Migratory Birds Report 1

As promised, as the northern hemisphere winter draws in, Catherina and I have been monitoring the occurrence of migratory birds on Denis so as to begin to establish a proper baseline of occurrence. The northern location of Denis within the Seychelles archipelago makes it an important landfall for migrating birds to either rest up en route or to stay and overwinter.

Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) are present all year round but numbers have increased noticeably in recent weeks. The turnstones occur in small flocks all round and on the island so overall numbers are very hard to assess. The Whimbrels however tend to aggregate particularly on the reef flats that fringe the island’s east coast and number currently between 80-90 birds.

A common sandpiper (Actitus hypoleucos) is to be seen on the east coast since September 17th and individuals of both lesser and greater Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus & C. leschenaultii) have been seen during September. There are 3 or 4 Grey plovers (Pluvialis squatarola) on the island and its keening call is commonly heard at Belle Etoile.

On October 3rd however, Catherina saw and photographed a beautiful Purple heron (Ardea purpurea) at Belle Etoile possibly the first confirmed record (I will check on this) for this species on Denis.