8th-14th Oct

by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 16, 2017

We are now taking bookings for 2018 !

The renovations at the Nunnery (home of the bird observatory) are going well and we expect to be completed in advance of our opening date of 1st April 2018.

Prices below are per room per night SELF CATERING.

Please see the below:

Twin Rooms:

There are 3 Twin rooms available to book at the Nunnery: Swallows/Oystercatchers & Petrels.

ABO Members:

Twin Room  – £40
Twin Room Single Occupancy –  £30

Non ABO Members:
Twin Rooms (2 single beds) Oystercatchers & Petrels  – £50
Twin Room Single Occupancy –  £40

4 single beds.

ABO Members:
Group Room  – £60 (based on 4 sharing)

Non ABO Members:
Group Room  – £80

For reservations & enquiries contact John & Cathy on

email: abowarden@alderneywildlife.org

Telephone: 01481 824134

Mobile: 07815 549191

The very low water levels on Longis Pond are unlikely to attract many waterbirds until water levels pick up, but our first Teal of the autumn (a female) was spotted on the 11th and was still present at the end of this reporting week.  West and south-west winds have continued to dominated and rare birds have been thin on the ground. Despite this four species were ringed this week that were new for the ABO and two of these were species never ringed in Alderney before. Our resident Stonechats have been joined by migrant birds and appear to be on every corner ! Swallow roosts continued at Longis pond with 100-300 most evenings this week dropping to 20 on the 14th. Blackbird and Song Thrush numbers increased as the week went on. Water Rails are becoming fairly easy to see in front of Longis hide. The Great Spotted Woodpecker at Rose farm was present until at least the 9th. We also took part in National moth week.

 

Male Firecrest – Rose Farm –  Photo ABO – JH

 

8th – A Hen Harrier was seen in Barrackmasters Lane and a Marsh Harrier over Rose Farm. A Lesser Redpoll was ringed at Rose Farm, we have only had one record of Redpoll since we launched in March  2016 and this bird (pictured below) was the 2nd. Historically this is only the 2nd ringing record for the island, the only existing record from 1957 ! A single Wheatear was present at the Giffoine. A Yellow-browed Warbler was ringed at Mannez Quarry. A Merlin took a Swallow from the gathering pre-roost flock over Longis pond, it was then hotly persued by a Sparrowhawk.

Lesser Redpoll – Rose Farm – photo – JH -ABO

9th – 210 birds ringed included a Yellow-browed Warbler at Rose farm. The photo below is of a hybrid bird we had that is a Greenfinch x Goldfinch. Last spring we had a Greenfinch x Siskin, both birds were unringed. My feeling is that these are genuine wild hybrids rather than crossbred birds escaped from captivity. Over 50 Meadow Pipits were seen over Barrackmasters Lane fields. A short eared Owl was over the Mannez Garene at dusk.

Greenfinch x Goldfinch – Rose Farm – Photo – JH – ABO

10th –  A good influx of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes also brought our first Redwings (5 at Rose Farm.  A Female Marsh Harrier over the airport and a Merlin whizzed over the obs at last knockings. A good count of 22 Mediterranean Gulls were present at the Braye Bay on the high tide roost and an unringed Yellow browed Warbler was seen in Barrackmasters Lane.

11th – Strong overnight SW winds continued throughout the day, the only thing that came with them was rain. The less days like this the better… at least Longis pond may have filled a little !

12th, A good ringing session at Rose Farm included another 6 Firecrests, and 114 Swallows were ringed at Longis pond along with the ABO’s first White Wagtail, a first year male bird pictured below. A late Reed Warbler was seen at Longis Pond.

White Wagtail – Longis pond – photo – JH – ABO

13th – Whilst ringing at Essex farm with John Haddaway I took a call from Nigel who runs Braye Hire Cars. Nigel explained that a bird of prey had flown into his garage and he had rescued it, put it in a box and would like to bring it down to us to make sure it was ok, which of course I agreed to.  Now fully expecting this ‘bird of prey’ to be a Sparrowhawk and of course hoping the bird was uninjured I met Nigel and June who handed over their card board box along with a small bird that the bird of prey had apparently been carrying, a deceased Rock Pipit. Through the join in the top of the box I took a peak at our guest, A Merlin !! I had a good look over this wonderful little power house of a bird that was very lively and a far as I could see was undamaged and in fine condition. A first year female, her size and weight were at the very top end of the statistics for this species. On release she flew of strongly, a fine sight, the first ringing for Alderney, one of two or three Merlins hunting across the island this week. A Grey Wagtail was seen over Barrackmasters Lane by Paul and Catherine Veron who also watched a late Spotted Flycatcher consuming a Red Admiral. The latter had quite an influx today with several hundred across the island.

