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Alderney
Spring migrants on a Channel Isle

Thursday 24 - Sunday 27 April 2008 (4 days)

The isle of Alderney is - just about - small enough to be walked round in a day. But you wouldn't want to rush around here! On Alderney the pace of life is decidedly relaxed (plenty of pubs!), and this diverse island offers much to pause and gaze at.

We'll spend our time here mostly on foot, with the island minibus taxi service always on call if needed. Our walks will take in the coastline, a lovely mix of rocky shores, cliffs and sandy bays, dotted here and there with the remains of past fortifications. The "town" in the centre of the island is little more than a village, surrounded by a few fields and patches of woodland and heathland, with one small marsh on the island.

To the south, the Garden Rocks hold one of the great ornithological attractions of the island - a teeming Gannet colony. With the rocks just a quarter of a mile offshore - within sniffing distance - this must be one of the most accessible and easily-watched Gannet colonies in Britain, and it makes a truly impressive spectacle. Peregrine and Raven also breed nearby, together with several seabirds. We hope to take a short boat trip (weather permitting) to get close in to the Gannet stacks, and to see the small colony of Puffins on the uninhabited isle of Burhou.

Price: £ 655
Single supp.: £ NIL
Deposit: £ 200 per person

The price is per person and includes return flights Southampton - Alderney, accommodation, all meals, incidental tips and the services of the leader(s).

The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses.

Principal Leader:
Roland Gauvain

Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands, and, with its commanding position off the Normandy Cotentin Peninsula, acts as a magnet for spring migrants resting on their way north. In late April we hope to see many of the commoner summer visitors earlier than we are used to, and the chance of finding unusual migrants and continental species can be surprisingly good.

The island is also a magnet for migrating insects and, with the option of joining a moth trapping session, you may get to see sights such as the spectacular Emperor Moth. If the weather is fine we hope to go out for an evening walk in search of bats.

Surprises in the past on our trips have included Purple Heron, Tawny Pipit, Great Spotted Cuckoo, singing Serins, Golden Oriole, a superb pair of Black Kite, a soaring trio of White Storks, a remarkable Rough-legged Buzzard, and a migrant Large Tortoiseshell butterfly, which has now been identified as a resident. Alderney is one of those exciting places where you just never know what you are going to find next.

Our leader, Roland Gauvain, has been living in Alderney for the last eight years and has been the manager of the local Wildlife Trust for the last five years, leading tours on an improbably wide range of subjects. Roland knows every corner of the island intimately and has a keen interest in the cultural environment as well as a broad knowledge of Alderney's unique wildlife.

Accommodation
We stay in one of the island's premier hotels, with all rooms en suite. We plan to visit some of the many pubs on the island for our lunches. Please note that the number of single rooms is very limited.

Travel
We meet at Southampton Airport on Day 1 for a morning flight to Alderney on a small Trilander aircraft, returning on the afternoon of Day 4.

Numbers: Max. 14 clients