by John Horton | Sep 20, 2016
At Longis reserve our visiting ringers saw a Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, several Water Rail, Great White Egret, female Shoveler and a Teal.
There were 8 Ringed Plover, 1 Duniln, 1 Sanderling and 1 Sandwich Tern on Longis beach and a Spotted Flycatcher in Barrackmasters Lane.
Ringing: Nets were deployed at all three of our current sites simultaneously for the first time today. Heavy rain at first light threatened to put a stop to what looked to be a promising day but things soon got underway and though none of the sites were busy each had some interesting birds with a Sparrowhawk at Essex Farm, 2 Common Redstart and our first Lesser Whitethroat of the Autumn at Longis Reserve, and our 2nd ringed Melodious Warbler of the year at Mannez reserve, ringed by the Verons who managed a short session before heading off to work. 70 new birds were ringed from 19 species. Todays birds take us over 8000 birds ringed at the ABO since March 16′.
Melodious Warbler – Mannez Reserve – photo Paul Veron
1st yr Male Sparrowhawk – Essex Farm – photo – ABO
by John Horton | Sep 19, 2016
A windless morning, we ringed Longis reserve returning 58 birds (16 species), 50 of which were new birds. An increase in Robins (9) and the first apparently migratory Song Thrushes (2) along with a Garden Warbler, a fine 1st year male Common Redstart and a Stonechat made for a steady and very enjoyable morning’s ringing
A Ringed Plover flew over Longis as did 7 Bar-tailed Godwits. A Merlin made a pass across Longis Common scattering pipits, finches, a Whinchat and 2 Wheatear as it went.
Late PM a single Bar-tailed Godwit on Longis Beach and a Sparrowhawk by the airport.
1st year male Common Redstart – Longis Reserve – Photo Catherine Hanlon
by John Horton | Sep 18, 2016
A good day for birding and ringing today. Fewer Swallows through, bar two 50+ flocks, but a marked increase in finches with a flock of 18 Goldfinches and several small groups of Linnet on Longis Common. There were 5 Snipe and at least half a dozen noisy Water Rails around the pond. After opening the nets at Longis a Great White Egret flew over headed towards Fort Albert. The male Shoveler was still present.
Ringing at Longis produced 86 birds (75 new) and at Mannez 73 birds (70 new). A total of 159 birds were processed, comprising 21 species the two sites, which included: 72 Blackcaps, 25 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Garden Warblers, 10 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 9 Meadow Pipits, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Firecrest and 1 Wheatear.
Firecrest – Mannez Reserve – photo Paul Veron
As we packed up early afternoon, a Black Kite passed over and it was seen shortly afterwards over the airport. There was a smart Mediterranean Gull along with a single Bar-tailed Godwit on Crabby Beach, a Knot on Longis beach and a Tree Pipit (over) Mannez.
Paul Veron reported: Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel (one each) – Chateau a L’Etoq
Chateau a L’Etoq, 35 minutes seawatch first thing; Great Skua 5, Arctic Skua 2 Brent Goose 1, Balearic Shearwater 1, Mediterranean Gull 1
Houmet Herbé seawatch (15 mins) Balearic Shearwater 17, Sandwich Tern 2
by John Horton | Sep 17, 2016
An early sea watch by the Veron’s returned our first our first 2016 records of Sooty Shearwater, Black Tern and Arctic Tern. Full list as follows
10 Great Skuas 1, Arctic Skua 2 Black Terns, 13 Sandwich Terns, 13 Common/Arctic Terns, 5 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Manx Shearwaters.
Despite moderate NW winds the majority of our Essex Farm nets were perfectly sheltered and we processed 51 birds. 41 new ringed birds included: 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 21 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat and 11 Chiffchaff.
During today some 200 Swallows were favouring the south cliffs and This evening there was a single Knot and 3 Curlew on Longis beach.
by John Horton | Sep 17, 2016
My day was swallowed up with paperwork and maintenance jobs but I did see 8 Little Egrets on Longis beach first thing then in the afternoon had a Grey Wagtail (our first of the Autumn) over Essex farm. Whilst hedge cutting in the afternoon I had a flock of about 60 Meadow Pipits over Barrack masters lane and in the evening there was a single Dunlin and Ringed Plover on Lonigs beach.
Paul Veron managed a PM seawatch and reports:2 Great Skuas, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 10 Common/Arctic terns and also 10 + Greenland Wheatears at Alderney Airport.
Sunrise from Alderney Observatory – Photo – Catherine Hanlon