Merlin (1st year female) ringed at Essex Farm – photo – John Haddaway

The day ended at 8pm where with the fine and hardworking ladies from Alderney Animal Welfare Society.  A Barn Owl had been brought into the centre by Mark Atkinson that morning. The Owl, a male, had a large tick on its right eye that was obscuring the birds vision considerably and no doubt affecting its hunting ability. The parasite was removed and the owl having eaten food provided at the centre, perked up considerably during the day. The bird was ringed and was alert and majestic on its release. We were treated to the silent magical moments of a Barn Owl in flight away and into the darkness.

14th – Ahead of a short burst of a few precious hours of easterly winds I had a Great White Egret flew in off the sea at 6pm into Longis bay, the bird circled over Longis then settled just beyond the causeway at the north end of Longis bay where Paul and Catherine Veron relocated it, obtaining brief views before it disappeared in descending fog. Ringing at Longis nature reserve turned up a Belgium ringed Blackcap, a Reed Bunting (not common here) showed well near to the reserve hide. Water Rail was seen at Rose Farm.

The full list of moths from our 3 nights will be published here on the blog once available. We recorded over 50 species, not too bad at all for mid October.

Flame Brocade – ABO moth trap – photo – JH – ABO

The two photos below are of the same species ‘Barred Red’. The Red one on the right the form found in the UK, the green one on the left the continental colour variation. Photos JH.

1st -7th Oct

by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 11, 2017

A blustery week of mostly unhelpful Westerly winds included a touch of north here and there bringing us falls of migrant birds.  Marsh Harrier was recorded daily 1st-7th  (2 on the 2nd). An increase in both Sparrowhawks and Kestrels has been evident. The former regularly observed chasing down Swallows during the last throws of each day. The autumn movement of Firecrests continued to be impressive with almost 40 ringed this week, observed movements of ‘Crests’ have generally seen Firecrest outnumbering Goldcrest. Over 500 Swallows were also ringed with roosting birds preferring Longis pond or Mannez quarry for a sheltered night amongst the reeds. Water Rails have been very vocal at both Longis and Mannez, at least 6 birds present on Longis pond are fairly easy to view from the Naturetrek hide towards dusk. Mediterranean Gulls have been present at the north end of Braye bay daily, peaking at 14 on the 2nd,  a single Sandwich Tern with the Med Gull flock was present until the 5th. The Great Spotted Woodpecker remains present at Rose Farm. Both Linnet and Goldfinch numbers increased steadily, about 100 Linnets around the Giffoine and 35 on Tourgis Hill. Goldfinches have been spotted in flocks across the island the largest numbers being around 60 birds around rose farm. Meadow Pipits have also been moving through with around 200 in the vicinity of the airfield on the 6th. Overall a slower month than hoped for but considering that each days’ wind direction including the word ‘west’ perhaps not such a bad week for sightings. From the 6th Oct last year we had just over 3 weeks consecutive easterly winds, we would settle for just one day at the moment !

1st – A very windy start to the month allowing limited ringing in Mannez first thing and then a short PM session in Essex Farm as the wind turned NW. A single Firecrest the highlight of 17 migrants processed. Justin and I made best use of the poor conditions by giving the Obs ringing room a major over-hall in preparation for next years official opening.

2nd – Very strong westerly gales overnight brought us the last gasps of the recent US hurricane. Birding conditions were hard going with the few passerines present keeping to sheltering in the undergrowth. In Braye bay a single Sandwich Tern kept the company of 14 Mediterranean Gulls. An inquisitive Grey seal was spotted in Braye harbour by Catherine Hanlon. There was an increase in Blackbirds across the island and a half a dozen Wheaters shared the NE coastline and Longis Common. In Longis bay 1 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, 32 Curlews, 5 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.  In Barrackmasters Lane a Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail. Despite the conditions and wind direction a light but steady flow of Swallows and to a lesser extent House Martins

3rd -A late in the season Female Redstart at Mannez, Yellow-browed Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher at Essex Farm. Over 140 birds were ringed including 6 Firecrests.

4th – Over 100 birds were ringed, Firecrest into double figures, Blackcap and Chiffchaff making up the bulk of the numbers. A single Skylark was seen over Longis common.

5th  – 30mph West winds and showers overnight and well into the day. A short sea-watch from Paul and Catherine Veron produced a Sooty Shearwater who also had a Hen Harrier in Barrackmasters Lane. A Kingfisher was spotted flying across Crabby quarry and a Spotted Flycatcher in Mannez Quarry.

6th – An influx of Snipe involved 9 over Longis bay and 2 seen over Rose Farm where there were also around 20 House Martins, 25 Song Thrushes and 20 Siskins over.  Thrush movement was evident on the Western side of the island with both Blackbirds and Song Thrushes in excess of 100 birds in the bonne terre valley. Visiting ringer/birder Colin McShane spotted our first Fieldfare of the autumn in the Vaux du Sau valley where he estimated a fall of around 50 Chiffchaffs. Colin also had a Dartford Warbler towards fort Tourgis and another behind the airport. A Water Pipit presented itself on the bare ground right in front of the hide on Longis pond as we awaited the evening Swallow roost.

