02.11.2024 A male Stonechat at Corbiere, image courtesy of Tony Paintin
Another overcast and cool-feeling day in a brisk Easterly wind
Woodpigeons were everywhere across the Island today with counts including 11,430 at Noirmont, 10,314 at Victoria Tower, 1500+ passing Mont Matthieu, 2,500 circling over Grouville Marsh and smaller numbers elsewhere.
Other counts from Victoria Tower include 5 Swallows, 452 Redwings, 29 Song Thrushes, 3 Blackbirds, 5 Skylarks, 160 Starlings, 7 Stock Doves, 7 Lapwings, a Grey Heron, 959 Chaffinches, 4 Bramblings, 94 Goldfinches, 6 Siskins, 8 Pied Wagtails and 20 Meadow Pipits.
Passing Noirmont were 1,720 Starlings, 3 Fieldfares, 69 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, a Brambling, 430 Chaffinches, 72 Linnets, 37 Goldfinches, 10 Skylarks, 64 Meadow Pipits, 25 Siskins, 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Black-headed Gulls, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, 4 Stonechats, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Ravens also 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins in St Aubin's Bay.
A range of species at Grouville Marsh through this morning included 4 Skylarks, 30 Redwings, 15 Song Thrushes, 2 Fieldfares, 60 Siskins, 40 Goldfinches, 120 Chaffinches, 15 Linnets, 4 Bullfinches, a Brambling, 2 alba Wagtails, 2 Snipe, 2 Ravens, 70 Jackdaws, 7 Stonechats, 4 Firecrests, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 10 Cetti's Warblers, a Blackcap, 2 Grey Wagtails, 5 Reed Buntings, 8 Water Rails, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, 16 Cattle Egrets, and 2 Barn Owls. On Grouville Common was the Snow Bunting again, 2 juvenile Cirl Buntings and a Stonechat.
Around the Cutty Sark in St Ouen's Bay were a Black Redstart, 45 Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlin and 2 Sanderlings, at the Wetland centre were 12 Shovelers, 2 Snipe and 2 Water Rails and at the Scrape were 5 Lapwings, 2 Snipe and another Water Rail. and at Kempt Tower were 17 Long-tailed Tits.
On Beaumont Marsh were 5 Snipe, a Teal and 14 Meadow Pipits.
Seen at Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Grey Herons, a Grey Wagtail, 6 Black-headed Gulls and 7 Cormorants and in Vallee des Vaux were 2 Bullfinches, 2 Goldcrests, a Firecrest, a Blackcap, 5 Redwings, a Woodcock at Dusk and a Barn Owl.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin