A windy week saw the phenomenal numbers of migrant birds this autumn finally fade to trickle. Even so late movements continue with small numbers of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Firecrests passing through. Winter wildfowl records are always at a premium here bar a few sporadic Teal but a Wigeon dropped in as the weather got colder at the end of the week.
21st – SW winds, still a few migrants moving over Mannez, 2 Bramblings, around 50 Redwings and 5 Fieldfares over. Ringing was low numbers but included Fieldfare and Reed Bunting. On the falling mid-day tide 2 Sanderlings in Longis Bay. In the afternoon another addition to our annual ringing list at Essex farm by way of 2 Coal Tits, surprisingly not resident here, the island appears to see just a handful of this species during migration only.
Coal Tit – Essex Farm – photo – JH/ABO
23rd – An unseasonal Common Sandpiper on Braye beach was joined by the still present Water Pipit.
24th – 4 Meditteranean Gulls and 2 Grey Plovers in Braye Bay where a bull Grey Seal put in a brief appearance. Ringing at Rose farm included 3 Firecrests and 6 Chiffchaffs one of which was UK ringed bird. Some movement over rose farm with 12 Skylarks and 200+ Chaffinches. A Grey Wagtail and White Wagtail shared the sewage works at Essex. Paul & Catherine Veron had a Bullfinch and Siberian Chiffchaff in their garden and in Longis bay 5 Turnstones, 2 Sanderlings and a Great White Egret.
25th – A Black Redstart in Braye Harbour, 4 Long tailed Tits by the Watermill. The Water Pipit was in Longis beach car park and 6 Kittiwake were seen off Mannez.
26th – A single Snipe and a Wigeon on Longis pond where the long staying Little Grebe is still present.
The Nunnery building (our HQ) continues to be coming along well, the new roof tiles about to go on.
The Nunnery – ABO HQ – Photo – JH/ABO