Pacific Golden Plover at Alphonse and Terek Sandpiper at St Francois

Pep Nogués has reported a Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva at the airstrip, Alphonse on 13 October. SBRC classifies this species as an annual visitor to the granitic islands and Amirantes and a vagrant west of 52˚E (Aldabra and Farquhar groups). This is the 11th report from Alphonse, more than any other island in the Amirantes. It is unusual in that the bird shows partial breeding plumage which is extremely rare to see in Seychelles. Indeed, this is the first time it has been photographed at any island to the knowledge of SBRC.

Pep also reports a Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus  present the previous day at St Francois. Terek Sandpiper is an annual visitor to the granitics and a vagrant elsewhere in Seychelles. This species has been rported six times previously at St Francois and a further 4 times at Alphonse.