A busy day ringing at Mannez quarry today, 172 new birds included 73 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, 33 Starlings, Bullfinch, Firecrest and an impressive Red flanked Bluetail, this rare visitor is the first ringed in Alderney and only the 3rd record for The Channel Islands.
It has arrived here as a result of the east winds of the last few days, the closest breeding grounds for this species are in eastern Finland.
Photos: today’s Red- flanked Bluetail.(JH).
A busy day ringing at Mannez quarry today, 172 new birds included 73 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, 33 Starlings, Bullfinch, Firecrest and an impressive Red flanked Bluetail, this rare visitor is the first ringed in Alderney and only the 3rd record for The Channel Islands; it has arrived here as a result of the east winds of the last few days, the closest breeding grounds for this species are in eastern Finland.
Photo: today’s Red- flanked Bluetail.(JH).
It was mostly about Redwings today, we counted some 2800 through the census area this morning and 108 were ringed along with a majestic 1st year female Sparrowhawk. A Merlin, Ring Ouzel and a single late Swallow were also seen this morning.
From ringing Dartford Warblers in the observatory garden to finding Palmate Newts on the Obs doorstep – photo from today.
Very light passage of migrants today but our morning ringing session was brightened by a touch of colour.
Images from this morning, Bullfinch and Goldcrest ( both males).