Go Slow…..in Alderney Naturetrek Tour Report 11 - 18 September 2019 Brown Argus by John Horton Sandwich Terns by Sandy Robertson Western Hedgehog by John Horton Spanish Carpet by John Horton Report by John Horton Images courtesy of Sandy Robertson & 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 10 Naturetrek clients Day 1 Wednesday 11th September Unfortunately, unseasonably bad weather meant that today’s flight was cancelled, and the group spent the night in Southampton. Day 2 Thursday 12th September With the flight reorganised, and arriving around 5.30pm, the group members were warmly greeted and taken by minibus down to the Braye Beach Hotel to be checked in. We then all gathered downstairs in the hotel cinema for our meet-and-greet session. Having familiarised ourselves with the schedule ahead, we were right on time for our restaurant booking at Cantina Number 6, a short walk from the hotel. All fed and watered, it was back to the hotel and a good night’s sleep, ahead of a full day naturetreking. Day 3 Friday 13th September Gathering on the hotel balcony after breakfast we spotted three White Wagtails, one Wheatear and busy flock of 11 Sanderlings on Braye beach below us. Several Large-flowered Evening Primroses stood out amongst the grass, just the hotel side of the sand dunes. With the morning weather mist and drizzle but a sunny afternoon outlook, we reversed our schedule, setting off to do the history part of the day; our morning wildlife walk would now take place in the better weather forecast for the afternoon. First, we went to the Alderney Town Hall, to take advantage of a temporary exhibition laid on for one week only by the Henry Ruler Trust, the exhibits and information on display celebrating Alderney’s maritime history. Moving on, the group visited the Bayeux Tapestry, the last three metres of which (created by the people of Alderney in 2012-3, as the original is incomplete) are proudly displayed in the Alderney library. Keeping out of the showers, we next visited the Alderney museum which houses a surprisingly rich and diverse tangible history of Alderney for the Iron Age through the Roman, Tudor, Victorian periods to the Nazi German occupation of the island. We then moved to Braye Bay where a gull roost held 13 Mediterranean Gulls, amongst Black-headed Gulls; it was an opportunity to look at the differences between these similar Gull species. Also here were three Sandwich Terns. At our feet was some Thrift and along the shore edge, Sea Sandwort and Sea Samphire. Here we also saw a Common Buzzard, Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron and Little Egret. Lunch was taken at the popular Old Barn restaurant and gardens, and as we embarked on our afternoon trail, a Hobby swooped above us and for the next 20 minutes gave us a fine display of acrobatics overhead, catching a dragonfly which it consumed in flight. A Sparrowhawk also passed over. Heading down towards Braye Bay, a huge area of Buddleia bushes supported some 30 Painted Lady butterflies along with half-a-dozen Red Admirals; Colin also spotted a Common Carpet moth. In Longis Bay we found two Curlews, 20+ Ringed Plovers and a mixed flock of Dunlin and Sanderling. At Longis Pond we added Amphibious Bistort, Cut-leaved Willowherb and Flag Iris. Along the way, three Common Blue Butterflies and other wildflowers were recorded, including Wall Rocket, Rest-harrow, Fennel and Sea Radish. © Naturetrek October 19 1 Go Slow…..in Alderney Tour Report Walking past Whitegates fields, we encountered at least 100 Linnets, 50+ Meadow Pipits, three Stonechats and a Whinchat, plus a steady stream of migrating Swallows and three House Martins. Christine found a superb male Brown Argus butterfly. Day 4 Saturday 14th September From the hotel we set out heading to the north-east on our morning walk, along the picturesque coastline adjacent to the French coast just eight miles away. Our timing was perfect, the high tide having driven a large number of waders to within easy viewing distance. More than 50 Ringed Plovers and a handful of Dunlin and Sanderlings were on the shore together with, amongst the rocks, a single Turnstone and 12 Curlews; we spent some time looking at the waders through the telescope. Moving on, we had travelled only a short distance before a Grey Seal was spotted just offshore. On the shoreline we found at least a dozen very confiding Wheatears, all busily feeding in preparation for the next leg of their migration. Along this stretch there are often several Small Copper Butterflies and today we were not to be disappointed. Six