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Island Conservation Society Ranger Chris Narty has reported several interesting migrant species at Alphonse. A Tree Pipit was seen at the airstrip on 7 March and 15 March, possibly the same bird or possibly two different individuals. The Spotted Flycatcher was noted near the beach while Chris was on a turtle patrol also on 15 March. The same day he found a Barn Swallow at the south end of the airstrip, the bird remaining into the following day.
Tree Pipit and Barn Swallow are annual visitors to Seychelles in small numbers and SBRC automatically accepts reports from reliable observers unless there is something unusual with regard to numbers or time of year. Over 90% of Tree Pipit sightings are in October-December during the peak period for southbound migration from Eurasia. There are far fewer sightings during the time of northbound migration. Barn Swallow is the only land bird to show a significant peak in both southbound and northbound migration. SBRC has accepted 47 previous records of Spotted Flycatcher. Almost half of all records have been during the month of March. This is the second report from Alphonse.
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Dan Richards has reported a female Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe at Alphonse Island on 9 February. The bird was also seen and photographed by Tim Kemple. SBRC has accepted 74 previous records of this species, which is probably an annual visitor in small numbers. Records are still collected because it remains a very rare visitor and there is potential confusion with other vagrant wheatear species. Accepted records include 11 from Alphonse, more than any other locality other tthan Aldabra.
Northern Wheatear records peak later in the season than any other migrant for reasons unknown. It is also unusual in that the majority of sightings are from the outer islands (60 of 74 records) unlike the vast majority of migrant land birds. Terence Mahoune has reported a Common House Martin Delichon urbica at the pig and cattle farm area, Denis Island on 14 March. The bird was also observed by Anton Walter. SBRC has accepted 22 previous records of this species, mainly from the outer islands. This is the first record from the inner islands at anywhere other than Bird Island (where it has been recorded on 5 occasions).
Terence Mahoune has reported an adult male Northern Wheatear at Denis Island at Belle Etoile coast on 7 March. The bird was also observed by Nischal Gabazu. SBRC has accepted 74 previous records of this species, including two from Denis. Aldabra has recorded the most sightings with 37 records, exactly 50% of the total. |
AuthorAdrian Skerrett Categories |