Jersey Birds

14.03.2025 Thanks go to Jane Richardson for this nice image of a Wheatear at Grosnez. JR A cold day ( max 7c) with some hail showers early on in a north-northeast wind The current cold airflow seems to have slowed down the arrival of migrants, except at sea where, off of Corbiere, 10 Common Scoters , a Red - breasted Merganser , 129 Razorbills, 12 Guillemots , a Brent Goose , 20 Cormorants , 116 Kittiwakes , 3 Common Gull s, a White Wagtail and 12 Meadow Pipits passed, before the hail put paid to their ambitions. 2 Peregrines were also seen, a Wheatear was by the Radio Tower and a surprising arrival of a Magpie fro the West! At Petit Port were 2 Shelduck, 12 Brent Geese , an immature Yellow-legged Gull and 17 Curlews . Not much had changed in St Ouen's Bay, apart from 2 Wheatears , 2 Pied Wagtails and a White Wagtail at Sands. On St Ouen's Pond were 21 Shovelers and at the Scrape were 220 Brent Geese , 24 Teal , 10 Wigeon ( also seen on the Pond later), 6 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 3 Snipe and 2 White Wagtails . At Kempt Tower were 6 Shovelers , 4 Tufted Duck , a singing Little Grebe and 3 Chiffchaffs . 14 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a singing Little Grebe were at Ouaisne, another 53 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin and 60 dark-bellied Brent were by the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay. At La Sente were 41 Redshanks , 2 Shelduck and 4 White Wagtails , while at the upper end of Queen's Valley reservoir were a pair of Teal , 5 Tufted Duck , a Grey Wagtail and 7 Chiffchaffs . In Rozel Harbour were another 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese .

13.03.2025 A Lapwing displaying at the Scrape MD A cold and cloudy day with a northeast wind. Most of yesterday's migrants had moved on today with a single Wheatears at Grosnez and St Ouen's Pond Scrape and 6 Sand Martins over St Ouen's Pond plus several alba Wagtails reported . At La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 41 Redshanks , 4 Brent Geese , 6 Cattle Egrets , 18 alba Wagtails , mostly White Wagtails and 60 Chaffinches . In Grouville Bay, at Le Hurel were 36 Common Gulls, 8 Black-headed Gulls and 11 Little Egrets , while at Gorey were another 7 Common Gulls and 5 Great Crested Grebes . 3 Cirl Buntings were on Grouville Common. Passing, or at La Rocque at first light were 172 Brent Geese , 8 Red-breasted Mergansers , a Great Crested Grebe , 4 Gannets , 3 Common Gulls, 8 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 255 Sanderlings , 9 Dunlin , 85 Grey Plovers , 24 Turnstones and 2 Grey Herons . On St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were 166 Brent Geese , 10 Wigeon , 20 Teal , 6 Lapwings , 5 Chiffchaffs , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 8 Marsh Harriers and 3 Buzzards . Evening update : At Grands Vaux reservoir today were a Grey Heron, 5 Chiffchaffs and 2 Tufted Ducks and in Queen's Valley were 2 Teal , 2 Tufted Ducks and 2 Chiffchaffs . At Grouville Marsh were another 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Water Rails, also a singing Cetti's Warbler . In Vallee des Vaux this evening were 7 Woodcock and by South Hill Gym in St Helier was a Barn Owl. Yesterday's Woodcock count over Vallee des Vaux was 9 birds

12.03.2025 A Skylark between song bursts, by the Scrape car park this morning MD Another cold day (7c) in mostly cloudy conditions and a light to moderate northeast wind. After yesterday's first arrival of Wheatears , today saw even more today with 11 north of St Ouen's Pond, 3 near the Scrape, 6 at Crabbe and 3 at Plemont. At La Sente there were 3 Little Ringed Plovers as well as 2 Shelduck , 16 Redshanks , a Greenshank, 9 alba Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail . 13 Little Egrets were at Fauvic, 9 Tufted Ducks , a Grey Wagtail and 8 Chiffchaffs were by the upper pond at Queen's Valley with 2 Firecrests singing there, and another Chiffchaff , 4 Greenfinches and 6 Linnets were on Grouville Common. In Grouville Bay were 24 Great Crested Grebes , 14 Black-headed Gulls , 6 Common Gulls and 350 Brent Geese . A Grey Heron was at Grouville Marsh. Passing Corbiere in two hours this morning were 35 Common Scoters , a Red-throated Diver , 2 Shelduck , 28 dark-bellied Brent Geese and a single pale-bellied Brent Goose , 4 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 3 Fulmars , 32 Gannets , 4 Cormorants , a Kittiwake , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 26 Crows heading West, an alba Wagtail and 11 Bottle-nosed Dolphins , with a Peregrine hunting there too. 31 Razorbills were at Plemont, where a male Black Redstart was seen yesterday, and in Petit Port Bay were 12 Curlews and 26 Brent Geese . The first Swallow of the year was over St Ouen's Pond this morning along with 18 Sand Martins . On the Pond were 19 Shovelers , 6 Teal , a Pochard , a Tufted Duck and 3 Little Grebes with 2 Reed Buntings , a Water Pipit , 2 Skylarks and a Stonechat also there. Marsh Harriers were in display mode there too. On the Scrape were 45 Brent Geese , 22 Teal , 10 Wigeon , an immature Grey Heron, 2 Oystercatchers , a Redshank , 6 Lapwings , a Water Rail a Chiffchaff and 3 overflying alba Wagtails . North of the Pond were 2 Stonechats and 2 Chiffchaffs . On Kempt Tower pools were 8 Shovelers , 3 Little Grebes and further Chiffchaffs . In Rue de la Hauter in Trinity, were 6 Redwings , a Song Thrush , Goldfinches and Chaffinches , also a Sparrowhawk nearby. At a very chilly Les Landes were 6 Choughs , 3 Marsh Harriers, a Grey Heron and a flight of 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 6 Tufted Ducks were on Grands Vaux reservoir . Yesterday evening, 8 Woodcock flew over Vallee des Vaux, where a Barn Owl was calling.

