News

The following records were published in recent Bulletins of the African Bird Club and are for information only.

Reports received by Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) for May - November 2007 include the third Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris for Seychelles (and the first for the outer islands), at Harrison’s Beach and Gendron’s Beach, Alphonse, on 1-3 November. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis at the airstrip, Alphonse, on 6-8 November was also a first report for the outer islands and the sixth for Seychelles. Two European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster at Picard, Aldabra, on 14 November represented the third report for Seychelles (both previous records were also from the Aldabra group). Isabelline Wheatears Oenanthe isabellina at the airstrip, Bird Island, on 27 October and at Providence, Mahé, on 6-7 November, were the fourth and fifth reports for Seychelles.

Common Sand Martins Riparia riparia were seen at the airstrip, Bird Island, on 27 October (two), at the south beach, St Francois Atoll, on 3 November (one) and at the airstrip, Alphonse, on 23-26 October (one); there are 15 previous records. White Wagtails Motacilla alba (23 previous records) were reported at Alphonse from 23 October to 3 November, D’Arros on 9 November and Picard, Aldabra, on 25 November.

Other sightings of interest include a Purple Heron Ardea purpurea (33 previous records) at Alphonse from 16 October until 9 November, an adult Common Pratincole Glareola pratincola (six previous records) at La Passe, Silhouette, on 28 October, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata (28 previous records, including 19 from Aldabra) at Picard, Aldabra, from 30 October to 3 November, and a Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus (ten previous records) at Cousine Island on 21 November.

Reports received by Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) for November 2006 - May 2007 include firsts for no fewer than five species: a Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea at Gro Latet, Aride Island, on 24 November, a juvenile female Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula at the sewage ponds on Alphonse on 23-25 December, a Madagascar Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus rochii at the Old Settlement, Picard, Aldabra, on 24-29 December, an African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus at Picard, Aldabra, on 20 December, and a Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris found exhausted near the cemetery, Picard, Aldabra, on 24 April.

Other records from the period include the following. A dark-morph Kermadec Petrel Pterodroma neglecta at Cousin, on 10 January, was the fourth record from Seychelles; the previous three, in 2003, 2004 and 2006, also at Cousin, were all of intermediate morphs and at least two refer to the same individual (see Bull. ABC 13: 88–90; 14: 102). A first-year Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae was at the Old Settlement, Picard, on 12 December and another on 21 January.

At Providence landfill, Mahé, a Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta on 28 January was the second report for Seychelles, whereas a Temminck’s Stint C. temminckii on 10 March was the sixth. Three Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago were also there on 10 March; ten of the 11 accepted records are of singles and the other concerned two individuals. A Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus stayed at Roche Caiman Bird Sanctuary, Mahé, from 21 February until 10 March. Four Grey-tailed Tattlers Heteroscelus brevipes at St François Atoll on 1 March, with two until 7 April, constitute the third report for Seychelles; the first two records were of singles. A White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus at the airstrip of Alphonse on 1 December was the fifth for Seychelles. A European Roller Coracias garrulus stayed at the Research Station, Picard, on 16-19 May.

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On Mahé, two White Wagtails Motacilla alba were at Oceangate, on 6 December, whilst a Yellow Wagtail M. flava, possibly of the race beema, was at Providence landfill on 27 January and another of unknown race at Mare Anglaise on 27 April. A Grey Wagtail M. cinerea was at the plateau, North Island, on 2-3 November and a Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe at the Old Settlement, Picard, on 11 February. A Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus which landed on a boat at the lagoon, St François Atoll, and was transported to Alphonse and released, was the fourth report for Seychelles. A juvenile European Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus was in the vicinity of the Settlement, Picard, on 24 December.

The airstrip at Alphonse was particularly productive during the period, with sightings of a first-winter Amur Falcon Falco amurensis on 25 December, an Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum on 2-26 December, a Black-winged Pratincole G. nordmanni on 10-26 December, a Common Swift Apus apus on 26 April, an adult Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus on 11 December, a Common Sand Martin Riparia riparia on 15-17 February, up to six Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica on 4-21 March, and a Common House Martin Delichon urbicum on 9-14 April.

