The Chough, first seen on March 31st, have stayed on Alderney for a few days and have now settled enough to observe the colour rings they are wearing, which have been reported to the Channel Islands bird ringing scheme.
Many thanks to Charlotte Dean from Durrell on Jersey for getting in contact. The Chough are Skomer and Millport, these are both young females.
Picture, by Charlotte Foote
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Contact Matt at warden@alderneybirdobservatory.org to register your team and nominated captain and get a copy of the race day rules.
Also this morning a Little Ringed Plover, observed by Charlotte Foote during the census walk, was flying over Longis Reserve and Longis Bay. There are four previous records, the most recently in 2022.
The last time Chough were recorded on Alderney was 14th February 1991.
Yesterday two Chough were seen by ABO Assistant Warden Charlotte Foote and Jacob Spinks, Assistant Warden from Dungeness Bird Observatory who was visiting Alderney for the weekend.
First seen flying from Fort Albert, they stopped briefly on the golf course. They were very vocal but did not get a warm reception from the local corvids, which didn’t let them settle.
Pictured, one of the Chough,photo: Charlotte Foote.
Photo: Purple Heron by Charlotte Foote.