1 1.03.2025 Brent Geese arriving on the Scrape MD A cold and overcast day with periods of rain, winds from the northeast. On a day when the afternoon temperature had dropped to 6c, Spring migrants started to appear. At Least 12 Sand Martins were seen over St Ouen's Pond, 6 Wheatears were at Les Landes with another by the Cutty Sark in St Ouen's Bay and a Little Ringed Plover was at La Sente for it's second day. Visible migrants began arriving at Corbiere from first light, with a Fieldfare , 131 Meadow Pipits , 5 alba Wagtails and 4 Starlings seen. Also at or passing Corbiere were 48 Brent Geese , 55 Razorbills , 2 Fulmars , 8 Gannets , 14 Cormorants and 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in two hours there. 2 Peregrines and a Raven were also seen. In Petit Port Bay were 81 Brent Geese and 12 Curlews . On St Ouen's Pond were 23 Shovelers , 2 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck and a singing Skylark close by. At the Scrape were 11 Brent Geese , the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , the resident Whooper Swan , 31 Teal , 10 Wigeon , 6 Lapwings , a Snipe , a Sparrowhawk and at least 4 Chiffchaffs . On the Sandpit was a pair of Wigeon . Also at La Sente were 88 Cattle Egrets again, 2 Shelduck , 24 Black-headed Gulls , a Common Gull , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 32 Redshanks and 45 mixed White and Pied Wagtails . At Grouville Marsh were a Grey Wagtail , a Redwing , a Grey Heron and 8 Chiffchaffs and in Grouville Bay were 7 Common Gulls , a Black-headed Gull and on the Common, 2 Chiffchaffs . At Queen's Valley were a Firecrest and another 7 Chiffchaffs . 20 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Ouaisne and at Grands Vaux were 10 Chiffchaffs , some of them with sooty noses.

10.03.2025 A nice selection of the 88 Cattle Egrets which appeared at La Sente today, with thanks to Alan Gicquel for the image AG A mainly overcast day with some light rain, feeling mild in a moderate southeast wind. La Sente featured well today, with the 88 Cattle Egrets present, almost certainly a day record for any site in Jersey. This afternoon, the first Little Ringed Plover of the year visited there, with others seen today including 2 Shelduck , 30 Redshanks , 2 Curlews and 4 White Wagtails. At La Rocque this afternoon were a Great Northern Diver , a Slavonian Grebe , 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 81 Grey Plovers , 90 Sanderlings , 60 Dunlin , 55 Curlews , 22 Turnstones , 2 Redshanks and 3 Greenshanks , with 8 Common Scoters in Grouville Bay. It was a little busier at Corbiere than in recent days and seen passing were 263 Razorbills , 12 Guillemots , a flock of 24 Teal moving North, 61 Brent Geese , 2 Fulmars , 15 Gannets , 9 Cormorants , 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Peregrines with food, 3 White Wagtails and a Chiffchaff which arrived from the southwest and landed on the first convenient rock. At Petit Port after this afternoon's high tide were 17 Curlews , 7 Brent Geese , a Cormorant , 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and a Grey Seal . On St Ouen's Pond were 22 Shovelers , 9 Teal , a Pochard , 2 Little Grebes , 10 Brent Geese , 2 Snipe and 4 Marsh Harriers . On a busy Scrape were 120 Brent Geese , the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , 2 Shelduck , 38 Teal , 10 Wigeon with another 4 flying over towards the Pond, and 6 Lapwings . In St Brelade's Bay were 8 Brent Geese and at Beaumont Marsh were 2 Teal , 60 Starlings , 2 Long-tailed Tits , 2 White Wagtails and a Marsh Harrier . A Kingfisher was in St Helier Marina. This evening in the Marina was a roost of 90 White Wagtails and 30 Pied Wagtails . In Bouley Bay were a Grey Wagtail and a Grey Heron and in Rozel Harbour were 4 dark-bellied Brent Geese . A Redwing was at Mont a l'Abbe this evening Below : This morning's Chiffchaff at Corbiere, resting after it's very late arrival for a nocturnal migrant.

