Interest in and support for a Guernsey Bird Observatory grows as another Guernsey politician, Guernsey States Deputy Sam Haskins, Vice President of Guernseys Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure is the latest guest to stay at Alderney Bird Observatory this week. Photo taken this morning of Sam with ABO warden John Horton at the now temporary ABO HQ.
Chris Bale, the Guernsey based journalist, renowned photographer and birdwatcher has published a very interesting article in “Nature Matters” about his experiences in Alderney working as a volunteer at the ABO during the Spring Migration this year
Click this link for the full article
Business as usual… This morning evidence of increasing numbers of Sanderlings migrating through Alderney, something we have observed annually, now into our 6th spring recording the previously unmonitored bird migration through this beautiful island. Through the latter weeks of May flocks of up to 100 Sanderlings can be spotted, generally at the tideline, many individuals are well on their way to obtaining beautiful summer plumage. This morning some 45 Sanderlings along our NE coast. photo (JH) taken at Saye Bay today.
A male Pied Flycatcher was the only migrant of note today but other sightings by the ABO team included our first Brimstone butterfly this year and these two courting slow worms. (Photo JH).
I spent a wonderful month on your beautiful Island volunteering for The Alderney Bird Observatory. It was a busy time and I feel blessed to have been lucky enough to contribute to their work and evolution. I was also busy in those moments of ‘down time’ doing what I love to do. Photographing wildlife. Hours of preparation went into this image and it was well worth it. People travel hundreds of miles, in the uk, in the hope they might get a glimpse of these charismatic birds. I’d imagine it’s one of the reasons that Naturetrek cruises where drawn in by John and The Bird Observatory. Who knew before then that Alderney wasn’t just Puffins and Gannets? Anyway, this is a vast improvement on the images I got of Dartford Warbler in 2012, on Alderney and will be the cover shot for my Birds of Alderney 2022 Calendar, all profits will be gladly donated to the ABO. So watch this space.