This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT May 2008 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, a total of 15 hours sea watching from Petite Terre Nature Reserve during the month produced totals of 392 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, 1 GREAT SHEARWATER, 1 BLACK CAPPED PETREL, 1 SOOTY SHEARWATER, 8 POMARINE JAEGERS, 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS, 1 LONG TAILED JAEGER, 36 AUDUBON’S SHEARWATERS, 9 MANX SHEARWATERS, 23 WILSON’ S STORM PETRELS AND 5 LEACH’S PETRELS together with 10 “large shearwaters”, 14 jaeger sp, 18 “small shearwaters” and 49 storm petrel sp.
From Pointe des Chateaux, a total of 12 hours surveying produced 57 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, 51 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 15 MANX SHEARWATERS, 12 AUDUBON’S SHEARWATERS, 53 WILSON’S STORM PETRELS, 2 LEACH’S PETRELS, 20 PARASITIC JAEGERS, 18 POMARINE JAEGERS, 10 LONG TAILED JAEGERS, 2 ARCTIC TERNS and single ROSEATE and SANDWICH TERNS. Also recorded were 3 “large shearwaters“, 1 “small shearwater”, 120 storm petrel sp and 43 tern sp
On land at Petite Terre, a CAPE MAY WARBLER was found on 3rd May and an EARED DOVE on the 19th. A BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLER was seen on 20th May together with 3 WEST INDIAN WHISTLING DUCKS, single WESTERN SANDPIPER and BLACK NECKED STILT and a pair of WILSON’S PLOVERS with 3 chicks. A RED FOOTED BOOBY was seen on 21st May and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE and 2 EURASIAN WHIMBRELS were present from 25th - 27th. From Desirade Is, single FORK TAILED FLYCATCHER, RED EYED VIREO (3 present the following day) and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were found on 4th May together with 4-5 WHITE WINGED DOVES. Finally a further 9 WHITE WINGED DOVES were found at Pointe des Chateaux on the 22nd
 
From Tobago, proven nesting of MASKED DUCKS * at Lowlands, with a female and five ducklings seen on 7th May.also at the same site, a party of 9 WILLET. On 11th May, a WHITE TAILED TROPICBIRD seen at Little Tobago
 
In the northern range of Trinidad, early morning in Lopinot valley on 24th May produced a total of 69 species including 2-3 AMERICAN SWALLOW TAILED KITES, 2 (probable) GREAT BLACK HAWKS *, 2 VARIEGATED FLYCATCHERS* and a BLACK WHISKERED VIREO*. On 28th May, a hike along Lalaja ridge produced 72 species including ORANGE BILLED NIGHTINGALE THRUSH, 2 CHESTNUT WOODPECKERS and a SWALLOW TANAGER
 
From the west coast of Trinidad, the flock of GREATER FLAMINGOES present since 19th Apr had increased to 25 by 8th May and 35 by 17th May . High tide roost maxima during the month at Orange Valley include approximately 1000 BLACK SKIMMERS, 300 YELLOW BILLED TERNS, 100 LARGE BILLED TERNS, 100 ROYAL TERNS and 40 RED KNOT. At the same locality, the first reported WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPERS of the season were found with 6 on May 11th and on 17th May there were 3 CLAPPER RAILS and a PARASITIC JAEGER
 
In south west Trinidad, a COCOI HERON was photographed in Oropouche lagoon on 4th May and a CRANE HAWK over Roussillac on the 31st
 
From north east Trinidad, early morning in the forest south of Grande Riviere produced 3 TRINIDAD PIPING GUAN, 6 CRIMSON CRESTED WOODPECKERS, 2 BRIGHT RUMPED ATTILA, 2 YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHERS and a WHITE WINGED BECARD
 
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”