by John Horton | Apr 24, 2023
A keenly contested 2023 Alderney Bird Race could hardly have been closer, this year won by last year’s winners from Guernsey ‘The Spice Invaders’ who recorded 76 Species, the ABO team were runner’s up, pipped to the post by just ‘one’ – recording 75 species!
Between those taking part this year 85 species were recorded across the island and this is a new record for the most species of birds ever recorded in Alderney in a single day (beating 82 recorded during the 2021 bird race).
So, congrats to the Guernsey birdwatchers who retain the converted ‘Alderney Puffin’ trophy presented to them this morning by ABO committee member Hilary Partridge at the bird observatory (see photo).
Highlights in no particular order were a pair of Serins, at least 3 Cuckoo’s, Merlin, Arctic Skua, our first Whichats and Spotted Flycatcher of the year, also Ring Ouzel, Grasshopper Warbler and Tree Pipit. Also yesterday 161 birds were ringed in a little over two hours at Essex Farm, these mostly Willow Warblers.
by John Horton | Apr 22, 2023
This morning our first Garden Warbler of the 2023 campaign was one of 131 birds ringed, this total included 4 Tree Pipits and a Grasshopper Warbler.
Birds of prey were prominent today as Osprey, Hen Harrier, Merlin and Goshawk (the latter species angrily mobbed by a pair of Sparrowhawks) were all spotted, also today Pied Flycatcher and at least 5 Ring Ouzels.
Belated news our first Common Swift of 2023 was seen yesterday.
Photo (Matt Scragg) this morning’s Garden Warbler.
by John Horton | Apr 20, 2023
Strong winds didn’t detract from the sublime song of a Nightingale at the campsite this morning. We were still able to ring in the shelter of Mannez quarry where a Sparrowhawk was the highlight.
Image (JH) this morning’s Sparrowhawk.
by John Horton | Apr 20, 2023
A spell of strong unfavorable winds and cold nights have held up migrants but in common with some significant reports of falls’ along the UK south coast these past few days an influx here over the last 72 hours was reflected in our ringing effort 16th- 18th April recording 502 birds as follows: 15 Sand Martin, 87 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 8 Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 7 Common Redstart, 2 Northern Wheatear, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 1 Ring Ouzel, 175 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Common Whitethroat, 12 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 112 Willow Warbler, 46 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 3 Chaffinch & 6 Goldfinch. Also 3 foreign controls 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Lesser Redpoll. Oh and one very happy visiting UK ringer, Hannah Collins.
Photo (MS),Yellow Wagtail.
by John Horton | Apr 15, 2023
We are delighted to announce that our Motus wildlife tracking system is now operational at our observatory HQ.
It is very exciting to join this international collaborative network.
Special thanks to all those involved with getting this research kit up and running in the Channel Islands.
We are now a listening station filling an important gap in the European network, it will be fascinating to see what comes our way.
