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.