Swallows
Floods of Swallows passed through the island yesterday and amongst 85 ringed at a Swallow roost was this very unusual leucistic individual.
Red-footed falcon
Yesterday 3rd October; ringing was dominated by Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs again, with Robins the other stand out species in terms of numbers. We had a fair movement of Swallows with around 250 in the vicinity of the airport late afternoon. 3 Great Egrets were high and headed NE, and a Merlin in off the sea were other highlights. A late afternoon sea-watch included Common Gull, Yellow legged Gull, 4 Sandwich Terns, 23 Balearic, 9 Manx Shearwaters and a dark phase Arctic Skua but the best was saved til last as a juvenile Red-footed Falcon appeared remaining in the vicinity of the lighthouse until dusk.
Mediterranean Gull
Tough going in winds 40mph+ all day, the highlights were a Mediterranean Gull wearing a Hungary issue colour ring, a locally scarce Common Gull and a Yellow Legged Gull, 12 Common Terns sheltering on Crabby Bay, a Rook (8th Record for Alderney) at Kiln Farm, and a Black Redstart fighting hard to stay upright at the lighthouse.
Photo this morning’s colour ringed Mediterranean Gull
Zitting Cisticola
This Zitting Cisticola was amongst the birds ringed this morning.
Water Rail
The ringing highlights from this morning were Water Rail, 2 Redstart, Whinchat, Garden Warbler and 3 Firecrest.
Photo: this morning’s Water Rail