03.04.2025 A Redshank in transitional plumage on St Ouen's Pond Scrape today MD
A fine morning was replaced by a wet afternoon, in a fresh easterly wind.
Hirundines are starting to show in better numbers around the Island, now April is with us. On St Ouen's Pond, and over the Pond, were a Redshank, a Dunlin, 2 Oystercatchers, 6 Lapwings, 39 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 5 Shovelers, a pair of Shelduck, a Grey Heron, at least 8 Swallows, 4 Sand Martins, a Merlin in the Trois Roches, a Wheatear, and a summer-plumaged Water Pipit, while at Kempt Tower were 3 Shovelers, and 4 Tufted Duck, at in St Ouen's Bay were 3 Sandwich Terns.
A selection of species passing Grosnez this morning included 4 Guillemots, 5 Razorbills, 40 Gannets, 21 Fulmars, 2 Kittiwakes, 19 Sandwich Terns, 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Swallows, 7 Sandwich Terns, 163 Linnets, 15 Goldfinches, 12 Meadow Pipits, 2 Peregrines, a Raven, 2 Choughs, 17 Crows heading off North, and a Buzzard heading to Guernsey, while on Les Landes were a Wheatear, 4 Swallows, a Sand Martin and good numbers of Meadow Pipits. Seen from Plemont were a Wheatear, another 3 Swallows, 4 Razorbills and 19 Lesser Black- backed Gulls.
At Corbiere were 17 Purple Sandpipers, 19 Turnstones and 2 Swallows, while in Petit Port were 2 Shelduck and 4 Curlew. 17 Little Egrets were sitting out the high tide in Stinky Bay at Le Pulec.
At Ruelle es Ruaux were 80 pale-bellied and 8 dark-bellied Brent Geese, with another 8 dark-bellied Brent Geese at Havre des Pas and a further 17 Brent Geese on Elizabeth Castle as well as 200 Oystercatchers and 3 Little Egrets. 2 Kestrels were on Mount Bingham and a Dartford Warbler was at Bouley Bay.
On the North coast at Sorel were 5 Swallows, a Meadow Pipit and 6 Linnets flying over and a Buzzard arriving off the sea. At La Piece Mauger in St Martin were 13 Cattle Egrets. On Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Teal, a Tufted Duck, a singing Firecrest and a Sparrowhawk and in Vallee des Vaux were 2 Bullfinches and another singing Firecrest.
In La Sente were 32 Cattle Egrets and 62 Brent Geese and at Le Hurel in St Ouen's Bay were 540 Brent Geese plus 2 Grey Herons. In Grouville Marsh were a male Shoveler, 2 White Wagtails, 4 Water Rails and 2 singing Cetti's Warbler, while at Queen's Valley were 2 singing Firecrests.On Grouville Common was a Wheatear.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin