|
|
Aurelie Duhec has reported a Eurasian Curlew at Bird Island on 3 July. This species is an annual visitor to Seychelles in very small numbers. SBRC keeps track of all sightings from reliable observers, but does not request a record form. The underwing of race orientalis, the race occurring in Seychelles, is white as in the photo whereas the nominate race has an underwing speckled black. It has been recorded in all months of the year but sightings are much less frequent between June and September.
0 Comments
On the occasion of the celebration of the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, held at the British High Commission in Seychelles, a new book has been launched to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the protection of Aride Island as a Special Reserve. With contributions in images and text from more than 40 people, the book was compiled and edited by Tim Sands and Adrian Skerrett.
Aride Island is home to more seabirds of more species than the other 40 granitic islands of Seychelles combined, including the world's largest populations of Tropical Shearwater and Lesser Noddy. There are five endemic landbirds breeding on the island, none of which survived on Aride 40 years ago. The book traces the history of the island, particularly that of the period since conservation work began, with information on the flora and fauna scattered throughout the text. A Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus at Providence, first seen on 28 March, is still present on 15 May. The record has now been accepted by SBRC as the ninth for Seychelles.
Tony Baker has reported two Little Egrets present at Providence, Mahe on 4 May, where one bird had been first reported on 16 April, again seen by Tony Baker together with Steve Agricole. SBRC has accepted 38 previous records of this species
George Marie has reported a Common Pratincole at Desnoeufs on 30 April. SBRC has accepted 18 previous records of this species. This is the first ever vagrant report from Desnoeufs.
Pep Nogues has reported a series of sightings of Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Pep Nogués, Ari Fernández and Chris Narty have reported a Lesser Kestrel at Alphonse, apparently in association with large swarms of Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens and Spot-winged Glider P. hymenaea. This is the second time that the appearance of Lesser Kestrel has been noted as coinciding with the appearance of large numbers of migratory dragonflies. SBRC has accepted 9 previous records of Lesser Kestrel. All but two of these records are on Spring migration, which is very unusual timing for any vagrant in Seychelles.
In addition to a Lesser Kestrel the ICS Alphonse team, Chris Narty, Ari Fernández and Pep Nogués, have reported a series of other sightings. These are the third Northern Wheatear of the season, an adult male on 23 and 25 February, a Pacific Swift on 29 March and no less than 6 Barn Swallows three of which were at neighbouring St Francois from 28 March. to 4 April.
Peter Holden has reported an Arctic Skua and a three Common Swift at Desroches. The swift was seen on 11 February and the skua on 18 February. There have been 5 previous records of Arctic Skua accepted by SBRC but this is the first report from anywhere in the outer islands. There have been 35 previous records of Common Swift accepted by SBRC including 3 from Desroches. The vast majority of swift records have been single birds, but occasionally two, three on one occasion and more than three on just a single occasion. This last record was of ten birds in October 2009.......on Desroches!
Janske van de Crommenacker and Martijn van Dinther have reported a Eurasian Bittern present at Denis Island from around 25 February to 5 March. This is the second report from Denis for the current migration season following a sighting on 3 December 2015. This December bird was the first record for Denis Island but this second bird means Denis is suddenly the bittern capital of Seychelles, being the only island where the species has been seen more than once. There are seven other records from Aride (1988), Praslin (1993), Mahe (2000), Cousine (2003), Bird (2005), Alphonse (2010) and Frégate (2012).
|
AuthorAdrian Skerrett Categories |