by Michael Dryden
•
7 October 2025
07.10.2025 Swallows were around in better numbers today, as the clear-out of Summer migrants continues. This one was pictured passing over Noirmont this morning. Image: MD A clear day, as an anticyclone moves back in, and feeling warm at 19c in a light southerly wind. An early search for the mystery marsh tern at St Ouen's Pond proved fruitless, with just 2 Little Grebes , 3 Teal , 16 Shovelers , 3 Water Rails and 2 Stonechats seen. Likewise, on the East of the Island, the Glossy Ibis was not located at Fauvic, with 3 Teal and 2 Swallows seen there. Some steady visible migration past Noirmont included 611 Swallows , 67 House Martins, 11 Skylarks , 7 Song Thrushes , 8 arriving Blackbirds , 71 alba Wagtails , a Grey Wagtail, 340 Meadow Pipits, a Wheatear , 3 Stonechats , 318 Linnets , 41 Chaffinches , a Siskin , 135 Goldfinches , 2 Greenfinches , and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. Also seen from Noirmont were 4 Red Admiral butterflies, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks , 7 Buzzards , 2 Kestrels , 2 Choughs , 4 Jays , 12 Ravens and a few marauding parties of Magpies , with 50+ Crows over Portlelet. At Beauport were 3 Stonechats and at Beaumont Marsh were a Grey Wagtail , a White Wagtail and Goldcrest . 18 Redshanks were at St Aubin this morning. In St Ouen's Bay, 45 Ringed Plovers were at Sands , 7 Grey Herons and 10 Little Egrets were at La Pulente and on the Scrape were 24 Linnets , a Stonechat , a Marsh Harrier bathing, a late Willow Warbler and 3 Clouded Yellow butterflies. An Arctic Skua was seen off Corbiere. At Les Landes were 6 Stonechats , 24 Meadow Pipits, 3 Buzzards , a Kestrel , 16 Choughs and another Clouded Yellow . Around the South end of Grouville Marsh today were 20 Chiffchaffs , 7 Blackcaps , 8 Cetti's Warblers , 2 Stonechats , a Firecrest , 10 Water Rails and 22 Cattle Egrets , while flying over there were 15 Meadow Pipits , 13 Swallows , 3 Siskins , a Chaffinch , 4 Song Thrushes , 2 Blackbirds , a Grey Wagtail , 2 Sparrowhawks , 4 Buzzards , 4 Ravens and 92 Jackdaws leaving a roost there, also a Clouded Yellow was seen there with another at La Rocque.. Behind Seymour were 16 Cattle Egrets and 2 Grey Herons , at Rue du Pont, La Rocque, were up to 300 Swallows on a wire, a Kestrel and nearby, a Whitethroat . In Robin Bay were 14 Little Egrets and 40 Oystercatchers and at Pontac were 18 Little Egrets and c100 Oystercatchers . In Grouville Bay, at the North end, were 17 Brent Geese , 29 Curlews and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits with a Great Crested Grebe in Queen's Valley and 23 Ravens , 9 Buzzards , a Marsh Harrier and 15 Swallows in flight behind Woodlands Apartments, also in Grouville Bay. A Grey Heron was on Mont au Pretre, despite a lack of open water there, and a Grey Wagtail was at Grands Vaux. Evening update: A visit to Les Ecrehous today saw a Water Rail ( the 3rd record for the reef), a Curlew , a Dunlin , 40 Oystercatchers , 3 Grey Herons, a Chiffchaff , 10+ Rock Pipits, and passing overhead, 6 Swallows , 12 Linnets and 10+ alba Wagtails . Butterflies included a Red Admiral and a Peacock and several Grey Seals were present too. At West Park this evening were 242 Brent Geese and seen at La Rocque this evening were 220 Sanderlings , 14 Redshanks , 37 Turnstones , 17 Grey Plovers , 2 Grey Herons and c250 Oystercatchers . It is Harvest Moon time, with nocturnal migration normally at a reduced level, especially on clear nights, such as last night, due to the birds being more visible to predators. This image was taken pre-Dawn today in St Ouen's Bay. Image: MD