by Alderney Bird Warden | Sep 23, 2023
Another busy morning mist netting migrating passerines. This was the third consecutive day ringing over 100 birds,
Blackcaps are accounting for over 80% of records but we are still seeing late moving species: Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats coming through.
Today’s highlights were field sightings during the daily census, 6 Glossy Ibis passing over Essex Farm at 7am headed south, surprisingly this sighting is an addition to the birds of Alderney list (subject to acceptance by the Bailiwick rare birds committee). At 9am a Honey Buzzard drifted along the NE coast, taking in the thermals, it climbed high and headed out over the sea to the south-east.
Photo (JH) one of four ‘passage’ Grey Herons in – off the sea,
by Alderney Bird Warden | Sep 21, 2023
No American vagrants for us today but a busy day in the field did produce Alderney’s 4th record of Common Rosefinch amongst over 100 birds ringed this morning and a Hooded Crow seen this afternoon.
Photo (JH) Today’s Common Rosefinch.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Sep 18, 2023
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Roger Taylor.
Roger was the bird ringing trainer of our own warden John Horton. Roger closely followed the progress of Alderney Bird Observatory, in 2022 having given up bird ringing due to ill health, Roger sent all of his research equipment to the ABO that it may be used to help with the training of future generations.
John said, “Roger ringed the north Kent/Greater London Thames-side marshes for decades contributing valuable data evidencing species rich environments in and close to London, he was very knowledgeable and diligent; I consider myself very fortunate to have had him as my ringing trainer and call him my friend”. Roger had been battling cancer for several years, our condolences to all his family.
Image: Roger at Crossness Marshes, Belvedere, London where he spent thousands of hours bird ringing and assisting with volunteer conservation work.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Sep 14, 2023
Another NEW species for Alderney, a species also unrecorded across the other Bailiwick Islands (Guernsey Sark & Herm) and indeed in the Channel Islands full stop.
Confirmation was received this morning that an Ichneumon wasp – Eutanyacra picta that we discovered in one of the Observatory moth traps last week is a first record not just for Alderney but for the entire Channel Islands. The recent high pressure and soaring temperatures were perfect conditions for unusual species to disperse further afield and this parasitic wasp was an exciting find, a rare insect, it appears to have just one UK record and a handful of historical records in Europe.
by Alderney Bird Warden | Sep 5, 2023
Honey Buzzard at Rose Farm this afternoon, back of camera image.
(Photo: JH).
by Alderney Bird Warden | Sep 3, 2023
Today saw our first notable passage of Swallows and Martins with around 300 passing through the census area between 7-11am. Osprey, two Dotterel and 6 Yellow Wagtails were notable field observations. Ringing included 8 Tree Pipits, Common Redstart and Cetti’s Warbler.
Photo (JH) this mornings Cetti’s Warbler.
