Go Slow…..In Alderney
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Go Slow…..in Alderney Naturetrek Tour Report 12 - 19 September 2018 Yellow Horned-poppy by Frances Boarder Northern Wheatear by Richard Sayle Clifden Nonpareil Moth by William Boarder Great Green Bush Cricket by John Horton Report compiled by John Horton & Annabel Finding Images courtesy of Frances Boarder, Richard Sayle, William Boarder & John Horton Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Go Slow…..in Alderney Tour participants: John Horton & Annabel Finding (leaders) with 14 Naturetrek clients Day 1 Wednesday 12th September After getting everyone settled in their hotel rooms, we headed out ahead of some forecast showers to a viewpoint overlooking Braye Bay. A single Dunlin flew across the bay after which we focused on looking the differences between Cormorant and Shag as the two species sat conveniently side by side on nearby rocks. We saw two Little Egrets, six Mediterranean Gulls and also two Sandwich Terns. Next, we moved on to Fort Albert, one of the best locations to obtain views across Alderney island, Burhou island and, most distantly, the Casquets rocks and lighthouse, where a daring commando raid against the Nazis took place during the WW11 German occupation of Alderney. Two House Martins were amongst a flock of Swallows as we reached our destination. Various locations of historical interest were pointed out and their history explained. Back at the hotel, I gave a slide-show presentation featuring the wildlife of Alderney and things to look out for during our week ahead. We took dinner as a group at the Braye Hotel. Day 2 Thursday 13th September The group unanimously plumped for a 10am start and our first stop was Platte Saline beach. A fine array of fauna here included several flowering Yellow Horned-poppies, Sea-kale, Sea Radish, Petty Spurge and Amphibious Bistort. White-lipped Snail are common here and we watched five migrant Wheatears feeding on the beach sand-hoppers and flies. Next, we took a walk along the Giffione, a south-west-facing headland. The pig farm fields here can be good for migrant birds and today they were awash with Wheatears. At least 30 were present, along with a single Whinchat that showed well and was good species for comparison against its more numerous chat-family cousin. Further along the headland path we saw a Whitethroat in the Gorse and a Tree Pipit passed overhead, calling. At the headland viewpoint we were greeted by the magnificent spectacle of some 5000+ Gannets on the Les Etacs breeding colony. A single Fulmar passed by and flowers located included Sheep’s-bit, Prostrate Broom and Bell Heather. We also began our butterfly list with Wall Brown, Large White, Small White, Small Heath, Common Blue and Small Copper. Back onto the minibus, we headed for lunch at The Old Barn restaurant overlooking Longis Bay. Often a good spot from which to observe birds of prey, we were not disappointed, seeing Peregrine, Kestrel, Common Buzzard and a superb and low-overhead Honey Buzzard which drifted slowly over us, allowing us to look at the identification features of this species. In the car park area were Borage and Scarlet Pimpernel wildflowers, and Holly Blue and Speckled Wood Butterflies. After lunch, we went to the close-by Longis car park, from which we saw two Bar-tailed Godwit in the bay. We also went around the sewage works that held a patch of Large- flowered Evening Primrose, plus we had great views of several Willow Warblers and a cracking Spotted Flycatcher, all busily taking insects. We headed on for the afternoon main event, a walk along the south cliffs, today in glorious sunshine and a cool light breeze. Hundreds of Field Grasshoppers adorned the pathways and William spotted a Clouded Yellow butterfly in off the sea; it obligingly performed a ‘fly-past’ the length of our party, enabling everyone to see it. © Naturetrek February 19 1 Go Slow…..in Alderney Tour Report This walk is often good for butterflies and there were no less than 20+ Small Coppers and our first Red Admiral of the trip. The delicate Autumn Squill flower was found and we were constantly passed by a passage of hundreds of migrating Swallows with smaller numbers of House and Sand Martins. Day 3 Friday 14th September Having an early start today, our destination was the Bird Observatory for 7am, hoping to see bird ringing. Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and several Blackcaps were among species we observed during the bird-ringing demonstration, that had everyone captivated. Next the emptying of the observatory moth trap for which we were joined by leading local moth expert, entomologist, David Wedd. Moths large and small were examined and identified including the huge Convolvulus Hawk-moth and the rare Clifden Nonpareil. After a super morning, we headed back to the hotel for breakfast. Refreshed, we moved on to our next walk, from the Target wall to Mannez lighthouse. Another good venue for butterflies, Common Blue were very ‘common’ along the footpath and short-grass areas, where they settled on flowering Bird’s-foot Trefoil. A magnificent (and totally harmless) Wasp Spider beside the path, spotted by Frances, stole the show. The Wasp Spider is a very large, colourful spider that is a recent arrival in the UK from the continent and has slowly spread over the south of England. Further along this walk, a mecca for botanists, is the endemic Alderney Sea-lavender, which we found close to some Rock Sea-lavender at the same location. A flock of a dozen Curlews was asleep beside Fort Houmet Herbé and four Common Sandpipers were gathered at the location. The afternoon activity was pre-booked for the excellent Alderney Museum, opened especially and exclusively for our group. This fascinating facility contains along with Bronze-age and Roman artefacts, plus a wealth of items from the German occupation during the WW11. Day 4 Saturday 15th September The day began with a walk from Longis Common and Nature Reserve up to the Mannez Garenne. Soon after setting off, we spotted a Gatekeeper butterfly and, heading across the common, on which there were several Common Blue and Small Heath butterflies, we stopped to watch a Whitethroat and a family group of five Stonechats. From the Naturetrek-sponsored hide we added two Little Grebes to our trip lists, and watched Greenfinches and Goldfinches coming in for a drink at the pool. A little patience in the hide was rewarded by a Pied Flycatcher that showed very well, perched close by. As we continued with the walk, we found around 30 Autumn Lady’s-tresses orchids adorning the pathway and saw a Peacock butterfly. Next, we took a look inside the enormous WW11 German range-finding tower, from which we obtained magnificent views of the north-east corner of Alderney and adjacent French coastline, just eight miles away. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth joined us briefly at the cliff edge and, as we headed back downhill, a Great Green Bush Cricket was found on the brambles. A fine lunch was taken at The Old Barn restaurant. 2 © Naturetrek February 19 Go Slow…..in Alderney Tour Report In the afternoon we went to St. Anne’s allotments where we watched two splendid Spotted Flycatchers feeding. A ruddy Darter posed nicely for photographs and we also saw a Common Darter. The allotments were busy with butterflies, with at least 50 Speckled Wood and 20 Common Blues present. Day 5 Sunday 16th September The morning involved the group taking a round island boat trip in two groups. This rare opportunity to get so close to a Gannet colony was greatly enjoyed. Peregrine Falcon and Turnstone were also spotted. In the afternoon most of the group opted to take the island train ride out to Mannez and then walk to the lighthouse, returning in time for the early evening Naturetrek log ahead of dinner. Day 6 Monday 17th September Heading out this morning we saw another Honey Buzzard, this one mobbed by crows over Whitegates fields. A moth trap was set for us at the north-east corner of the island and we were joined in the lighthouse garden by moth-expert David Wedd. Another plethora of new moth species was recorded, among them rare species such as Spanish Carpet and Beautiful Gothic. Across the road in Mannez quarry, we saw our first Painted Lady butterfly as a group. Next, we moved on to Corbletts quarry, where a Kingfisher flashed by, and also Grey Heron was added to our bird list. At Arch Bay we saw Sea-holly, Sea Spurge and also Sun Spurge. In the afternoon glorious sunshine, some of the group decided that a swim in the sea was in order in the hot weather. Others returned to Longis hide, from which we had cracking prolonged views of a Kingfisher and also saw another Clouded Yellow butterfly. John saw a Greenshank at Arch Bay. Day 7 Tuesday 18th September Today was a free morning, the agenda a late start and very late finish! In the afternoon we had a picnic at Cambridge Battery then walked to Fort Clonque, overlooking Clonque Bay. The wind was whipping up the sea, offering a spectacular backdrop of huge crashing waves, but in a sheltered spot we found several species of butterflies including Wall Brown, and a good number of Ivy Bees. On the beach side, we found a Common Sandpiper and a huge roost of waders, including 38 Curlew with a single Whimbrel amongst them, which was great for identification comparison, also around 150 Oystercatchers, five Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, and half-a-dozen White Wagtails.