Archives | Alderney Bird Observatory

10th-16th April

by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 17, 2017

A very busy week one way or another. Visiting ringers/birders Linda Lowndes, Barry Summers and Chris & Richard Dufeu all made valuable contributions to our recording and research. Chris additionally to bird ringing looking at the various species of slug inhabiting Alderney, finding new species thought not to have been previuosly recorded here. The male Garganey remained on Mannez quarry whilst the elusive Hoopoe was seen up until the 14th, last observed by Anne-Isabelle Boulon in Barrackmasters Lane. Also on the 14th Lois le Lacheur found and photographed a fine male Ring Ouzel on Longis common where a cuckoo was also seen, possibly the same cuckoo was heard at Barrackmasters lane. On the 10th we recorded our first Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat of the spring, both ringed at Longis reserve. On the 13th a Hobby hurtled over the golf course headed north no sign of stopping, other migrants that day were a Fieldfare, Greenshank and 2 Whimbrels all ‘fly overs’ at Longis common while at the same venue showing well a cracking Blue headed Yellow Wagtail, in the afternoon there were 30 Swallows, 8 Sand Martins and a House Martin over Longis pond.

Some of this weeks highlights in no particular order were:

13th April – Mist netting on Longis common produced our first ringed Wheatear of this spring. A very robust first year male whose measurements confirmed it to be the larger ‘Greenland’ race leucorhoa. Shortly after we caught a second Wheatear that was entirley and clearly a comparatively smaller slighter bird

Greenland Wheatear – photo – ABO

14th April – One of my favourite moths from last year made its first appearance in the OBS trap.

Pale Prominent moth – Obs moth trap – photo ABO

11th April – Song Thrush – Ssp Philomelos.
A real bonus of being at such a great migration spot is the opportunity to see interesting sub species and geographical variations. Last year we had a couple of these very pale/grey Song Thrushes that meet the criteria I can find that suggests they are the nominate ssp philomelos. Whilst variation of Song Thrush sub species is generally considered clinal and at best ‘slight’; these predominantly grey birds really stand out. Indeed the only brown/rufous parts consistent with the British ssp clarkei are the outer flight feathers depicted below where the grey against brown contrast across the wing is very clear. The underparts of philomelos are much paler as are the markings around the eye and ear coverts.

Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail – Longis Common – photo – ABO

by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 16, 2017

The next Blog update will be PM 17th April.

3rd-9th April

by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 9, 2017

As migrants continued to be slow off the blocks this week our obvious highlight was a new species for not just Alderney but for the Channel Islands. Another surprise was a Rook at Giffoine. Furter additions to this years bird list this week were Cuckoo and Common Redstart and Ring Ouzel as migrants begin to come through.

3rd – Prolonged fog dominated the day so Justin and I got on with making ready the Observatory for the visiting ringers/birders visiting this spring.

4th – Despite only a handful of migrant Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers around Essex farm one bird captured our attention. Appearing at first glance to be a Willow Warbler but proving to be much more.. Not presenting the olives and browns we see generally on the upper parts of Chiffchaffs this bird was very close in appearance to a Willow Warbler but the routine emargination check revealed that the 6th primary did have an emargination which for want of a better word was rather ‘marginal’ but non the less present. I have read recently about hybridisation between these species and I put forward that indeed we may be dealing with such a bird. Of all of our early Willow Warblers this spring none have been under 68mm wing length with males coming through first and our mystery bird had a wing of 61mm. This wing length does not rule out Willow Warbler entirely (we had just 2 of over 1500 ringed Willow Warblers with 61mm wing last year) but favoured Chiffchaff type, of course the 6th primary emargination ruling out Willow Warbler. So onwards to take a series of measurements that complemented entirely the more obvious visual identification charateristics of Iberian Chiffchaff. Our bird presenting E=6, S1-WP=14, P1-P2=26, P2=6/7, P2-WP=6.5. The photos below don’t do justice to the yellow supercillium in front of the eye, but does a illustrate the thin bill and paler lower mandible, yellow undertail coverts and paler brown legs. Having taken all the relevant details the next big moment was ‘would it call on release’! I have an abysmal track record of birds not performing when I hope for this simple act on thier release, to the extent I had begun to wonder if I have hearing issues ! So, we all stood in a line on the observatory roman fort wall remparts in anticipation… off it went with a single rather weak and apologetically descending ‘siu’, spot on. Additionally assistant warden Justin joined the ‘wall of fame’ list on the wall in the observatory, having processed a species never before ringed on this island. Further, it transpired this is the first record for the channel islands.

