This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT December 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.
 
From Antigua, ducks at McKinnons Salt Pond included a male RING-NECKED DUCK on 21st Dec; a female AMERICAN WIGEON on 24th Dec; a female NORTHERN PINTAIL and female RING NECKED DUCK both on 31st Dec All were still present on Jan 2nd . Elsewhere, a RUDDY DUCK was found on a small pool north of Darkwood Beach on 22ND Dec, and two more were at Johnsons Point on 24th Dec. A SORA was found at a small pond north of Darkwood Beach on 22nd Dec; a second SORA at North Sound and a KILLDEER at Vernons were both found on the 23rd. Up to 4 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS and 2 RING-BILLED GULLS were at McKinnons on 31st Dec. It would appear that the dredging of McKinnons with mud flats being replaced by drier sandy areas has reduced considerably the shorebird populations
The forest adjoining Wallings reservoir hosted both MAGNOLIA and KENTUCKY WARBLERS on 21st Dec; HOODED WARBLER and NORTHER PARULA the following day. There were peak counts of 6 AMERICAN REDSTART together with 2 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLERS on Dec 22nd
 
From Grenada, good numbers of both BROWN and RED-FOOTED BOOBIES were present distantly off the beach at Levera on 29th Dec and a max count of 4 RUDDY DUCKS wereat Lake Antoine on the 30th Two AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS seen on an offshore island from Levera on 29th Dec is an exceptional record and an unseasonable LAUGHING GULL at Grande Anse on 30th Dec is worthy of mention. Finally, a single BANK SWALLOW was found amongst a flock of BARN SWALLOWS in the area of Point Salines Airport on 26-27th Dec.
 
From Guadeloupe, a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was found at Grosse Corde river on 13th Dec and on the 18th, 3 KILLDEER were found at Gaschet Reservoir. The best birding was to be had at Port Louis where on Christmas Eve both WHITE EYED VIREO (1st for Guadeloupe) and BLUE WINGED WARBLER (5th for Guadeloupe) were found in the same bush together with single NORTHERN PARULA and BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. On the 27th, 6 different warbler species were found there( PROTHONOTARY, BLACK AND WHITE, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, AMERICAN REDSTART, HOODED AND BLUE WINGED WARBLERS) and a PURPLE GALLINULE was seen the following day.
 
From Barbados, on 11th Dec a SPOTTED REDSHANK was at Congo Road and a GULL-BILLED TERN at Golden Grove - the latter appearing to be of the European race nilotica.The 2 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS first found on 17th Nov remained in the north of the island where they were joined by 2 BLACK-HEADED GULLS on 26th December.
 
From Tobago, a BOBOLINK * was seen briefly at Bon Accord on 28th Nov. At the same site a male RINGED KINGFISHER * (2nd record for Tobago) flew over ; a late migrant YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO was present on 2nd Dec and MANGROVE CUCKOOS were seen on both 8th and 10th Dec. At Lowlands, the flock of RING NECKED DUCKS increased to 6 and were intermittently seen up to 10th Dec at least where they were joined by a NORTHERN PINTAIL *. On an adjacent lake, at least one MASKED DUCK* was also found. A HOOK BILLED KITE* was seen over Speyside on the 3rd and the first returning RUBY TOPAZ hummingbirds were found on 8th Dec
 
From the northern range of Trinidad, a BLACK HAWK EAGLE * was seen in the foothills behind the Aripo Agriculture Station on 3rd Dec and two TRINIDAD PIPING GUANS were again seen in the region of Morne Bleu towards the end of the month. At Asa Wright Nature Centre a BLACK WHISKERED VIREO* was found on 21st Dec.
 
On the west coast of Trinidad, 2 RING BILLED GULLS were seen at Orange Valley on 6th Dec . The following day, 5 lingering WILSON’S PLOVERS were still present. Further north, at Caroni swamp a RUFOUS NECKED WOOD RAIL* was well watched on the 6th and an immature RUFOUS CRAB HAWK * was seen and photographed along drain No 9 the following day 
 

In south west Trinidad, several WHITE TAILED GOLDENTHROATS, the first reported RUBY TOPAZ of the season and up to five COMMON WAXBILLS were found at Rahamut trace on 16th Dec 
 
In central Trinidad, a ROSEATE SPOONBILL * was seen close to the Caroni bridge on 6th Dec but could not be found the following day 
 
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”