Common gulls and Sanderling
4 Common Gulls at Kiln Farm
Photo JH: Sanderling at Longis Bay this afternoon.
Brambling
Given the weather forecast to month end this morning’s ringing was the last session of the year.
It included another Brambling and perhaps fittingly the last new bird ringed was also the most numerous this year, a female Blackcap was no.2462 of this species, a significant percentage of over 10,500+ passerines ringed by the ABO during 2022. Today’s other highlights; a single Sandwich Tern and 2 Cattle Egrets.
Photo, this morning’s Brambling (JH).
Redwing
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the ABO team.
Photo: 1st winter Redwing on the golf course this week (JH).
Great black backed Gull
Given the unusually large influx of Great black backed Gulls yesterday in Alderney, I checked as many as possible hoping to find colour rings from international ringing schemes but had no luck until this morning there was one on the first bird I checked!
Image here a colour ringed Great black backed Gull ‘Z89’ of French origin.
The bird was originally ringed at Chausey Islands, Granville, France.
A good haul!
Some good local longevity records amongst this morning’s ringing included a Dunnock and Great Tit both over 4 yrs old. The large flocks of Lapwings, Golden Plovers and all 8 Cattle Egrets have moved on.
Still there was plenty of interest today with 2 wintering Whimbrels off the NE coast, an adult Little Gull, Common Gull and a local record number of 68 Great black backed Gulls amongst a variety of seabirds drawn to a feeding frenzy that also attracted around 20 Common Dolphins, the latter present for over an hour hunting and breaching offshore behind the lighthouse.
There was more to come by way of a Black Redstart and a Grey Seal at Longis Bay and a Barn Owl at Kiln Farm.
Image – some of the immature Great black backed Gulls (mobile phone through scope)