Catching up.
Hopefully you have been able to keep up to date with the highlights of the last few weeks via the ABO facebook page. Our apologies for the delay of the ABO blog but I am delighted to now be back on-line at home this week allowing me to catch up with things and get back into the grove of regular blogs.
24th-30th April
Male Emperor moth – South Cliffs – photo- JH
Slow Worm – South Cliffs – photo – JH
The Little Grebe on Longis pond has remained single but there is still time ! This years Cormorant ringing trip to Little Burhou islet included 4 of the 9 strong visiting ringers from the Midlands on the 28th. The trip to our small colony was a success with 9 birds ringed at the nest, a species not ringed before by a couple of our guests. Our single pair of Shelducks have settled into Longis Bay where last year they successfully bred. The month end saw some birds of prey moving, Merlin was recorded on the 27th/28th & 30th at the NE end of the island and Hobby was seen on the 24th 28th(2) & 29th. A single Sanderling and Redshank were seen in Longis Bay on the 26th and at the same location Bar-tailed Godwit 24th & 28th. 2 Snipe were still present on Longis pond on the 24th. Whimbrel was recorded daily 24th to month end peaking at 10 birds on the 30th. A common Sandpiper was in Longis Bay around the jetty 28th-30th and at the north end of Longis bay 10 Turnstone on the 28th. Just when it seemed the Iceland Gull had moved on it re-appeared in Crabby Bay on the 30th. A cuckoo was reported to the ABO from Water Lane by several island residents and was subsequently caught up with by visiting Guernsey birders Mark Guppy and Wayne Turner. Swifts began to arrive in the 24th when 7 were recorded, similar numbers passed through daily up to the 30th. Tree Pipits were recorded 1 on 25th, 2 on 29th & 3 on the 30th. Its been a good spring for Yellow Wagtails with some 41 birds recorded on the 29th. Between 20 & 40 Meadow Pipits were recorded daily 24th to month end, Common Redstart was also seen every day during the last week of the month with 3 on the 26th. Whinchat was seen 27th(2) & 29th. A Ring Ouzel was at Giffione on the 28th and Dartford Warbler reported singing at two locations towards month end. The 30th saw a decent fall of migrants lead by Willow Warbler of which 83 were ringed and 500+ recorded, the same day 8 Garden Warblers were ringed, also 3 Wood Warblers were reported one of which was ringed. A Firecrest was at Rose Farm on the 28th. Our delayed spring passage of Spotted Flycatchers also arrived on the 30th with some 40 birds recorded across the island, the day before around 10 Pied Flycatchers were seen. In Barrackmasters Lane there were 2 Lesser Redpoll on the 27th and here also 4 Hawfinch on the 24th.