August/September 2022 — Just A Bird

The second half of August and the first half of September saw plenty of uncommon and interesting migrants but, as like much of 2022, lacked any real rarities to add a garnish of excitement. On 24th there was the unusual sight of a Pied Flycatcher flying below me, low over the rockpools at Rousse, confusing my brain at first. The same day saw a Tree Pipit calling over the house. Visited a few spots on 26th with a selection of commoner waders seen, plus another Tree Pipit, this time perched in a tree by Beaucette Marina.

Went out to Pleinmont early morning on 28th August because Andy had put a moth trap had been left of the cliffs due to the Societe open day in the morning. Nothing obvious new to me but there were a few migrants in, including a whopping 7 Convolvulus Hawk-moths! Amazing stuff, but not a surprise due to the influx from the south. Just standing around the weedy strip area, sorting stuff out, we managed to pick up a Redstart, a Pied and a Spotted Flycatcher, all in the same few Blackthorn bushes. Also, we noticed a load of gulls take flight from round the Hanois, and saw a large raptor flying over the sea, really far out. We managed to identify as (the expected) Osprey but it never came close. On the way home, called in to see a Curlew Sandpiper from the hide at Claire Mare. Not a bad morning’s haul from such little effort! (on my part, I must add - lots of effort from other people!)

ConvOLVULUS Hawk-moth & friends - Pleinmont, 28 Aug 22

Curlew Sandpiper with Dunlins - Claire Mare, 28 Aug 22

Returned up to the headland the next day, 29th August, and was pleased with some pleasant birding and a nice scattering of migrants. Round Pleinmont and Mont Herault there was at least 20 Whinchats, 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Swifts and a Golden Plover which looked like it had just arrived over the sea. These totals are comparatively low compared with previous autumns, but it seems to be par for the course in 2022. I am hoping that these paltry migrant numbers are just a temporary glitch, but there are indications that this may be the sign of things to come. I suppose though, if most species become rare, then there are more rare species to find! errr…….maybe.

Another trip up to Pleinmont on 2nd September was similar to the last but there were two particular species I saw that I haven’t seen for a while. One was a Clouded Yellow flying across the BBC field which I don’t think I have had in a few years. The second was catching up with a recent Dartford Warbler in the Pleinmont gorse, something that I hadn’t seen in over a decade on the island as they became extinct a while ago. There has been the odd migrant sighting since but not by me. I didn’t see it for very long but it was good to soak in some retro 2000s vibes. Fingers crossed for a re-colonisation.

A glutton for punishment, I returned to Pleinmont again on 4th September for little reward. Returning to work, a few waders were at Vale Pond on 6th September - 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Greenshanks - but the oddest sighting was a Kingfisher flying across the road in front of me as I turned inland from Vazon - probably heading for the ponds at Grande Mare. A quick visit to Pleinmont again on 11th revealed a nice Pied Flycatcher but very little else, but a Ruff on the saltmarsh at L’Eree on the way home was the first I’ve seen for ages. So, a pleasant month’s birding but, even if I didn’t find a bonus bird, it would have been nice to see someone else’s rare find. Local twitches feel like they are getting less regular. Are the birds not here? Are less people searching?

Just A Bird

Just A Bird

Mark Lawlor's Nature Blog

Just A Bird

Just A Bird