by John Horton | May 1, 2023
A rare local record of a ‘fly-over’ Spoonbill here yesterday spotted by Matt Scragg.
Another fair fall of migrants ringed included Water Rail, Whinchat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Garden Warblers, 33 Sedge Warblers, 40 Whitethroats and 36 Sand Martins amongst a day ringing total of 306 birds. Foreign controls these last few days were a Spanish ringed Blackcap, UK Pied Flycatcher & Reed Warbler and a Dutch ringed Sand Martin.
Photo (Matt Scragg) the Rail from yesterday.
by John Horton | May 1, 2023
A full day for the visiting ringers included a boat trip out to Little Burhou island to colour ring our Cormorant colony.
Most of the chicks were close to fledging so an earlier than usual breeding season here for this species. Always great to see the Puffins (around 100) en route, we also had a couple of smart Mediterranean Gulls and a single flock of 7 Whimbrels along with a steady stream of Swallows and Martins heading north. Sandy Robertson reported 40+ Wheatears around the Alderney coast.
With thanks to local island boat tours company ‘Avanti boat tours’ for our safe passage and transfers on and off Little Burhou.
Photo by Cali Tardivel: Yesterday’s seabird ringing.
by John Horton | Apr 29, 2023
Guernsey Birders Wayne Turner and Mark Guppy have spent the last 3 days birding Alderney dawn to dusk.
Thanks both for contributing a hatful of records nicely complementing this weeks visiting bird ringers.
Despite being a migration hotspot, Alderney boasts precious few local birders and so contributions from visitors and guests provide valuable data each year.
Photo of a Serin provided by Wayne Turner, seen this week.
by John Horton | Apr 28, 2023
Occasionally we see partially albino birds, they tend to stand out and you might think them more susceptible to predators but this Willow Warbler sporting a white alula feather and 4th primary feathers amongst others was in fine fettle and a very good weight. This morning’s fall was predominantly Blackcaps and Whitethroats, 123 birds ringed also included 2 Common Redstarts, 2 Wheatears and 5 Garden Warblers. ( photo JH).
by John Horton | Apr 28, 2023
A busy day in the field today with visiting bird ringers from Kent and Suffolk along with birders over from Guernsey all contributing to recording another broad spread of spring migrants. Over 170 birds (from 16 species ) ringed included 2 Ring Ouzels, 2 Common Redstarts, 3 Tree Pipits, Pied Flycatcher, Wheatear, 2 Garden Warblers and 31 Whitethroats. Visual migration included 3 Cuckoo’s, 3 Pied Flycatchers, 5 Common Redstarts, 10 Tree Pipits, Hobby, Swift and 2 Whinchats amongst a fair fall of more common warbler species and hirundines. Photo: our visiting ringers this afternoon,
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