Bird Sightings
Snow Bunting
- Alderney Bird Warden
A very blustery day on Alderney. Despite the weather there had been an arrival of birds with 6 Wheatear, 10 Rock Pipît and 12 Pied Wagtail feeding along the high tide strandline of the beaches. I was heading around the coast towards Longis Baye when a message came through from Chris Tardivel, a visiting ringer, he had found a Snow Bunting on the beach! When I arrived at Longis he delivered the news “I’ve not seen it for 10 minutes” just as it reappeared from the large shingle and started to forage amongst the seaweed.
Snow Bunting © Matt ScraggLesser Redpoll
- Alderney Bird Warden
A calm morning between the storms today. New for the year were Lesser Redpoll, recorded on Longis and Mannez during morning. Newly arrived Goldcrest and Firecrest can be heard contact calling as they forage in the canopy of the trees.
Lesser Redpoll © Matt Scragg
Willow Warbler
- Alderney Bird Warden
There was an arrival of c.150 Redwing seeping overhead at first light this morning, accompanied by 6 Fieldfare and 14 Song Thrush. Goldcrest were busy foraging in the willows at Mannez along with Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler. Finches were observed arriving through the day and a large flock of c.650 Linnet were on Longis reserve at dusk. There was also c.550 Starling murmuring before going to roost.
Willow Warbler © Matt ScraggRustic Bunting
- Alderney Bird Warden
Following the stormy weather from the weekend, a change in wind direction and with it the arrival of some birds.
Plenty of Blackcap and Chiffchaff were in the recording area and Meadow Pipît were migrating over. A Grasshopper Warbler was reported from outside the airport, then late morning, flying over Longis pond calling was a Rustic Bunting. This is the third record of Rustic Bunting on Alderney. The first was 17.10.21 the second on 19.03 this spring.
Rustic Bunting © Matt Scragg
