COTINGA 6 Neotropical Notebook The records featured below have BERMUDA the second record (Birding World not been vetted, and have been A Black-necked Grebe Podiceps 9 (2): 76). A Philadelphia Vireo collected from a variety of nigricollis at Spittal Pond from Vireo philadelphicus was an published and unpublished 10 August-20 September 1995 exceptional island record on 6 sources. They generally represent was the first record (Birding February 199520. Autumn 1995 records of vagrants, significant World 9 (2): 76). The first winter records included the first Brown range extensions, rediscoveries or record of Horned Grebe P. Thrasher Toxostoma rufum for new localities for threatened or auritus concerned one at Castle 12 years was recorded on 7 poorly known species. If submitting Harbour on 1 February 1995, October, the fifth Red-breasted records for inclusion in future whilst the third island record of Nuthatch Sitta canadensis on 24 Neotropical Notebooks, please Tundra Swan Cygnus c. November, the fourth Purple include details of species, locality, columbianus was an immature at Finch Carpodacus purpureus on date, significance of the record and Spittal Pond on 27 November–1 12 November and the second observers. Full details should also December 1994 and the sixth Lark Sparrow Chondestes be submitted to the relevant Surf Scoter Melanitta grammacus on 18 October national organisations. perspicillata was off Bermuda on (Birding World 9 (2): 76). 12 January 1995. An American CARIBBEAN Avocet Recurvirostra americana CUBA from 29 October 1995 was the Over 150 American Avocets BAHAMAS seventh record and a Hudsonian Recurvirostra americana on the A pair of white-morph Red-footed Godwit Limosa haemastica the coast near Jíbaro, Sancti Spíritus Boobies Sula sula with a single sixth record since 1970 (Birding province, between 9-19 June chick were photographed on a World 9 (2): 76). The first island 1995 was the largest number ever small cay off San Salvador on 28 record of Pacific Golden Plover reported from the country3. April 1995, the first confirmed Pluvialis fulva at the Naval Air Duque12 reported two rarities for breeding record for the Bahamas Station on 25 January 1995 was Cuba: a subadult Chipping this century, although the carefully compared with nearby Sparrow Spizella passerina species was recorded in the American Golden Plovers P. collected at Quintana Arriba, north same area in 1986 and there is a dominica20 and remained until of Meseta de Anafe, on 25 possible report from Atwood’s April (Birding World 9 (2): 76). November 1991, and an Cay21. Two records of Eastern The first winter records for unusually early Great Crested Phoebes Sayornis phoebe on Bermuda of Iceland Gull Larus Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus Grand Bahama, one at Rand glaucoides and Solitary Vireo taken north of Havana on 20 Nature Center on 25 November Vireo solitarius involved a second September 1995. 1995 and another at West End winter at Bermuda on 2 February Pool the following day, are the 1995 and a single at the same DOMINICA first published records from the locality from 18 December 1994– The first Eurasian Collared West Indies since one on February 1995 respectively20. The Dove Streptopelia decaocto for Eleuthera, Bahamas in second Brown Noddy Anous the Lesser Antilles was reported February 1986 (American Birds stolidus since 1970 was recorded from Roseau in 1987, where 12 40: 529) and only the second and on 11 October and the first were present on 26 May 199520. third records since 197216. The House Wren Troglodytes aedon spread of the Shiny Cowbird for 10 years on 8 November. A DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Molothrus bonariensis in the Marsh Wren Cistothorus Three West Indian Whistling- Bahamas continues, the species palustris at Pembroke Marsh in Ducks Dendrocygna arborea at being recorded daily close to January 1996 was the first island Laguna del Salodillo on 22 April settlements on North Andros record, whilst an Ash-throated 1996 appears to be the first Island from 27–31 July 199521 Flycatcher Myiarchus published record for the country (see Cotinga 3: 60). cinerascens on 30 January was since 198615. A pale morph 33 COTINGA 6 Neotropical Notebook Swainson’s Hawk Buteo 19 November 1995 was a rare subruficollis (single juveniles at swainsonii just south of record and possibly the first for El Bosque on 5 and 21 Septem­ Montecristi on 22 April 1996 the Caribbean coast (AD, LE, BF). ber), Black Tern Chlidonias appears to be the first record for A Buff-breasted Sandpiper niger, Orange-chinned the West Indies (CGB, GMK, Tryngites subruficollis at Tarcoles Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis RSRW). on 10 August 1995 was perhaps (four at Atasta on 26 June), injured (PE). Rufous-browed Common Nighthawk MONTSERRAT Tyrannulet Phylloscartes Chordeiles minor, “Brewster’s Eurasian Collared Dove superciliaris is now known to be Warbler” Vermivora pinus × V. Streptopelia decaocto is now common in the upper Río Tuis