. Not only a 1st for Guadeloupe, it is almost certainly the first sighting of this shy and retiring species in the West Indies

In Tobago, an APLOMADO FALCON * (1st for Tobago) was seen at Lowlands on 7th Oct harrying local YELLOW HEADED CARACACAS. Also from Tobago, a YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO * was found along Bloody Bay Rd on 6th Oct together with the first season Tobago records for NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, AMERICAN REDSTART and PEREGRINE. On 7th Oct, 2 OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPERS and a COMMON POTOO were found at Grafton

In north west Trinidad, an olive morph BRIGHT RUMPED ATTILA was found close to Edith falls on 2nd Oct. and a creche flock of 40 juvenile SCARLET IBIS chaperoned by 4 adults flew east offshore from Macaripe Bay

On the west coast , amongst the high tide roost at Brickfields on 4th Oct were 2 CARIBBEAN FLAMINGOES * ( increased to 8 on 6th Oct), 4 BLUE WINGED TEAL, 23 RED KNOT, 7 WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 6 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.

In the south west , a RING BILLED GULL * was reported from Pt Lisas on 30th Sept

In central , the continuing construction work at Trincity ponds is keeping the water level extremely low in the two largest ponds. On 30th Sept, there were at least 50 SEMI PALMATED SANDPIPERS, 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPER, BLACK NECKED STILT, LESSER YELLOWLEGS AND SEMI PALMATED PLOVER feeding on the exposed mud. At Pax Guest House on Mt St Benedict, a BROWN VIOLET-EAR was well watched on 5-6th Oct and a BRIGHT RUMPED ATTILA has been heard from the forest close by

In the Caroni plain, the first BOBOLINK * of the season was found on Caroni ricefields on 6th Oct.

BIRD OUTING :- There are just a couple of places left for the trip to Chacachacare on Sunday 12th October. Numbers need to be restricted to a maximum of 16 persons for boat safety reasons. Cost will be TT$60 per head. We will meet at the boat yard (which is the first slip-road on the left about 50 metres beyond the entrance to Crews Inn) at Chaguaramas at 6.15am. Those wishing to participate, please contact Martyn Kenefick on 674.7609.

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"