Iberian Chiffchaff – Essex Farm – Photos – Justin Hart

Also on the 4th 2 Swallows over Longis Bay, 4 Wheatears at Tourgis. At Sur la Ville a cracking male Black Redstart, 1 Wheatear, 4 Sand Martins 5 White Wagtails and a Snipe. At the Giffione a 2nd new species on Alderney for me in the same day, a rare (not annual) visitor here, a Rook amongst 50+ Crows. A pair of Peregrine were displaying over Giffione. Mark Atkinson had a Redstart at Rose Farm.

5th – A slow day with little movement of Migrants, 6 Swallows at Mannez reserve along with the still present male Garganey. Moth trapping last night added Clouded drab and Spotted Border to this years Obs list.

6th – Again a handful of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs present. PM saw 8 Swallows and 20 Sand Martins over Longis pond. Paul and Catherine Veron had a pair of Shelduck over Mannez and presumably the same birds were present in Lonigs bay daily up today the 9th.

7th – Mark Atkinson had a Fieldfare at Rose farm and mid morning two Whimbrel passed over Longis common calling.

British Bird watcher Sally Townsend-Smith made an excellent contribution to our records during her 4 day stay at the Obs. These included our highest Turnstone count for several years with 10 together at the north end of Longis Bay and our first Emperor moth of the spring, Sally located this beauty (below) at Mannez nature reserve and while out birding with me managed to get a good record shot of a Rook at the Giffoine.

Emperor moth – Mannez – photo Sally Townsend-Smith

Rook (middle bird) – Giffoine – photo Sally Townsend-Smith

8th – John & Jenny Richardson and Paul & Catherine Veron had a Cuckoo at Barrackmasters lane and there was a single Wheatear at Tourgis.

Today the 9th April and Mark Atkinson reported a Ring Ouzel at Rose farm. There were 2 Wheatears at Sur la Ville and another at Tourgis. A group of a dozen day tripping French birders visited the bird observatory where they observed some bird ringing before hearing a talk about our bird observatory and field centre project. (see photo below)

And finally, those travelling on the Alderney -Guernsey boat service this morning were treated to the company of a pod of 10 Bottlenose Dolphins.

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27th March -2nd April

by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 2, 2017

Some favourable weather but without substantial numbers of migrant birds bar Meadow Pipits during the first part of the week. Strong winds largely restricted our ringing efforts but despite low numbers this week we are still getting some interesting birds that included a french ringed Blackcap. A splendid male Stonechat has been singing his heart out on Longis reserve all week and unusually for the north end of the island a pair of Jackdaws have also been offering aeriel displays.

27th – There was a single Fieldfare in the orchard at Rose Farm and a pair of Sparrowhawks displaying overhead. At the same time Justin caught and ringed a Dartford Warbler at Essex Farm. The bird was caught amongst Willows over a stream and though we have a few breeding pairs of Dartfords’ there are none near this location, it is likely this bird was a passage migrant.

Female Dartford Warbler – Essex Farm

28th – A fine Black Redstart in the Obs garden was a nice start to the day, a good flock of around 50 Meadow Pipits were on Longis common and double that on the golf course. 3 Shelduck in Longis bay. A Tree Pipit and a Firecrest at Longis reserve. There were 2 Sand Martins over the Obs first thing and 7 over Longis pond in the afternoon where there was a female Teal and 3 Snipe. A handful of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were ringed between Essex Farm and Mannez reserve. A Dartford warbler was seen at Vallee ds trios. A modest and early start was made to our moth trapping which produced single specimens of Pine Beauty, Common Quaker, Early Grey and also Hebrew Character (3).

Pine Beauty – ABO moth trap

29th – A single Swallow over the golf course. Paul Veron managed this super shot of the male Garganey still present at Longis pond, usually a shy species, this ones appears to enjoy the limelight !

Male Garganey – Mannez reserve – photo Paul Veron

30th – Mark Atkinson saw a Barn Owl at Rose Farm. There was one Sand Martin over Longis pond in the morning and 2 Golden Plovers passed over the golf course late afternoon.

1st April – Still just a thin sprinkling of Migrants, Jason had 2 Swallows heading north out to sea at Tourgis, 2 Wheatears at Tourgis and another at Giffoine.

2nd April – Blackcap singing today in the Obs garden and at Rose Farm as were Chiffchaffs at Rose Farm and Longis reserve. A pair of White Wagtails have adopted the Obs roof, lets hope they decide to stay.