by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 25, 2022
Another very closely contested Alderney bird race finished this year with Guernsey visiting team the ‘Spice Invaders’ recording the highest total during the day with a winning score of 74 species.
Despite a keen NE wind a wide variety of spring migrants recorded included Cuckoo, Hobby, Ring Ouzel and Redstart, numbers of Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears exceeded 50 individuals across the island, unexpected late moving winter migrants included Fieldfare and Brent Goose amongst 80 species recorded on the day.
So, this year the ‘Alderney Puffin’ trophy goes to Guernsey, well deserved too!
Until next year’s Alderney bird race….
Image ‘ The Spice Invaders’ with their trophy today outside the ABO headquarters.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 22, 2022
Lightning does strike twice! For the second consecutive spring we had a Red-rumped Swallow at our established Swallow roost site, making this the 2nd ringing record for the Channel Islands. This latest bird a male (by tail length). Photo (JH).
by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 20, 2022
Helen walks the East Highland Way for ABO
ABO Chairman Helen McGregor’s sponsored climb of Ben Nevis last year– photo above – raised over £2,000 for the Alderney Bird Observatory.
This year she plans to walk 82 miles in 8 days. Starting in Fort William on Sat April 30th Helen hopes to be in Aviemore by Sat May 7th.
The Bird Observatory has been exceptionally successful in monitoring our migrating visitors which, in turn, brings us a substantial number of human visitors.
Despite being one of Alderney’s major economic enablers it currently receives no financial assistance from the States of Alderney. If you would like to support the Bird Observatory please sponsor Helen’s walk either by donating here or visit gofund.me/051a6531
by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 20, 2022
The 3rd Bailiwick Big Garden Birdwatch starts this Sunday 24th April – Why take part? There are other garden bird surveys but this is the only one dedicated to researching the status and abundance of the Bailiwick’s breeding garden birds. By the end of April your garden birds have established territories and the breeding season is underway. The adult birds you record now are the ones that have chosen your garden to raise their young and these new feathered families will be with you through to the summer.
The first two years surveys have already produced important data. For example we have a significant population of Song Thrushes (a species suffering heavy decline in the UK). Magpies are fairly common in Guernsey and Sark but the species is entirely absent from Alderney. Stock Doves are developing a very healthy increasing population across our islands.
So dig out those binoculars and your bird book and help us to help our birds.
Click the link in the header above for information
Image above: a Dunnock in a Sark garden this spring (JH).
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by Alderney Bird Warden | Apr 20, 2022
A Common Sandpiper on our NE coast this morning was the latest addition to our 2022 migration census. Photo (JH).