The high number of records received from Alphonse was largely due to the opening of a new Island Conservation Centre with full-time staff in February 2007. This has also enabled the regular monitoring of neighbouring St François Atoll and its large wintering wader population. Regular counts at St François found remarkably high numbers of up to 1,750 Crab-plovers Dromas ardeola and up to 800 Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres. Also recorded were the highest numbers in Seychelles for Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus (400 in April), Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola (250 in March) and Saunders’s Tern Sterna saundersi (1,800 in March). Also on Alphonse, a previously unknown colony of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Puffinus pacificus has been discovered. The frigatebird roost on Alphonse has been found to be of national importance, with counts of up to 4,200 birds, comprising c.95% Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel and 5% Greater Frigatebird F. minor.

Reports received by Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) from August–November 2006 include the following. On Cousin, an intermediate-morph Kermadec Petrel Pterodroma neglecta, recovered on 13 August, proved to be the same individual ringed on the island on 29 June 2004 and presumed to be the same as that photographed on 29 August 2003; these are the only reports for Seychelles. A Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos on D’Arros on 13 November was the fourth report for Seychelles. Two Common Redshanks Tringa totanus at Roche Caiman Bird Sanctuary, Mahé, on 2 August, with one at Dauban marsh, La Passe, Silhouette, on 11 September were the fourth and fifth reports. There have been 14 previous records of Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus from Seychelles, but one on Bird Island on 25 March–2 April 2006 was more than a month later than any previous record and was the first of an adult in breeding plumage. Other sightings of interest included a Common Swift Apus apus at D’Arros on 9–12 November. The first Madagascar Bee-eater Merops superciliosus for Seychelles was at Aldabra on 15–31 October.

Reports received by Seychelles Bird Records Committee during the period January-April 2006 include two firsts for the archipelago: a male Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope at Dauban marsh, Silhouette, from 17 February to 1 March, and a Garden Warbler Sylvia borin, which came aboard the cruise ship Le Ponant between Aldabra and Alphonse on 27 March.

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Reports from May-December 2005 received by Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) include the first Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii for Seychelles, an adult in breeding plumage at Aride Island on 29 August. Nine Flesh-footed Shearwaters Puffinus carneipes were reported from five locations on 25-27 October off the north and north-east edge of the Seychelles Plateau (north of Bird and Denis islands); four previous records have been accepted by SBRC to date. The fifth Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus for the archipelago was also reported in the same area on 27 October. A Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus stayed at Bird Island from 6 May until 28 August. The fifth Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris for Seychelles was also found there on 5-13 November, as well as the third Madagascar Pond Heron Ardeola idae east of the Aldabra group (where it breeds on Aldabra Atoll) on 14 September. A Great White Egret Egretta alba was found at an unnamed islet off Benjamin, St Joseph Atoll, on 21 July, and a Purple Heron Ardea purpurea at North Point, Mahé, on 23 October. A White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata was at Cinq Cases beach, Aldabra, on 20 August.

Eleven Amur Falcons Falco amurensis were on North Island on 30 November, with four still present on 23 December. A Eurasian Hobby F. subbuteo was seen at Mahé on 8 November and an Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrio alleni at Picard, Aldabra, on 6 June. The second Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus for Seychelles was at Bird Island on 1 November (interestingly, the first record, now accepted by SBRC, was at this same location the previous season), with the fifth Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola also there on 29 October, and two from 31 October to 23 December. A Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes at Glacis, Mahé, on 30 September, was the third for Seychelles. A European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur stayed at Bird Island on 4-9 November and a European Roller Coracias garrulus at Cousine on 13-29 November.

The third Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla remained at Bird Island from mid October to 12 November. A Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica was at L’Union Estate, La Digue, on 4 July. Single White Wagtails Motacilla alba were observed at Bird Island on 5 May and at Cousine Island on 24 November. A Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus was at Bird Island on 8-12 November. A Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus was ship-assisted from east of La Digue on 29 October to La Digue on 30 October, and another was at Bird Island on 3-5 November. An Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina on North Island on 12 October constitutes the fourth report for Seychelles. Second reports were received for Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus at Bel Air, Mahé, on 9 November and Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina at Bird Island on 10 November. Also at Bird Island were a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata on 7-9 November and a European Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus on 5-9 November.

