L. Forró szerk.: Miscellanea Zoologica Hungarica 9. 1994 (Budapest, 1994)

Bankovics, A.; Melián Hernández, L. O.: Bird migration data from a mangrove swamp near Santiago de Cuba

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) One of the commonest waders of the area. It is more numerous in the open salty lagoon, altough many were captured in the small open ponds in the mangroves, even in semi-open mangrove forests. 36 gathered in a midday roost in a shallow pond in the mangroves on 14 Nov. There was a roost in a shallow pond in the mangroves on 14 Nov and at the same time there was a roosting flock of 126 birds in the salty lagoon. Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) 1+2 specimens were seen in winter plumage at the semiopen salty lagoon with scattered short mangrove-bushes. Later 3 birds were moving together. All specimens were very shy. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) Few birds were seen everywhere in the shallow mangroves-lakes. Two flocks (116+57) were feeding in the rising water of the high tide in the open salty lagoon on 14 Nov. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) Unlike the above mentioned species, it is often seen on the ground of the closed mangrove-forest feeding in the shallow water. E.g. along the same 50 metre long pass we found 1+2+1 specimen on 12 Nov, and 2+4+1+3 on 13 Nov. A numerous roosting flock of 420 birds was recorded in the open salty lagoon at 10.50 am and feeding was driven by the spreading shallow water of the high tide of 12.10 pm. on 14 Nov. Western Sandpiper (Calidris maun) There were 9+3 specimens at the edge of the flock of 420 Calidris pusilla on 14 Nov. Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) One specimen was observed in grey winter plumage at the edge of the mangrove forest, where the water was 5 cm deep in a semi-open lagoon, covered by short mangrove bushes. Stilt Sandpiper (Micropalama himantopus) 1 juv. specimen captured by mistnet and banded at 17.00 on 12 Nov. Another specimen was observed in a shallow (6 cm) open lagoon between mangrove bushes. It was companied with one, later two Tringa flavipes. This was an adult, and still had little remains of its summer plumage. The cheek was still rufous brown. Although Garrido & Garcia Montana (1975) mentioned it as rare winter visitor in Cuba, Marchant et al. (1986) have not marked Cuba as its wintering place. Our record shows that these two birds were passage migrants, because we did not find them or any others in the area during the next days. Laridae Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) 9 specimens were sitting in the mixed midday roosting flock of birds in the open salty lagoon on 14 Nov. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) One specimen in winter plumage was roosting among other gulls and terns (19 Thalasseus sandvicensis, 1 T. maximus, 9 Larus atricilla, 2 Rynchops nigra) later searching for food on wings above shallow water in the salty lagoon on 14 Nov. (Table 4).