MARCH 2012
Two wheatears at Aldabra
Northern Wheatear 1 (Catherina Onezia)
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Northern Wheatear 2 (Catherina Onezia)
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Two Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe have been reported from Aldabra in the first few days of March. The first was seen by Stan Denis, Andy Gouffe and Catherina Onezia on 1 March and the second by Catherina Onezia on 4 March.
Sand Martin at Alphonse
Sand Martin at Alphonse (Aurelie Duhec & Richard Jeanne)
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Richard Jeanne and Aurelie Duhec have reported a Sand Martin Riparia riparia present at the Alphonse airstrip on 9 March.
SBRC has accepted 22 previous records of Sand Martin, including 4 from Alphonse since 2007 when Island Conservation Society opened the Aphonse Island Conservation Centre. Most reports are on southward migration in October-November, but as more reports are received, evidence of a few on northward migration may be emerging. |
Mascarene Martin & Barn Swallow at Aldabra
Mascarene Martin at Aldabra (Catherina Onezia)
Janske van de Crommenacker, Richard Baxter and Catherina Onezia have reported both a Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica and a Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica at Picard, Aldabra, present on 11 March. SBRC has accepted 7 previous records of Mascarene Martin to date including 3 from Aldabra from where a specimen was first collected by Abbott in 1892. Catherina managed to photograph this fast moving bird, the first time this has been done in Seychelles.
Mascarene Martin breeds in Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion. Birds reaching Seychelles are probably all from the Madagascar population which also migrates to East Africa (other populations are sedentary and have never been recorded outside of the Mascarenes). Barn Swallows are annual visitors to Seychelles but SBRC are still keen to collect all reports, which are automatically accepted from reliable observers.
Mascarene Martin breeds in Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion. Birds reaching Seychelles are probably all from the Madagascar population which also migrates to East Africa (other populations are sedentary and have never been recorded outside of the Mascarenes). Barn Swallows are annual visitors to Seychelles but SBRC are still keen to collect all reports, which are automatically accepted from reliable observers.
On Spring migration records peak in March at Aldabra, somewhat earlier than on other (more northerly) islands, perhaps suggesting a leisurely return to breeding grounds.
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Barn Swallow at Aldabra (Richard Baxter)
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Lesser Kestrel & Yellow Wagtail at Frégate
Lesser Kestrel at Frégate (Greg Canning)
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Yellow Wagtail at Frégate (Greg Canning)
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Greg Canning and Tatiana Raposo De Rezende have report a male Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni above Banyan Hill, Frégate 19-22 March. To date, SBRC has accepted just 6 previous records of this species. This is the first time it has been recorded from Frégate. During this same period on 21 March, a Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava was seen and photographed at the Frégate airstrip by Greg Canning. SBRC has accepted 36 previous records of Yellow Wagtail with birds present in all months from October to May.