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A Pterodroma at Cousin Island on 29 August 2003 and 29 June 2004 (Bull. ABC 12: 70), has been identified by Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) as Kermadec Petrel P. neglecta, the first record for Seychelles. Reports from the period October 2004-March 2005 include the first Little Crake Porzana parva for the islands, seen on Cousin on 25-27 December, whilst a Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus at Bird Island from 25 October until 25 March will be the first for Seychelles if accepted (there is also a published record rejected by SBRC).

A Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus at the Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata colony area from 21 January until 3 February was the second report. A Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea at the Le Niol waterworks, Mahé, on 12-15 March was the fifth report for Seychelles. A Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus at Bird Island from 29 November until about 12 December will be the fourth record if accepted (there are a further two records deemed indeterminate with Common Chiffchaff P. collybita and one confirmed as Common Chiffchaff). Other sightings of interest included three Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters Merops persicus at Bird Island on 22 January-4 February, with two still present on 5 February, and a Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus at Bird Island on 22 December.

Recent records received by Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) include the first Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus for Seychelles found at Bird Island on 24 October–14 November 2004. A Pterodroma at Cousin Island on 29 August 2003 and, possibly the same individual, on 29 June 2004 was either a Herald Petrel P. arminjoniana or a Kermadec Petrel P. neglecta; evidence, including photos, a full set of morphometrics and a blood sample, is being examined by SBRC; neither species has ever been recorded in Seychelles.

Second reports for Seychelles in 2004 include a White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa at Providence, Mahé, on 20 November, a Common Rock Thrush  Monticola saxatilis at Bird Island on 10 October, a Whinchat  Saxicola rubetra at Bird Island on 20 November and a Common Whitethroat  Sylvia communis also there on 17–20 March. A late report was received of a Common Redshank Tringa totanus at Anse aux Pins, Mahé, on 13 December 2002, together with a more recent one from Providence, Mahé, on 20 November 2004; there is only one previous accepted record for Seychelles.

Other reports of interest, from the period March–December 2004, include a Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aetherus at Aride on 30 October, two Amur Falcons Falco amurensis at Bird Island on 3 December, a Eurasian Oystercatcher  Haematopus ostralegus at Aride on 28 April and one at La Passe, Silhouette on 16–28 June, an adult and a first-winter Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola at Oceangate mudflats, Mahé on 1–18 November, an adult Oriental Pratincole G. maldivarum at  Bird Island on 21–22 March, a Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa at Bird Island on 14 November, a Ruff Philomachus pugnax at Bird Island on 3–4 October, a Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus at Bird Island on 8 March and a Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla also there on 12 March.

Records accepted as firsts for the country by Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) include a Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata at Bird Island on 22 to 27 November 2003 (possibly also the first genuine vagrant for the Southern Hemisphere) and an adult Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala that stayed at Denis Island from 30 December 2003 until 16 February 2004 (constituting the most easterly record for this species).

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Other records from 2003 and early 2004 accepted by SBRC include two adult Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus at St François lagoon on 11 January 2003 (fifth record for Seychelles), an adult Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris at Cousine Island on 29 October 2003 (fourth record), an adult female Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus at Aride Island on 23 January 2004 (second record), an Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii at Denis Island, from 26 January to 26 February 2004 (fourth record), a non-breeding adult Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus at Beau Vallon, Mahé, on 3 to 6 December 2003 (second record), an Osprey Pandion haliaetus at Denis Island from 13 July 2003 until 4 February 2004 (second record), a Common Quail Coturnix coturnix at Bird Island on 21 November 2003 (accepted as the third for Seychelles with the caveat that other possible escaped quail species could not be ruled out), a Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus at Alphonse Island on 25 October 2003 and at Bird Island from mid October 2003 until 10 May 2004 (third and fourth records), a Little Curlew Numenius minutus at Seybrew mudflats, Mahé, on 21/22 October 2003 (second record), a Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa at Alphonse Island on 24 to 28 December 2003 (fifth record), a European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus at Denis Island on 5 to 7 November 2003 (second record), and a Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus at Frégate Island in mid December 2003 (fourth record).

