[email protected] Tel: (868) 667-4655 August 2020 August: A few puzzles and welcoming back an old friend

Martyn Kene ck A very active wet season combined with an exponential increase in the number of COVID19 cases in the country quite naturally put a dampener on birding activity during the month. Nonetheless, we did meet up again with an old friend who, without doubt, was the star bird of the month. For the last four years, a Double-striped Thick-knee has spent a week or so day-roosting on the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. This is obviously the same individual found on 29th August in exactly the same corner of the park as in previous years. We are talking about a rare bird for , and more often than not, this is the only sighting during the year of this wanderer from mainland South America. Thick-knees are shy and wary by nature and why it chooses such a public and sometimes noisy place to sleep during the day no-one knows. Indeed, in 2019, it even survived the massive reworks display commemorating our Independence Day celebrations. Also, as predicted last month, a Dark-billed Cuckoo was reported from trees bordering the Caroni Rice Project, on the 29th. Again, quite a rarity, and it may be the only one to be found this year. Double-striped Thick-Knee by Brian D’abreau Being two islands so close to a huge land mass and being on major migration  yways, the status and distribution of several species can become confusing. Historically, the Yellow-bellied Seedeater was a common resident to both Trinidad and but had become locally extirpated by the cage bird trade. Subsequent sightings were restricted to very occasional wanderers from , usually found in remote areas such as Chacachacare and islands. However, in recent times, reports have become more regular, especially from the grassy southern-facing slopes of the Northern Range. This month, three males were found at one site and one at another. Could they be making a comeback? Fingers crossed. Another species which causes confusion and is regularly found, particularly at this time of year, is the Glossy Ibis. Whilst the odd individual may remain year round, this is quite clearly a non-breeding visitor. However, the question

Continues next page Yellow-bellied Seedeater by Fayard Mohammed

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August: A few puzzles and welcoming back an old friend (continued) From previous page is “where do they come from?” It would be natural to assume either migrants from the Gulf Coast of the USA or wanderers from the resident population in the Orinoco basin. One individual was photographed with a series of colour rings on its leg. Upon investigation, it had been born in the Coto Doñana reserve in south-western Spain. I guess we’ll never know the answer to that one. The status of Black-whiskered Vireo is unclear. With a variety of sub-species, these birds are breeding residents both throughout the Lesser and Greater Antilles. However, up until this year we have always assumed them to be visitors during the traditional winter months in . Both migratory races breed in the Greater Antilles and winter in northern Brazil. Indeed, of the 41 documented sightings in the last 20 years, all but two have been found between late September – late April. This year, however, birds have been found in both June and July. The most likely (sub)-species to expand Glossy Ibis by Nigel Lallsingh its range to T&T is barbadensis, which is resident from St Croix down to Barbados and probably Grenada. Do these sightings represent a true range extension or just unseasonal migrants ?

Black-whiskered Vireo by Faraaz Abdool

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AWNC trails and mist by Peter O’Connor

By Peter O’Connor Last month, we travelled along the Discovery Trail, our this point, there is a fork in the trail. We bear left as the “introductory” trail, walking along a ridge which was once right branch would take us along the Guacharo Trail, to the old unpaved road from Arima to Blanchisseuse. the Oilbird Cave, but that is for another time. This time, we are going to the same Bellbird territories, but From here, as we walk along the hillside, somewhere by a di erent, slightly more adventurous route. The best below, but roughly parallel to the Discovery Trail, a stream time to make this walk is in the afternoon, when the sun sings to us from below. The trail is narrow, so we walk in sends probing sunbeams through the forest canopy. single le, and it twists and turns, up and down slopes as it takes us deeper into a forest quite di erent, although We start down the Discovery Trail, but as we leave the quite close to, what we saw in our last walk. The inclines garden area, we reach a stand of Torch Gingers, a favourite can be a bit challenging, but we take our time and there haunt for Green Hermit hummingbirds. If we turn right, are metal or rope handrails for almost the full length of we head down a slope with steps cut into the hillside. At the trail. Continues next page

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AWNC the Bellbird Trail (continued) From previous page

On days when earlier rains have cleared, mist hangs in the forest, and the sunbeams probe through the canopy to spotlight a glistening damp  ower, a hummingbird darting around it, or a beautiful butter y dancing on a sunbeam! Now this is more of a hiking trail, admiring the wonders of the forest rather than a birding trail. However, by quietly creeping along, it is always possible to chance upon one or more of the skulking birds of the forest  oor. Quite possible are White-bellied Antbird or Black-faced Antthrush – certainly you will hear them before seeing them. Perseverance o ers the chance of a Gray-throated Leaftosser doing what its name implies and there is always the remote chance of a slight movement indicating the presence of a very secretive Little Tinamou. However, after a while, the dominant call would be the loud “tonk – tonk – tonk”, sound of the Bearded Bellbirds which we heard on our last walk. We are entering an area of larger trees and less undergrowth, and it is high in these larger trees that the Bellbirds might be seen. But do not try to look for them while walking! Always pause in the forest to look around, to avoid tripping or slipping! We arrive at the point where the Bellbird Trail meets the Discovery Trail, and we can either pause and enjoy the forest and the Bellbird calls, or head back to the house the way we came, or along the Discovery Trail. Another trail awaits in our next issue! Trails by Peter O’Connor

YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE MONTH If you think your child, aged 5-16, has done something helpful to preserve the environment, please feel free to share it with us. Either write a short story or send a few pictures to [email protected]. He/she may be selected as our Young Environmentalist of the Month. Once your child is featured in our monthly newsletter, he/she and two adults will be given a complimentary day visit to Asa Wright Nature Centre, which includes viewing birds/animals on the verandah, a nature tour and use of the clear water pool.

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Martyn Kene ck Way back in early November, an occasional visitor was glimpsed foraging close to the Main House – a Wedge-capped Capuchin monkey. By mid-March, it had become an unwelcomed resident. This animal is native to north-eastern South America. It is likely to have arrived in Trinidad as part of the illegal pet trade. (they can fetch up to US$7,000 in a USA pet shop). How it got into the Arima valley and ultimately Springhill is another matter entirely. Several theories are  oating around but whichever individual or organisation was involved, its release was extremely irresponsible. Originally there were two – one quite tame, the other much cannier and “streetwise”. The tame animal Wedge-capped Capuchin monkey by David Rampersad disappeared quite quickly, no doubt taken as a pet somewhere down the valley. Mr Streetwise remains ever present. Whilst it feeds happily on any pawpaw that falls to the ground, it has taken a most irritating liking to our hummingbird sugar-water feeders. It quickly learned to tip them on their side, easier to get a wholesome drink that way and protest quite loudly when being chased away. It does looks cute but Trinidad is not its home and there should not be invasive species in our valley. Indeed, there is anecdotal evidence of a mother with baby seen elsewhere in the valley. If they become established, they can threaten the native subspecies of the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin Cebus albifrons trinitatis.

Feeding time by June De Gale

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