by Alderney Bird Warden | Jan 24, 2022
Easterly winds usually mix things up a bit for us in Alderney so this mornings first Golden Plover of the year was not entirely unexpected. Large flocks of seabirds gathered several times off- shore at Mannez lighthouse today feeding frantically on apparent shoals of fish near the surface. These gatherings sometimes attract less common species and this afternoon amongst 200+ Herring Gulls, a handful of Kittiwakes and Mediterranean Gulls was a scarce January record of Great Skua. Amongst the busy activity some 60 Gannets were also present, a marked increase in numbers today of these iconic birds soon to return to our breeding colony.
Heavily cropped photo (below) of todays Skua which won’t win any awards but record shots like this are often useful for helping to verify identification.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Jan 17, 2022
During an average winter a Coal Tit would qualify as a very scarce sighting here but several stayed on in Alderney following the unprecedented influx of this species that we experienced last autumn. Two were at our bird feeder station this afternoon.
Photo (JH) Coal Tit ringed this afternoon.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Jan 15, 2022
A few bits n bobs around include a Whimbrel on the NE coast and the first butterfly of 22′ a Red Admiral, was reported from a sheltered sun trap on the south cliffs. 13 Mediterranean Gulls roosting in Braye Bay included colour ringed bird 3YKK, first ringed as a chick in Belgium in 2017, this is the second consecutive winter that this individual has spent in Alderney.
Photo (JH) Today’s ring read in the field’ Med Gull.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Jan 6, 2022
The 2022′ ringing got underway this morning with a visit from a Blue Tit we ringed locally 5yrs 10 months and 1day ago on 05/03/2016 during the ABO’s first week of operation. A nice local longevity record for this species, especially as they are not particularly common in Alderney. Around 5 million Blue Tits have been ringed in The British Isles, the oldest to date is 9 years. This morning evidence that several birds from the influx of Blue Tits arriving here from the continent in November have overwintered. Also Woodcock, 5 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest (photo JH). PM a Yellow Legged Gull on Crabby beach.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Jan 1, 2022
2021 ended with us having a new bird observatory HQ, a new ringing/research room and new lookout tower! Despite a very poor spring the ABO recorded Alderney’s highest ever total for species recorded in one day (89), highest ever number of species recorded in a single year (192) and highest number of birds ever ringed in a single year (13,126), this ringing total is one of the highest ever recorded in the history of British Bird Observatories and contributes a wealth of valuable data monitoring the fortunes of migratory birds. We added just one new species to the birds of Alderney list this year but also discovered 2 species of insects, 2 species of Wildflowers and a mammal all never previously recorded, further expanding the variety of flora and fauna of this amazing island. The support we received locally, from across the Channel Islands, The British Isles and beyond has been truly inspiring. The ABO team would like to thank all ‘friends of Alderney Bird Observatory’ and wish you a happy and healthy new year.
Todays highlights were the male Pochard, now on Corblets Quarry, 5 Common Dolphins off Mannez lighthouse and finally obtaining a photo of the flock of geese on the south cliffs fields.
Photo (JH) Greylag Geese at Kiln Farm fields this morning.
