Very strong north winds today and sea watches from resident and visiting birders each produced a new species never before recorded in Alderney, and to top it off also a new species was added to the island ringing list.
Firstly, catching up with Paul Verons last few day sea watches, he reports:
05/11 – Skua sp three west,,Kittiwake 12 west and two east, Med Gull 8 west and 6 east, Great Northern Diver (one west very close offshore), Common Scoter 5 east, Auk sp 18 west and one east
06/11 – Med Gull 34 west, Kittiwake 14 west and two east, Gannet 19 west and two east, Auk sp 2 east, Skua sp 3 west.
07/11 – AM – Pom skua 1 (new for Alderney), Kittiwake 384, Gannet 134, Manx shearwater 1, Sooty shearwater 2 ,Great skua 39 (1 of which east), Gbbg 3, Med gull 35, Black headed gull. 1, Auk 15, Common scoter 14 (3 of which heading east), Sandwich tern 1 and Red throated diver 1(east).
On the sea between Longis Bay and Mannez at 11am the visiting ringers picked up a Little Auk sheltering close in to the shore. A live specimen has never been reocorded on the island before.
A Pm seawatch by the visiting ringers produced: Sooty shearwater 3, Bonxie 7, Kittiwake 120,Med gull 30, Auks 30, Gannet 300-40, Common scoter 3.
On Lonigs reserve 3 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Water Rail and a Woodcock. On Longis beach 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstones and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits.
Given the conditions there was no mist netting today but the visiting ringers managed 1 bird having been out lamping this evening. A new species to the Alderney ringing list, a Coot !