by Alderney Bird Warden | Nov 10, 2022
Another ‘fall’ of Black Redstarts saw them into double figures again this morning including 6 together in Crabby Bay. Also, fair numbers of White Wagtails around the island, a single Brambling ‘over’, a Kingfisher at the waterworks and a high count for this year of 12 Turnstones on the high tide roost with 37 Mediterranean Gulls.
A Water Pipit showed very well but perhaps because it was spending much of its time preoccupied chasing away Rock Pipits from a patch of seaweed swarming with flies.
Ringing included 2 Cetti’s Warblers.
Photo (JH) today’s Water Pipit.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Nov 10, 2022
Hundreds of Kittiwakes passed our north-east coast today along with a Sooty Shearwater and a Balearic Shearwater, the latter species is the latest in the year that Balearic has ever been recorded on Alderney and is perhaps a reflection of the very mild autumn thus far.
Another late mover was a Reed Warbler ringed on the 6th Nov, this was also a new local record never before recorded in November.
Photo (JH) a distant Balearic Shearwater (lowest bird) with a Kittiwake (top) and Mediterranean Gull (middle).
Also today Black Redstart in the lighthouse garden.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Nov 6, 2022
Now here’s a real rarity!
6 licensed members from Europe’s smallest ringing scheme The Channel Islands bird ringing scheme, all in one place at the same time as visiting Guernsey ringers joined Alderney Bird Observatory staff at the Naturetrek Hide Longis reserve for the daily bird log.
Photo by Catherine Horton.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Nov 5, 2022
Visiting Channel Islands bird ringers from Guernsey had a good day today processessing over 150 birds, these mostly a mix of winter Thrushes and Finches, late moving Warblers, White Wagtails, Firecrests and Goldcrests.
Other sightings today, a Short Eared Owl and joining around 200 Fieldfares at roost, a single Barn Swallow.
Another late mover seen today was this Clouded Yellow butterfly ( photo JH).
by Alderney Bird Warden | Nov 3, 2022
The howling gales today brought in plenty of Gulls gathering at sheltered spots and the chance to pick up some unusual colour ring reads from amongst them. The two stand out ones were a Mediterranean Gull with a Yellow ring AKAA and a Lesser black-backed Gull with a blue ring YE78 (see photo JH) Looking forward to finding out the origins and movements of these birds.
