Garganey at Aride, Alphonse and Fregate

Garganey at Aride (left, photo: Ilana Engelbrecht and Nasreen Khan) and Fregate (right, photo: Anna Zora)

Garganey have been reported at three islands: Aride, Alphonse and Fregate. Garganey is an annual visitor the Seychelles in small numbers and SBRC collects records of all sightings. The first of the season on 8 October was found at Aride, in exhausted condition by ICS Ranger Francis Saloman. A second bird was reported at Alphonse on 25 October by ICS Conservation officer Gail Fordham, said to have been present for a few days. The third sighting at Fregate on 28 October was made by Conservation Officer Anna Zora.

Reports collected by SBRC show that sightings peak from this time of year through to the end of December, declining sharply thereafter with very few sightings from March onward.