Black-winged Pratincole at Frégate

Photo: Stef Houben

Stef Houben has reported two Black-winged Pratincoles at the airstrip, Frégate on 9 October. SBRC has accepted 14 previous records of this species including three from the same island, one on
23 April 1988 (P Gregory), one on 12 June 2009 (M Wilkens, B Whittington) and one 25-27 March 2010 (G Canning). The date of this latest observation is the earliest in the post-breeding season migration season, the previous earliest date being one at Bird Island 15-16 October 1987. All  accepted sightings to date except one have been of one individual. The exception was four at Alphonse 4-16 May 2009.