by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 20, 2024
A filthy morning here so an opportunity to catch up and share some recent sightings of interest.
We were delighted to see colour ringed Cormorant ‘MZ’ behind the lighthouse yesterday, this bird is one of the chicks we ringed this March. The survival rate and dispersal of individual Cormorants from our small marine Cormorant colony is of particular interest given the transition this species has made in recent decades to breed inland at man made lakes and reservoirs, very likely due to the introduction of vast numbers of dedicated fishing lakes where food for these birds is plentiful and easily accessible.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 20, 2024
An excellent day, wonderful variety amongst the birds ringed and some unusual field sightings.
It’s that narrow window in the year when we host departing summer visitors and arriving winter visitors at the same time with Swallows and Redwings together in the mist nets.
Also ringed today, Yellow-browed Warbler, Stonechat, Meadow Pipits, 3 Firecrests and 2 Zitting Cisticola amongst other species.
The Red-rumped Swallow ( reported in an earlier post) was the stand out field sighting, also Woodlark and Merlin.
Approximately 120 Swallows, 6 Sand Martins and 4 House Martins moved through the island between 1030am and 1230pm.
Photo; this morning’s Zitting Cisticolas.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 18, 2024
Our ringing research was interrupted for just a couple of minutes at 1010am to watch a Red-rumped Swallow do a couple of laps of Longis pond (in company with a single Barn Swallow) before they headed SW.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 16, 2024
A local rarity this morning by way of 2 Bearded Tits showing from Mannez reserve hide 10am-1040 at which point they headed west towards Longis reserve. First local record since 1988. Update, the birds have now been reported from Longis reserve 1055am.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Oct 13, 2024
Quite a movement of Chiffchaffs today incorporating over 80 ringed along with a late moving Common Redstart, another Yellow-browed Warbler and 3 Cettis Warbler. The best of the field sightings 2 Ring Ouzels.
Photo today’s Redstart.
