Black Redstart March 27, 2021
Black Redstart ringed this morning.
Alderney Tours March 26, 2021
The next island tour will be on Tuesday 30th March.
During a loop of the island taking a little over 2hrs with live commentary we visit the best view points and reveal a combination of the highlights of local history, heritage and wildlife including a tour of the Nunnery Roman Fort. Tours end dropping you at your point of collection. Pick ups 1.40pm at the Marais Square, 1.50pm at the Braye Beach Hotel, or 2pm at the taxi rank at the bottom of Victoria St & other locations by arrangement.
Call or text John on 07815 549191 to book your seat, or book via Facebook or our website alderneytours.co.uk. Tour guests now receive a 10% off their bill at Jacks Brasserie. Private Tours and group bookings are available on other dates, for general tours, specialist WW11 or dedicated widlife tours. Adults £20pp under 16’s £15.
We are Alderneys longest standing and leading island tour operator, awarded the 2019 & 2020 ‘Certificate of Excellence’ by TripAdvisor, see our customer reviews online
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186228-d13804793-Reviews-Alderney_ToursAlderney_Channel_Islands.html
Water Rail March 21,2021
First fair movement of Chiffchaffs this morning with 67 ringed at one site along with the Water Rail pictured here. Photo JH.
Wheatear 20 March 2021
Wheatear at the ABO HQ this morning on the Nunnery Roman wall. Photo (JH).
Black Redstart March 20, 2021
Black Redstart on Mannez lighthouse garden wall this morning. Photo (JH).
Oak Beauty Moth March 16, 2021
Cracking male Oak Beauty in the obs moth trap this morning along with a Pale Pinion moth.
Kittiwake and Lesser black backed Gull March 15, 2021
Our most productive sea bird watches tend to be when the wind blows from the north-west so I took a little extra time during this mornings daily census to watch the sea. Great to observe and record a healthy movement of Kittiwakes with 78 birds during a 45 minute spell and in the same time period 61 Lesser black backed Gulls, the latter likely headed to our resident breeding colony on Burhou Island. Elsewhere Chiffchaffs just into double figures and the long staying Great Spotted Woodpecker has been reported as visiting several gardens close to St. Anne allotments. Photo (JH),Lesser black backed Gull from this morning’s passage.
Purple Sandpipers March 12 2021
Over the last 20 years it has been estimated that there has been as much as a 99% decline of Purple Sandpipers in Guernsey recorded during the winter months, numbers dramatically dropping from around 100 birds each winter to just 1 !! Due to lack of historical coverage Alderney is unable to contribute data to the shocking decline of these often confiding little waders. This century there were no records at all in Alderney until the ABO began regular recording in 2016. Though numbers here are few we are at least recording these schedule 1 protected birds each winter. Today I was delighted to come across 3 Purple Sandpipers along our north east coastline. Photo from today (JH) Purple Sandpipers that appear to be the ‘long billed form’.
Moths March 3, 2021
A few moths in the ABO light-trap overnight, mostly Early Grey but also photo (1) Common Plume, (2)Common Quaker (3)Agonopterix heracliana and (4)Hebrew Character. Also recorded today, Firecrest, Merlin and a small influx of Chiffchaffs.
Gannet March 2, 2021
The Gannets are busy collecting seaweed to take back to their nests to present to their existing or prospective mates. Photo (JH) taken this morning from below Fort Tourgis, Gannet carrying seaweed.