09.03.2025 A Shag ( or Green Cormorant as it is sometimes known) passing Grosnez MD A cloudy but mild day in a moderate easterly wind. In St Ouen's Bay, starting at the Pond, were 4 Shovelers , 2 male Pochard , a Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes while on the Scrape were 72 Brent Geese , 16 Teal , a pair of Shelduck , the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , a Redshank , 6 Lapwings and 40 Starlings . On Kempt Tower pools were 15 Shovelers , 7 Tufted Ducks , a pair of Little Grebe singing, 7 Coot and a Moorhen , with 2 Marsh Harriers overhead. At Le Pulec were 16 Curlews , 2 Cormorants , a Shag and 2 Little Egrets . In Petit Port Bay were a pair of Shelduck , a single Curlew , 7 Brent Geese and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls . Moving East past Grosnez were 158 Lesser Black-backed Gulls ( incuding several intermedius ), 170 Herring Gulls, a Common Gull , a Mediterranean Gull , a Kittiwake , 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 54 Shags , 4 Cormorants , 2 Porpoises and 25+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins . Just a handful of passerines headed off North including 3 Meadow Pipits , 4 Goldfinches , 2 Linnets and also 17 Crows . At La Sente this morning were 41 Cattle Egrets , 16 Little Egrets , 16 Redshanks , a Greenshank , a pair of Shelduck , 2 White Wagtails and 3 Pied Wagtails . Around or flying over La Rocque were 100+ Brent Geese , 8 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Kingfisher . and at Grouville Marsh were 3 Common Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull . At Webber's Lane were 37 Brent Geese and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers . In Vallee des Vaux were 2 Bullfinches , 4 Greenfinches , a singing Goldcrest , a Firecrest , a singing "sooty-nosed" Chiffchaff and a Sparrowhawk , while in Le Petit Pre, opposite Trinity School, were 2 Firecrests , 2 Chiffchaffs and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker . A Dartford Warbler was singing at Noirmont this morning, while at Ouaisne were 12 Chiffchaffs including "sooty-nosed" birds, a Firecrest , a Snipe and a Raven . At Beaumont Marsh were 240 Brent Geese , a Teal , 11 Moorhens, 2 Pied Wagtails and a Firecrest , and off of Gorselands were a Peregrine and a Gannet . Evening update: Extras at La Rocque included 41 Curlews , 123 Oystercatchers , 11 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , 97 Grey Plovers , 63 Turnstones , 30 Sanderlings , 53 Dunlin , 7 Red-breasted Mergansers , 509 Brent Geese and 9 Ringed Plovers with another 111 Brent Geese at Seymour. A Crossbill flew over Mont les Vaux this afternoon and 5 Woodcock were over Vallee des Vaux this evening at Dusk. In St Peter's Valley near the Battle of Flowers shed were 2 Bullfinches , a Chaffinch , Chiffchaff , a Firecrest and a Goldcrest and in St Aubin's Harbour were 10 Redshanks and 3 Grey Plovers . Seen from Grosnez late afternoon were 4 Teal offshore, and around the castle, 30 Meadow Pipits . A Firecrest was singing at West Hill in St Helier. At Grands Vaux reservoir were 8 Tufted Duck . In the fields opposite La Sente this afternoon were 9 Cattle Egrets and at La Sente were 25 Little Egrets . Another 6 Little Egrets were on Rue du Pont. Yesterday evening, 30 Dunlin , 12 Redshanks and 3 Grey Plovers were feeding at Gorey Harbour. Below : A Harbour Porpoise below Grosnez this morning MD

