This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT Dec 2007 summary of sightings through the Region. Sponsored by the TT 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, TT Rare Bird Committee and our Photo Gallery are accessible at “http://www.wow.net/ttfnc” . Reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick tel 674.7609; Email “martynkenefick@hotmail.com” The TT Rare Birds Committee requires details for species indicated with an asterisk.
 
From Guadeloupe, December heralded three new species for the island. Firstly a STRIATED HERON at Desirade Is on 2nd (also only the 3rd record for the West Indies). Also present were single SNOW GOOSE, RUDDY DUCK and GREAT EGRET. Not to be outdone, a YELLOW THROATED WARBLER was found at Vieux Habitants on 4th Dec and a 1st winter BONAPARTE’S GULL at Point a Pitre 14th - 16th Dec. Photos available at: www.amazona-guadeloupe.com)
Elsewhere on the island, a COMMON TERN was at Point a Pitre on 2nd Dec; single GREATER BLACK BACKED and RING BILLED GULLS at Basse Terre and an AMERICAN WIGEON at Petit-Canal on the 4th; single HOODED WARBLERS at Port-Louis on 12th and 17th and an adult PIED BILLED GREBE with 6 chicks at Sainte-Anne also on 17th Dec
 
From Tobago, still up to 9 BLACK SKIMMERS at Bon Accord sewage lagoons 2nd - 4th Dec. At the same site single AMERICAN WIGEON * and MANGROVE CUCKOO were found on the 2nd .and a PROTHONOTARY WARBER was found on the 23rd. At Lowlands, the BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER * first found on 10th Nov was still present on 2nd Dec, together with a second MANGROVE CUCKOO and an adult PIED BILLED GREBE whilst on 24th Dec.4 MANGROVE CUCKOOS and another PROTHONOTARY WARBER were found. At the other end of the islands, at Speyside, 3 HOOK BILLED KITES * were seen over Blue Waters Inn
 
In the northern range of Trinidad . At Asa Wright Nature Centre a female ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK * spent the afternoon in front of the balcony on 6th Dec; an un-seasonal WHITE COLLARED SWIFT flew north up the valley on the 7th ; 2 SHORT TAILED NIGHTHAWKS foraged hatched flying termites on the evening of the 9 Dec and a male GRAY SEEDEATER was found on the 30th . Elsewhere, a male SUMMER TANAGER * was seen along Las Lapas trace on 3rd Dec, single OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHER and VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER * were found north of Paria junction on the Blanchisseuse Rd on 8th Dec and an immature male BLUE GROUND-DOVE was at Surrey village Lopinot on 11th Dec . On 30th Dec, a pair of HEPATIC TANAGERS were at the Textel station on Morne Bleu, single OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS at Morne Bleu and Las Lapas, 2 RUDDY QUAIL DOVES flew across the Blanchisseuse Rd close to Andrews trace and a BRIGHT RUMPED ATTILA was heard calling from Las Lapas
 
In south west Trinidad, 2 STRIPE BACKED BITTERNS and a PINNATED BITTERN were found at Sudama Steps on 21st Dec. At Forest reserve, Pt Fortin an adult BLACK HAWK EAGLE * was seen and photographed on 29th Dec
 
In south Trinidad, a free flying flock of 6 RED AND GREEN MACAWS were seen close to Morne Diablo on Christmas Day
 
On the east coast of Trinidad, the first reported COCOI HERON of the season was adjacent to Cocos Ba Rd on 6th Dec. Close by was an adult CRESTED CARACARA * and inside Nariva swamp at Kernaham, 2 each of PINNATED BITTERN, LONG WINGED HARRIER and MASKED YELLOWTHROAT were found. On the same date 3 BLUE HEADED PARROTS and a CRIMSON CRESTED WOODPECKER were seen at North Manzanilla
 
In central Trinidad, 4 YELLOW BILLED TERNS were still present at Trincity ponds on 5th Dec, but not seen subsequently. At the same site, 2 LITTLE EGRETS were found on 11th Dec
 
RARE BIRD REPORTING :- many of the identifications from Trinidad and Tobago reported in the SCBA are tentative. The TT 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”