Update

by Alderney Bird Warden | May 7, 2017

In the interests of collating correct and up to date records the blog will be updated on Monday eve detailing the previous week’s sightings from here on.

John.

Warden, ABO.

First quarter ringing totals for new birds ringed 2017.

by Alderney Bird Warden | May 1, 2017

24th-30th April

by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 30, 2017

24th – Pre breakfast birding with Naturetrek produced a Hobby over the air field, Black headed gull, Whimbrel and 2 common Sandpipers at Braye Bay, Ringed plover at Saye Bay, 2 Dunlin  at Longis Bay, and a Ring Ouzel at rose farm. Ringing at Longis reserve included 5 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats and a Redstart. A Redstart and two Garden Warblers were ringed at Essex Farm and 2 Tree Pipits were ringed at Mannez. In the afternoon at Giffoine the Naturetrek group discovered a Raven nest containing a well developed chick, several   Whitethroats, a male Redstart, 4 Sparrowhawks in off the sea and good views of a Grasshopper warbler. Moving on we had a Whimbrel and Wheatear at Houme Herbe then from Longis reserve hide 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Sedge Warbler and a Whinchat, on Longis common were around 30 Wheatears. Other sightings included 4 Cormorants over Barrackmasters lane.

25th – A good start to Naturetrek last morning was the whole group catching up with a Ring Ouzel at Fort Albert. The Wood Sandpiper was still present on Longis pond, now with 3 Green Sandpipers, a Black headed Gull, Water Rail and 2 Snipe.  Pied Flycatchers were reported from Barrackmasters Lane, Houme Herbe and Vau de Saou where a Wood Warbler was also spotted. Grasshopper Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Hobby and 2 Tree Pipits were also reported from Barrackmasters lane. An estimated 200+ Wheatear were present across the island with 72 in one field at Sur la ville. Redstarts were seen at the Obs garden, kiln farm fields and 2 at St.Annes. In the afternoon a Swift was seen over the Giffione and a Cuckoo was a Fort Albert.

Cuckoo – Fort Albert – Photo – Wayne Turner

Wood Sandpiper – Longis pond – photo – Paul James

Ring Ouzel – Longis Common – Photo – Paul James

Dunlin – Longis Bay – photo – ABO

26th – Ringing at Longis included Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Garden Warbler and at Mannez ringing included a Redstart and Garden Warbler. Our first Spotted Flycatcher of the year was found at Barrackmasters lane along with 2 Pied Flycatchers. Another Pied Flycatcher was at Giffione where there was also a Redstart and a Grasshopper warbler reeling. A Yellow Wagtail was at Fort Albert. In Longis Bay 10 Turnstones, 5 Whimbrel and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit. Green and Wood Sandpipers still on Longis pond and a Marsh Harrier was seen over Barrackmasters lane. In the afternoon we were delighted to welcome our patron Dame Mary Perkins to the observatory. On her arrival a Hobby provided an excellent low ‘fly past’ over the obs allowing me to comment on the excellent location of the obs for observing visual migration !

Pied Flycatcher – Barracmasters Lane – Photo – Wayne Turner

27th – Ringing at Rose farm produced a Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart. At Mannez ringing included Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler, Firecrest and 2 Pied Flycatcher. There were 2 Common Sandpipers in Longis bay and a Merlin was seen over the observatory. A Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit were seen at clonque.

Common Redstart – Mannez Quarry – photo – John Hodson

28th – A Tree Pipit was ringed at Longis reserve. PM saw our assembled seabird ringing team set off to Little Burhou island. Here we expanded the islands excellent and long-standing seabird monitoring program by ringing 13 Cormornat chicks. From Burhou we also saw a Marsh Harrier and on the island a pair of Shelduck and a Wheatear.

Cormornat chicks – Little Burhou  – photo Fegus Henderson.

29th – Ringing at Rose Farm produced a fine adult male Sparrowhawk, a male Redstart and a Garden Warbler. At Mannez there was a good fall with Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers well into double figures.  Ringers had a UK ringed Sedge Warbler along with Pied Flycatcher, Wood warbler, Redstart and Garden warbler. A Greenshank, Snipe and Green Sandpiper were at the quarry pond. 3 Yellow Wagtails were on Longis Common. A male Redstart and 2 Whinchats were seen at the geese field at Giffione where Grasshopper Warbler was again singing. At Platte Saline there were 2 Sanderling, 9 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper. A cuckoo was calling at the Golf Course.