Significant records from October 2003 to February 2004 received by SBRC include two Northern Pintails Anas acuta at a pool near Praslin airport on 26 November, a Northern Shoveler A. clypeata at Providence mudflats, Mahé, on 29 November, a Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus at Aride Island on 6 November, a Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius at Aride Island on 21 to 27 November, a Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis at the Inter-Island Quay, Victoria, Mahé, on 29 November and another at Seybrew mudflats, Mahé, on 17 February, a European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur at Bird Island on 23 to 27 November, an Asian Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus at Alphonse Island on 24 December and one at Aride on 29 December, a Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava at La Passe, Silhouette, on 11 to 17 October, a White Wagtail M. alba at l’Allée, Aride Island, on 18 to 23 November, a first-winter Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus at Aride Island on 29 October to 3 November and a male at Denis Island on 1 January to 13 February 2004, and a first-winter Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus at Bird Island on 22 November.

The exceptional number of Amur Falcons Falco amurensis of late 2002, a species unrecorded in Seychelles prior to 1995 (see Bull ABC 10: 138), was repeated in late 2003. Reports include an adult female at Praslin Airport on 4 December, up to ten at Bird Island on 20 to 28 November (mainly female or first-winters, with at least one second-year male), an adult female at La Passe, Silhouette, on 18 December, an immature at Alphonse Island from 25 December until 8 February 2004, and a male at Alphonse Island on 25 December.

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Records from the period September 2002 to March 2003 include the following. Four Flesh-footed Shearwaters Puffinus carneipes at sea between Astove and Desroches on 23 December, and one at about one mile from the entrance to the lagoon of Desroches the next day, were the third and fourth records for Seychelles. The allegedly first Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides for Seychelles was reported from Bird Island in October 2002 (Bull. ABC 10: 61); subsequently, however, a record of this species at the Inter-Island Quay, Mahé, on 21 September, which will represent the first for Seychelles if accepted, was received by Seychelles Bird Records Committee. A Great White Egret Egretta alba was on Desroches on 8 November to 24 December. The report of five adult Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus at La Passe, La Digue, on 11 to 15 March, represents the first for Seychelles. A first-year female Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca at Anse Forbans, Mahé, on 19 to 25 December was the third for Seychelles.

In late 2002 a large number of Amur Falcons Falco amurensis were reported: one on Aride on 28 to 30 November, up to seven on various dates in December on Platte Island, one on Desroches on 11 December, two on Alphonse on 18th and one on La Digue on 26th; the majority of birds appear to have been first-years, with at least two adult females (interestingly, no adult male has ever been recorded in Seychelles). Other falcon records include one first-year and two adult pale morph Eleonora’s Falcons Falco eleonorae on Alphonse on 18 December, a first-year Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo at La Passe, Silhouette, on 6 November and another on 4 December.

An immature Madagascar Pratincole Glareola ocularis was at the Inter-island Quay, Mahé, on 21 to 25 October and two at Lemuria golf course, Praslin, on 25 to 27 October; these represent the second and third records for Seychelles. Buff-breasted Sandpipers Tryngites subruficollis at Lemuria golf course, Praslin, on 15 November and at a playing field adjacent to the Inter-Island Quay, Mahé, from 6 December to 1 January were the fourth and fifth reports for Seychelles. A male Ruff Philomachus pugnax stayed at Victoria, Mahé, from 19 December to 1 February. An adult Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa on Aride on 17 to 27 October was the fourth report for the archipelago. Two adults and one first-year Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis at Anse l’Islette, Mahé, on 23 December represent a fifth record for Seychelles. Black-naped Tern S. sumatrana was reported from Aride Island on 27 December.

Other noteworthy records include a Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus at Grand Anse, Mahé on 20 December, an Asian Lesser Cuckoo C. poliocephalus at Côte d’Or, Praslin on 26 December, an immature European Roller Coracias garrulus at Victoria, Mahé on 19 November to 6 December, five Broad-billed Rollers Eurystomus glaucurus at various locations at Aldabra on 6 November to 20 December, and a first-year White Wagtail Motacilla alba at La Passe, Silhouette, on 11 to 21 November.

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Last page update 21st July 2008