Storm petrel
Finally the winds have relented and Storm Petrel ringing resumed.
Image: one of the birds processed on the Alderney north east coast tonight.
Lt Governor visits ABO
We were delighted to welcome the Bailiwick Islands Lieutenant-Governor Richard Cripwell and his wife Louise to our bird observatory this afternoon, joining our visiting Naturetrek wildlife holiday tour group for a short presentation explaining our recently operational Motus bird tracking system.
Black Headed Wagtail
Back of camera shot of Black headed Wagtail with Naturetrek this afternoon.
Photo: John Horton
Rail
A rare local record of a ‘fly-over’ Spoonbill here yesterday spotted by Matt Scragg.
Another fair fall of migrants ringed included Water Rail, Whinchat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Garden Warblers, 33 Sedge Warblers, 40 Whitethroats and 36 Sand Martins amongst a day ringing total of 306 birds. Foreign controls these last few days were a Spanish ringed Blackcap, UK Pied Flycatcher & Reed Warbler and a Dutch ringed Sand Martin.
Photo (Matt Scragg) the Rail from yesterday.
Ringing on Little Burhou Island
A full day for the visiting ringers included a boat trip out to Little Burhou island to colour ring our Cormorant colony.
Most of the chicks were close to fledging so an earlier than usual breeding season here for this species. Always great to see the Puffins (around 100) en route, we also had a couple of smart Mediterranean Gulls and a single flock of 7 Whimbrels along with a steady stream of Swallows and Martins heading north. Sandy Robertson reported 40+ Wheatears around the Alderney coast.
With thanks to local island boat tours company ‘Avanti boat tours’ for our safe passage and transfers on and off Little Burhou.
Photo by Cali Tardivel: Yesterday’s seabird ringing.