Adult male Sparrowhawk – Rose Farm – photo – Fergus Henderson

Wood Warbler – Mannez reserve – photo – Paul Veron

The visiting ringers took advantage of the excellent conditions and headed to Mannez Quarry late afternoon where some 61 birds were processed including this stunning Golden Oriole. This species is recorded at spring migration time during most years, but this is the first ringing record.

Male Golden Oriole – Mannez quarry – photo – Justin Hart

30th – There was ringing at Mannez for a short period before rain set in and migrants processed included a Tree Pipit. 4 further Tree Pipits, a Greenshank and a Black headed Gull flew over and there were 2 Grey Herons, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Snipe on Mannez pond. Paul & Catherine Veron and David Wedd reported a good variety of waders from Platte Saline the high counts of which were 2 Ringed Plovers, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Plover, 8 Dunlin and 12 Sanderlings. There were also 6 White wagtails present. A cuckoo was heard along Braye Beach road by our seabird project officer Abbie.

Tree Pipit – Mannez quarry – photo – John Hodson

A big thank you to the visiting researchers Wayne Turner, Mark Guppy, Fergus Henderson, John Hodson, Paul & Sue James, Pippa Farrell, Rakki Powell, Linda Lowndes, Ron Timms and Tim and Liz Earl. Also to the Naturtrek group and to the two groups of UK and Guernsey bird watchers I met in our new ‘Naturetrek’ hide at Longis reserve today, thanks for your records.

17th – 23rd April

by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 25, 2017

17th,

A nice fall at Mannez where 40 birds processed included 2 Redstarts.  We also had our first Reed Bunting of the year, a male also at Mannez

The view from the hide at Mannez nature reserve – photo – Linda Lowndes

18th – 3 Ring Ouzels and a male Redstart at Rose farm where we had a fair movement of Blackcaps with 22 ringed.

19th –  Redstart was ringed at Essex farm and at Mannez, another was seen at the golf course. Male Pied Flycatchers at Rose Farm and Grand Marie. The star birds today were 2 birds of prey. Soon after first light a Black Kite spotted by our assistant warden Justin headed over Longis common and was then was observed miniutes later over Mannez reserve heading out towards France. At 1920 an Osprey was being mobbed by gulls over the observatory before it headed out over fort razz flying strongly against the wind towards the french coast.

21st – Our first Naturetrek tour group of the year arrived late afternoon and having done a quick check an hour earlier decided on a diversion on route to the hotel to Whitegates field. Here there were 11 Yellow Wagtails, 2 white Wagtails, 1 Pied Wagatail, 40 Meadow Pipits and 5 Wheatears. Last spring we did very well with Yellow Wagtails and it was again super to see good numbers on migration. Also, 31 Wheatears at Sur la ville.

Ringing at Mannez by Paul and Catherine Veron produced a new species for the site, a female Bullfinch. We had no spring records last year.

Female Bullfinch – Mannez – photo – Paul Veron

22nd – A great start to the day was a Marsh Warbler singing in the Obs garden. The bird was present for about 10 minutes showing briefly before heading off towards Essex Farm. We began with a ringing demonstration for Naturetrek at the observatory where migrants in the hand included Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and a superb male Whinchat.

Whinchat – Longis reseve – photo Linda Lowndes

Swallows and Martins were flooding through from dawn til dusk with an estimated 2500 Swallows, 500 Sand Martins and 150 House Martin conservative estimates. Late morning after taking in 30+ flowering Green-winged Orchids Naturetrek found a Wood Sandpiper on Longis Common, (6th record for Alderney). In the afternoon those who headed to Longis pond to see the Wood Sandpiper found it had been joined by a Green Sandpiper, also present 7 Yellow Wagtails, 22 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats and a singing Grasshopper Warbler. A group of 4 Hampshire ringers/birds arrived and kicked off by ringing a spring Swallow roost at Longis pond processing 49 birds. Over 150 birds ringed in total today.

23rd – In the morning there were 20+ Wheatears, 1 Ring Ouzel on Longis Common and a Whinchat at Whitegates. At Clonque Bay Naturetrek found a cracking summer plumage Bar-tailed Godwit, our first one this spring, plus 4 Whimbrels,  4 Rock Pipits and a Turnstone.  Also a flock of 6 Cormorants over Cambridge Battery. Sue James found a male Pied Flycatcher at Mannez Quarry and Paul and Catherine Veron had another at Barrackmasters Lane.

This weeks blog will be online PM Tues 25th.

by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 23, 2017