![23rd-29th Jan]()
by John Horton | Jan 29, 2017
A late report from Anne Isabelle Boulon from the 22nd Jan of 26 Lapwings on the fields near Kiln Farm.
23rd – Goldcrest, Buzzard and Stonechat at Mannez, Pochard on Crabby Quarry, Lesser black backed on Gull Crabby beach, 8 Chaffinch, Woodcock, 2 Lapwings and 3 Redwing on the Golf course. Pied Wagtial and 5 Chaffinch Kiln Farm. 2 Lapwings over the golf course
24th – 3 Brent Geese, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Grey Plovers Braye Bay. 2 Buzzard Fort Albert.
25th Ringing at Kiln Farm; 2 birds only 1 Collared Dove, 1 Starling.
Male Collared Dove – Kiln Farm – Photo ABO
26th – Male Shoveler Corbletts quarry, 2 Lapwings Whitegates, and from Mark Atkinson 30 Lapwings and 8 Golden Plovers Grande Val.
27th – 2 Golden Plovers at Whitegates, 35 Lapwings near the airfield, 1 Cattle Egret found at the Blaye by John Weir. Only 2 previous records, the last in 2001.
Cattle Egret – nr the cemetery – photo ABO
28th, John Weir struck again recording a Waxwing in his back garden at the Blaye whilst conducting the RSPB garden birdwatch. Paul and Catherine Veron found a Common Gull and Black Redstart at Tourgis, also Grey Wagtail – Braye Harbour, Mediterranean Gulls; 4 Braye, 1 Saye, 1 Corblets, 1 near Airport and 2 Kittiwakes off Corblets. Also reported were 3 Lesser black backed Gulls at Corbletts, 3 Grey Plovers at Saye, 5 Fieldfares on the airfield and 4 Mediterranean Gulls in Longis bay.15 Chaffinches over Essex and a female Sparrowhawk.
Also now two Cattle Egrets, moving around the island a lot, seen at the Blaye, near the cemetary, at Grand Val and at Kiln Farm.
An assistant warden for the 2017 season has been appointed. Justin Hart will be joining us in March for 8 months. Justin is a an experienced ringer and conservationist who also brings a variety of other skills with him to the ABO, he will be a great addition to our small team.
74 Species have now been recorded this month.
by John Horton | Jan 22, 2017
The new bird hide for Longis nature reserve has arrived and good progress concerning removal of the existing hide has already been made thanks to the AWT volunteers. We received information from the Channel islands ringing scheme this week concerning one of the Belgian ringed Blackcaps processed by visiting ringers from Yorkshire last autumn. This female Blackcap was first ringed in Belgium at Sint Laureins on 08.09.16 before being recorded at our observatory 13 days later on 21.09.16 having travelled 437 km.
From the middle of the week we had strong North winds which brought a small increase in winter Thrushes, particularly Blackbirds. A female Sparrowhawk was hunting around the golf course 19th. 21st – Female Pochard still present at Crabby quarry where a pair of Stonechat adorned the fence posts. Mark Atkinson reported our first Lapwings of the year, 11 over Grand Val. 22nd – 1 Fieldfare in the Kennels garden was another addition to our annual list as was a Water Pipit (probably the same long staying individual) which showed well outside the Obs and on the golf course 4th green.
Ringing was possible this weekend, just a handful of birds were processed. These included our first Redwing of the year and a retrap over wintering Chiffchaff last ringed here at Essex Farm 31st October.
Chiffchaff – Longis reserve – photo ABO
1st winter Redwing – Essex Farm – photo ABO
by John Horton | Jan 15, 2017
A week dominated by high winds and latterly some much-needed rain. We recorded our first species seen this year not recorded in 2016. All 5 ringing trainees attended our 2nd net repairs session now running every Thursday evening. My week has been dominated by working towards the completion of the first ABO annual report, tieing down and data inputting the last of our 13000 plus birds ringed in 2016, and putting together a presentation to deliver to La Société Guernesiaise; 7.30pm at the Frossard theatre 27th of this month.
9th- 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstones and 9 Curlews in Longis bay. At Braye bay 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Grey Plovers.
10th – 1 Meditteranean Gull at Braye. One Grey wagtail in St.Annes by the police station. 1 Moorhen and 1 female Common Pochard on Crabby quarry, first record since 1997. 35 Black headed Gulls crabby beach.
Female Common Pochard Crabby quarry – Photo – ABO
11th – 2 Mediterranean Gulls and one Grey Heron Braye beach. Pochard at Crabby quarry. A 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull Crabby beach. One Sandwich Tern at Corbletts.
12th – Pochard at Crabby, male shoveler still present at Corbletts quarry.
13th – Pochard at Crabby, 21 Ringed Plover at Platte Saline, 1 Chiffchaff at Rose farm.
14th – Pochard at Crabby, 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Braye, 1 Grey Heron at the waterworks, female Peregrine over the golf course, Female Kestrel and female Stonechat Longis common. Female Firecrest at Essex Farm and a White Wagtail on Longis Beach.
by John Horton | Jan 8, 2017
1st- Mild conditions into the new year. I got out for a mornings birding clocking up 47 species. highlights a Red-throated Diver on the sea just off Mannez lighthouse and a single Kittiwake passed, 11 Rock Pipits at the north end of Longis Beach, 40 Fulmars on the south cliffs facing the garden rocks, one 2nd Winter Mediterranean Gull on Crabby Beach, a Sandwich Tern in Braye Bay and Grey Wagtail in Longis car park and another at Kiln Farm.
3rd – 1 Kingfisher seen at Houme Herbe by Paul Veron and a flock of 11 Meadow Pipits at Whitegates.
4th – NW winds brought 2 jumpy Brent Geese into Braye Bay. 1 Woodcock was reported from Telegraph by Roland Guavain
6th – 25 Redwings between Barrackmasters lane and the golf course.
7th – 3 Turnstones and 7 Ringed Plovers north end Longis beach and 2 Snipe at Fort Razz.
8th – Single Woodcocks at Essex Farm and Longis nature reserve. The forecast rain did not materialise so we were able to get in a short ringing session with visiting Don of the Channel Islands ringing scheme Richmond Austin; processing 28 birds including 6 Greenfinch, 1 Meadow Pipit and 1 first winter female Firecrest.
Firecrest – Community Woodland – photo- ABO
