A very productive first two days leading the last Naturetrek Alderney wildlife holiday group of 2024.
Yesterday great views of a Honey Buzzard ahead of a boat trip that saw us surrounded by a raft of 160 Balearic Shearwaters.
This morning some good variety of species during our ringing demonstration that included Garden Warbler and Firecrest.
Photo ( back of camera image ) some of yesterday’s Balearics.
A rare autumn record of Hoopoe this afternoon near the airport, a Hobby at Platte Saline, 16 Wheatears at Longis Bay and several hundred Swallows in to roost at Longis reserve were today’s highlights.
Some passage after the brief storm yesterday morning. The pick of the ringing were 3 Whinchats and a Pied Flycatcher.
Hobby and Green Sandpiper ‘over’.
Great Egret and Kingfisher in the census area.
Photo from yesterday ‘Whinchat‘.
Plenty of migrants around today after last night’s north-easterlies, though they were not so easily pinned down in the 35mph winds this morning.
Nothing fancy but great just to see loads of newly arrived birds!
A Golden Plover was a scarce August record here, 3 Whinchats and 3 Yellow Wagtails stood out amongst 20+ Wheatears and White Wagtails around Kiln Farm where a flock of 180 Goldfinches had gathered. A movement of Kestrels saw 12 within the census area.
Photo from this morning Golden Plover
A fascinating Alderney pelagic this morning added several species to the ABO annual list and a local tick for everyone on board, a Great Shearwater.
On our way out this morning about half a mile from shore we saw a bat! Soon we were immersed in birds, several hundred Balearic and Manx Shearwaters, regular feeding frenzies of Blue fin Tuna attracted a wide variety of seabirds, Common Dolphins lept clear of the sea just feet from our vessel as literally hundreds of seabirds circled about, it was very exciting with so much going on we hardly knew which direction to look. The Great Shearwater was the first local record in almost 30 years, other highlights included 12 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Black Terns, Arctic and Great Skuas, Storm Petrels, Common Scoters and a Sun Fish. Fabulous day.
Photo ( back of camera shot) today’s Great Shearwater.