08.03.2025 And they're off. Wigeon on the Scrape this morning MD A mainly cloudy day with some showery rain, mild in a gusty south-easterly wind. A few birds passing Grosnez from sunrise included a Red-throated Diver, 8 Common Scoters , 10 Razorbills , 12 Fulmars , 3 Kittiwakes , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Porpoise being attended by the Gannets . 2 White Wagtails headed off to the North. At Sorel were 12 Song Thrushes, 11 Linnets , 3 Meadow PIpits a singing Chiffchaff and 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , and at Crabbe were 4 Ravens , a Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel , but again, no Hen Harriers were seen. On St Ouen's Pond were 32 Shovelers , 3 Tufted Duck , 2 male Pochard , 4 Teal , 3 Wigeon , 2 Shelduck, 2 Snipe , a Water Pipit and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and at the Scrape were 253 Brent Geese , the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , 10 Wigeon , 26 Teal , a Redshank , 6 Lapwings , 2 Snipe , a Water Pipit and a Raven , most of which were put up by a passing Sparrowhawk . At Petit Port were 6 Brent Geese , 11 Curlews , a Mediterranean Gull , 4 Great Black-backed Gulls and 6 Little Egrets and 2 Peregrines were seen near Corbiere. In Vallee des Vaux, singing birds included a Goldcrest , a Firecrest and a Blackcap , while at the Zoo were a Redwing , a Grey Wagtail , 7 Firecrests , a Bullfinch and 5 Chaffinches and in Rozel Harbour were 7 Brent Geese and a Little Egret .

07.03.2025 Lapwings displaying at the Scrape MD A more changeable day than of late, with some light showers early on, but sunshine later. Winds were southeast and strong at times. A Black-tailed Godwit visited La Sente this afternoon, but not much was changing today generally. Also at La Sente were 2 Shelducks , 400 Brent Geese , 28 Cattle Egrets , 27 Little Egrets , 41 Redshanks and 28 alba Wagtails . Around La Rocque were 57 Oystercatchers including the two Iclandic ringed birds, 89 Grey Plovers , 230 Sanderlings , 145 Dunlin , 76 Turnstones and 48 Curlews . At Causie Lane were 5 White Wagtails and 4 Pied Wagtails, and at Havre des Pas were 12 Brent Geese and a Little Egret . A male Black Redstart was new at Crabbe, but no reports so far today on the Hen Harriers there. Seen off Corbiere early morning were a Black-throated Diver , 5 Common Scoters , a Shelduck , 7 Guillemots , 18 Razorbills , 10 Gannets , a Fulmar , 9 Cormorants , a Common Gull , 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Peregrines and a pod of c12 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . In Petit Port Bay were 21 Brent Geese , 2 Shelducks and 4 Little Egrets . Seen from the Wetlands Centre at St Ouen's Pond this morning were 31 Shovelers , a male Pochard , 3 Tufted Ducks , 3 Little Grebes , just 2 Snipe and 13 Coot . On the Scrape were 120 Brent Geese , 31 Teal , 10 Wigeon , 6 very active Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Snipe and a Water Rail . At Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Teal , 9 Tufted Duck , a Grey Heron and 3 Chiffchaffs and in Queen's Valley were 2 Firecrests , 2 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest . At Gorey were 8 Pied Wagtails , 5 White Wagtails , 5 Great Crested Grebes and 28 Black-headed Gulls . 8 Woodcock flew over Vallee des Vaux at Dusk. Extras for yesterday evening were 50 Dunlin at La Haule and 2 more Redwings plus 11 Woodcock in Vallee des Vaux at Dusk.

06.03.2025 One of today's Purple Sandpipers at Corbiere MD A fine day in a cool south-easterly wind La Sente continues be popular with birds and seen there today were 500+ Brent Geese , 2 Shelducks , a Pintail , 23 Cattle Egrets , 22 Little Egrets , 3 Grey Herons , 2 Lapwings , 55 Redshanks , 5 Greenshanks , a White Wagtail , a Peregrine , a Buzzard and a Raven . A slow trickle of birds past Corbiere included a Great Northern Diver , 3 Red-throated Divers, 40 Razorbills , 6 Guillemots , a Common Scoter , 7 Fulmars , 14 Gannets , 25 Shags , 10 Cormorants , 11 Kittiwakes , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 48 Great Black-backed Gulls and an alba Wagtail . On the ground were 12 Purple Sandpipers , 10 Turnstones and a Song Thrush . At Petit Port were 21 Curlews and 4 Brent Geese plus the usual Oystercatchers and Little Egrets . A Common Scoter was close in near El Tico in St Ouen's Bay. On the North coast were 9 Fieldfares at Sorel and 9 Brent Geese at Rozel Harbour. At Beaumont Marsh were 320 Brent Geese and a single Chough was seen at Mont Rossignol, St Peter. At Mont a lAbbe was a Redwing and a Firecrest was singing on Grouville Hill. On Grands Vaux reservoir were 16 Tufted Ducks and at Queen's Valley were a Firecrest in song, 14 Tufted Ducks and 8 Cattle Egrets . In Grouville Bay were 3 White Wagtails , 3 Pied Wagtails and in Vallee des Vaux were a Goldcrest and another singing Firecrest . Below : Causing a brief flutter in a large garden near St John's Village this morning was this female Steppe Eagle , before jesses were seen. Given this may be the only time we can ever report on this species here ( she has been rounded up and returned to her aviary ), a picture of the escapee: Steppe Eagle in St John MD.