chrysoptera (at El Bosque on 27 established at Victoria where it has valley with a single also being August), Cerulean Warbler bred since 1990; this and those recorded at Rancho Naturalista, Dendroica cerulea (recorded on reported from Dominica (see above) providing confirmation of this five days at El Bosque with the are the first records from the species’s presence in the first on 7 September), Townsend’s Lesser Antilles20. Talamanca mountains (per Warbler D. townsendi (recorded JvdG). A female Prothonotary on two dates at El Bosque with the PUERTO RICO Warbler Protonotaria citrea at first on 20 September), Connecti­ An adult male Audubon’s Oriole Palo Verde National Park on 8 cut Warbler Oporornis agilis Icterus graduacauda at Jobos June 1995 (JvdG) and a Black- (recorded at El Bosque on 26 Beach, near Ramey, on 12 June throated Green Warbler August), Swainson’s Warbler 19955 was the first record for the Dendroica virens in the upper Río Limnothlypis swainsonii (recorded Caribbean. Given the species’s Tuis valley on 20 July 1995 (PE) on four dates at El Bosque with the lack of vagrancy potential, this were both unusually late; both first on 5 September), a single record suggests an escaped cage birds presumably oversummered. Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus bird but a range extension or chrysater at Atasta on 27 June and wandering individual cannot be MEXICO a Lark Sparrow Chondestes discounted. A female Northern Contreras-Baldas et al.10 list five grammacus at El Bosque on 24 (Bullock’s) Oriole I. galbula new species for Nuevo León state, September. Additionally the first bullockii was at Vieques on 22 all in the Univ. Autonoma de Nuevo breeding record of Cattle Egret December 199420. León (UANL) collection: a Short­ Bubulcus ibis was obtained and a eared Owl Asio flammeus, an very recently fledged Barn adult female and adult male Swallow Hirundo rustica at Los CENTRAL AMERICA Yellow Warbler Dendroica Idoles on 11 July suggested local petechia, an adult male Black- breeding, the nearest known BELIZE throated Blue Warbler D. breeding sites being in western In February 1996 up to seven caerulescens (the first record for Veracruz (all records per MG). Common Ground-Doves continental Mexico), an adult male Columbina passerina were present Prothonotary Warbler PANAMA in the Placencia area, on the Protonotaria citrea and an At least 15, including three male country’s east coast, representing immature female Northern Scintillant Hummingbirds a considerable range extension, Waterthrush Seiurus Selasphorus scintilla above Cerro perhaps assisted by forest noveboracensis. Additionally a Colorado on 18 December 1995 were clearance (RDME, SM). male Burrowing Owl Speotyto unusual as the species was only cunicularia in the same collection previously known in this area from a COSTA RICA was the first record from single record on Cerro Flores. A pair Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon Aguascalientes state. of Flame-throated Warblers aethereus is not known to breed in A series of first records from Parula gutturalis at Cerro Colarado Costa Rica; however ten engaged Tabasco state in 1993 are as on 18 December 1995 appears to be in courtship flights on Isla Santa follows: American Avocet the first record from eastern Catalina on 21 November 1993 Recurvirostra americana, Red Chirique (all records DES). suggests that it may do so11. Knot Calidris canutus (recorded A Ruddy Crake Laterallus on four dates at El Bosque, with SOUTH AMERICA ruber at Laguna de Lagarto Lodge three on 14 September), Upland on 12 November 1995 was about Sandpiper Bartramia ARGENTINA the third country record (JE, DK). longicauda (one, probably a There is just one previous record of A pair of American Avocets juvenile, on 20 September at El American Swallow-tailed Kite Recurvirostra americana at the Bosque), Buff-breasted Elanoides forficatus in Córdoba mouth of the Parismina River on Sandpiper Tryngites province; thus three south of Villa 34 C O TING A 6 Neotropical Notebook General Belgrano, Calamuchita provided), frequent sightings of elsewhere on the Solimões near on 15 January 1994 and one at Band-tailed Pigeons Columba Tabatinga on the Colombian Casa Grande, Punilla on 7 March fasciata in forest west of Narvaez border. Both Yellow Tyrannulet 1994 were significant27. Since on 21 and 23 November 1995, Capsiempis flaveola and River November 1985 there have been three Rufous-bellied Saltators Tyrannulet Serpophaga several observations of Grey­ Saltator rufiventris in the Erquis hypoleuca were confirmed to occur, necked Wood-Rail Aramides valley near Tarija between 2300– the former a westwards range cajanea at four localities in 2500 m, on 14 December 1994 extension of 600 km. The latter Córdoba province, and the species and two in the Río La Huerta was only previously known in has also been tape-recorded at valley, near Camacho on 18 Brazil from a single record in one site, providing the first December 1994, while Roraima and the lower Rio province records27.