September 28th
A mixture of quantity and some rarer birds today amongst an overdue and more significant fall of Autumn migrants today. At one of the smaller wooded valleys along the south cliffs this morning around 40 Chiffchaffs were on view at one time, with the odd Goldcrest and Blackcap amongst them. Also along the south cliffs a flock of 18 Chaffinches (over) 2 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, at least 10 Stonechat, 1 Whinchat and a steady stream of Swallows that included some 200 gathered at the north end of the airfield. Martin Batt found 5 Golden Plovers near the airfield.
Golden Plover – farmland at Longue Pierre – photo Martin Batt
The Rose-coloured Starling was still showing well on Longis Common on and off during the morning. Also here at least 10 Whinchats and a Wheatear. A Tawny Pipit was seen (and heard) on the Obs ramparts briefly by visiting ringer Paul Roper who also had 1 Dunlin in company with 4 Curlew Sandpipers in Longis Bay. Paul Veron had a Common Redstart near Mannez lighthouse.
The ringing also saw more quantity and variety with 114 new birds ringed from 21 species including 2 Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 24 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 13 Blackcaps, 1 Stonechat, 2 Whinchat, 1 Siskin, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Starling, 25 Meadow Pipits and 28 Swallows.