7th, 6 Siskin over Barrackmasters Lane, a major increase in Starling numbers with around 300 roosting at Kiln Farm.

Mannez Lighthouse overlooking Mannez Quarry Nature Reserve – photo – Stevie Phe

SEPTEMBER

by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 2, 2017

We are now revamped upgraded improved polished and back in the room !

Sorry for the delay in bringing you the weekly blog, information of note has been placed on our ABO facebook site but I shall now provide a September round-up. Thanks to Becky Sumpster of ‘Design Somerset’ for providing her professional services for FREE enabling our new website to be able to facilitate amongst other things our soon to go live new on-line accommodation booking system.

September has been as exciting as it has been hectic. We were delighted this period included two Naturetrek tour groups that combined brought us 30 extra pairs of wildlife hungry eyes over 13 days. The 2016 ABO annual bird report was finalised and went out to all ABO members, and the renovations of the observatory accommodation are well underway and gathering pace. Paul & Catherine Veron flew the ABO flag at the Inter-island environmental conference in Sark. And in no particular order, Great Skua, Red-Breasted Flycatcher, Sooty Shearwater, Wryneck, Alpine Swift and Yellow-browed Warbler were all added to our island annual bird species total.

The month began with a Bullfinch in Mannez quarry. The very good passage of Honey Buzzards continued until mid month with another 12 individuals seen in total. A single Black Kite was also seen over the Bonne Terre valley and on the 10th a Hen Harrier. Guernsey returned some impressive sea watch figures throughout the month and it was frustrating at times that a combination of commitments and limited man power left us with nobody to check our sea passage. However, Justin managed a good session on the 15th returning 8 Great Skuas and a Sooty Shearwater. Many thousands of Swallows passed through the island. On the 16th we estimated over 1000 and another strong passage on the 19th looked to be double that during the day, with in excess of 500 birds roosting on Longis common including good numbers of both House and Sand Martins. On the 23rd we were again recording well into the hundreds of Swallows but numbers peaked on the 26th with an estimated 10,000 Swallows through, 1500 House Martins and 200 Sand Martins. Watching this spectacle from Arch Bay as birds flooded in off the sea over and around us was a wonderful sight. Throughout the month during the predominant westerly winds, good flocks of swallows and martins could be observed feeding in the shelter of Essex hill ( inc 300 House Martins on 24th). The first Naturetrek group enjoyed a cracking fall of phylloscs and sylvias that included a posing Wryneck along the fort clonque pathway on the 17th. Tourists on board Alderney tours minibus were not quite so taken with another Wryneck perched on a bush at the bottom of the fort Fort Albert track on the 21st. Wader passage has been slim with just a single Grey Plover on the 3rd, 2 sightings of Common Sandpiper and 5 Whimbrels between the 12th and 15th. Just one Snipe on Longis reserve on the 16th and a Jack Snipe 27th. A very excited Naturetrek group enjoyed superb views of an Alpine Swift over lunch at The Old Barn at the foot of Essex Hill. This bird was first seen some 3hrs earlier by Justin Hart over Longis common and I must admit I did not expect the bird would be seen again. On the 20th a male Dartford Warbler showed well behind Essex Castle and a female was seen briefly at the same location on the 27th.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker (on average 0-3 a year here) was found  by Mark Atkinson on the 20th, the Naturetrek group saw presumably the same bird on the 25th and it was further reported at Rose farm on the 27th and 30th. Water Rail numbers have risen with a high count of 6 on Longis pond on the 27th towards dusk and at least 3 at Mannez quarry. On the 26th Justin and I observed a flock of 58 Lesser black backed Gulls migrating south over Longis common, the majority of the birds were in their first year. 16 Common Redstarts were ringed this month and a single Black Redstart was seen at Mannez lighthouse on the 21st. Over 20 Spotted Flycatchers were recorded and a dozen Pied. A Red breasted Flycatcher showed briefly but well from Mannez hide on 24th. Sporadic influxes of Meadow Pipits, Starlings, Goldfinches and Linnets increased towards month end. On 29th a Yellow-browed Warbler was ringed at Mannez Quarry. A Hawfinch was seen in Barrackmasters lane reported by visiting Guernsey birder Jamie Hooper on the 30th.

A fairly good month of bird ringing returned just over 1500 new birds. Productive Swallow roosts contributed over 500 of this total along with over 40 Firecrests. Chiffchaffs began to out number Willow Warblers from around the 10th though we were still catching the latter at the month end. Also good numbers of Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Grasshopper Warblers were also ringed.

Also, a new species of moth for Alderney and indeed the Channel Isles was recorded this week. A black banded -Polymixis xanthomista, well done David Wedd !

Thanks for bearing with us, the normal weekly blog service is now resumed !

Above: Renovations at the Nunnery, home of Alderney Bird Observatory.

Pied Flycatcher (first yr male) ringed at Mannex Quarry – Photo Brian Nobbs

Small Copper Butterfly – Mannez nature reserve – photo JH – ABO