vocal Ravens passed low overhead as we arrived at the little-known locality for the rare Alderney Sea Lavender and close-by Rock Sea Lavender. The sound of Sandwich Terns was suddenly upon us and to our amazement we all witnessed a fly past of some 75 of these majestic birds, passing by the island on migration. After spotting a second Grey Seal, we completed our trail with nice views of a Common Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher. Lunch was taken at the popular Jacks restaurant in St. Anne before we headed back to the NE of Alderney. Setting off from Mannez nature reserve along to Corblets Bay, several of the Sandwich Terns had settled on the beach. A local birder was present photographing the Terns kindly subsequently provided us a photo. At nearby Arch Bay, beside the ancient Norman archway that connects the (now) campsite to the beach, we added Sea Holly, Sea Rocket and Sea Spurge to our wildflower lists. Day 5 Sunday 15th September It was another bright sunny and warm start, as we took the minibus up to the Victorian Fort Albert. This location delivers commanding views across Alderney from which Annabel ably divulged nuggets of local history information, pointing out landmarks and places of interest. We then headed onwards to The Nunnery where we were met by local lepidopterist moth expert David Wedd. A good variety of moth species were awaiting us in the Bird Observatory moth trap, including the much-admired Convolvulus Hawk-moth. Lunch was at the Old Barn. The afternoon walk has become one of our most popular, for its scenery and wildlife found along the South Cliffs. This gentle winding trail along the cliff tops is often compared to the north Devon coast. To start us off, we saw a pair of Peregrine Falcons. In the sunny warm conditions, butterflies were plentiful, and we managed some 11 different species over the next hour and a half, as we casually made our way along the footpath. At one particular location we paused in the hope of seeing the elusive Dartford Warbler; we were soon rewarded as a fine male made his way through the Gorse tops, pausing just long enough for everyone to get a look at him. Above, literally hundreds of Swallows and Martins filled the skies and Colin picked out a late-moving Swift amongst them. Stonechats and Whitethroat also showed well, and there were double figures of Wall Brown, 50+ Small Coppers and countless Field Grasshoppers. 2 © Naturetrek October 19 Go Slow…..in Alderney Tour Report Day 6 Monday 16th September We had an early start today, to experience the ever-popular bird-ringing demonstration at Alderney Bird Observatory (ABO). The ABO were ready to show us birds as soon as we arrived and the thrilled group were treated to a private ringing demonstration that began with a Sand Martin, Swallow, Reed Warbler and then a Blackcap. Over the next 90 minutes we heard all about the research work of the ABO and saw over 30 birds ringed and released. David returned for a second round of moth trapping and, once again, a good variety of moths of varying colours and sizes were enjoyed by all. For the moth enthusiasts, a special treat was a Spanish Carpet moth; occasionally recorded in Alderney, the species is not found in mainland UK. It was back to the hotel for breakfast at 9am, before heading out on our planned morning walk in the south-west of the island, from Platte Saline beach to Landmark Trust-run Fort Clonque. At Platte Saline beach there were still several flowering Yellow Horned Poppies and plenty of Sea Kale. This walk then gives up views to our right across Clonque Bay out to some of Alderney’s islets: Burhou and Casquets, with bracken-covered slopes climbing high above us to the left. A fall of Chiffchaffs was apparent on the north-facing slopes and a Kestrel toyed with the attentions of three Crows. This walk was planned to coincide with high tide, and at a great viewing point, we were able to look down on over 100 Oystercatchers and a magnificent flock of 39 Curlews, amongst which was a single Whimbrel. At the Fort Clonque causeway a rock pool on the falling tide had a good size Dogfish and a cluster of Goose barnacles attached to an old boat buoy. Colin and Christine found another Brown Argus just before we took the return walk back to our minibus. Four Grey Herons and four Little Egrets were now present feeding in the emerging rock pools. The afternoon saw our much-talked-about boat trip. Millpond calm seas and low winds were quite perfect conditions. After travelling alongside Burhou island, we arrived under the impressive Les Etacs rocks.