03.05.2024 A male Whitethroat in display at Les Landes MD
A clear day in a cool southwest wind
New to La Sente this morning was a Black-tailed Godwit, with a Common Sandpiper, a White Wagtail, 5 House Martins and a Swallow and at Anneport were 6 Whimbrels.
A pair of Garganey appeared on the Scrape this afternoon, and also present during the day were 4 Barnacle Geese, the Pink-footed Goose, a Redshank, an overflying Curlew, a Wheatear and a Whitethroat, with a Snipe at the Pond. Elsewhere in St Ouen's Bay, a Wheatear was on the north side of the Pond, 3 Little Grebes, 6 Tufted Ducks, a Sedge Warbler, several Reed Warblers and a Blackcap were at Kempt Tower pools and 3 Whitethroats were in Les Ormes Valley. On the Sandpits were a Shelduck, 28 Tufted Ducks, a male Wigeon, 4 Oystercatchers, a White Wagtail, 30 Sand Martins and a male Marsh Harrier. On Mont Matthieu were a Little Grebe, a singing Whitethroat, 5 Sand Martins, 15 House Martins and a Swallow.
Around Les Landes this morning were 3 Whitethroats, a Wheatear, a White Wagtail, a male Stonechat, 18 Swallows and single House Martin and Sand Martin, 6 Choughs, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier and 3 Buzzards.
3 pale-bellied Brent remained at Le Perquage in St Aubin's Bay and another Chough was in flight over St Peter's Village.
A Whimbrel at Petit Port this week MD
14.11.2025 A regular winter visitor, this Oystercatcher ringed on Chausey has spent the last couple of winters in Grouville Bay RdC Passing Victoria Tower this morning were 967 Chaffinch , 4 Brambling , 56 Siskin , 161 Starling , 59 Redwing , 7 Song Thrush and 3 Blackbird . At St Aubin were a Kingfisher , 29 Redshank , 4 Little Egret , 3 Cormorant and 225 Brent Geese which included 40 Pale-bellied while at Beaumont Marsh were 20 Brent Geese , 2 Snipe , 3 Meadow Pipit and 2 White Wagtail . In the Marina were a Kingfisher and a Black Redstart while a Woodcock was rescued from the Esplanade by the JSPCA and later released successfully in Vallee des Vaux. Elsewhere 2 Siskin and 5 Chiffchaff were at Grands Vaux, 250 Chaffinch on Talavera Lane, 300 Chaffinch , 3 Brambling , 15 Linnet and 40 Goldfinch on La Rue Jutize, 13 Skylark and a Snipe on La Rue du Moulin a Vent, 18 Skylark and 2 Snipe on Mont es Neaux and 2 Firecrest , 4 Goldcrest and 4 Redwing in Vallee des Vaux.
13.11.2025 A first winter Great Black-backed Gull in St Ouen's Bay recently, ringed as a chick at Le Havre in France back in June RdC There were a few more birds passing over Victoria Tower this morning with 884 Starling , 363 Redwing , 24 Song Thrush , 6 Blackbird , a Skylark , 391 Chaffinch , 6 Brambling , 28 Siskin , 31 Goldfinch , 3 Pied Wagtail , 3 Meadow Pipit , 62 Woodpigeon and 42 Stock Dove with 3 Blackcap , 3 Firecrest and 7 Goldcrest on the ground there. At Grouville Marsh were 45 Chiffchaff , 30 Blackcap , 5 Goldcrest , 5 Firecrest , 8 Cetti's Warbler , 5 Reed Bunting , 6 Stonechat , a Grey Wagtail , 8 Siskin , 60 Jackdaw , 8 Water Rail and 4 Cattle Egret while flying over were 55 Redwing , 4 Song Thrush , 25 Chaffinch , a Brambling , 200 Starling and a Skylark . 55 Cattle Egret were along La Lourderie today.
12.11.2025 One of the many Chiffchaff that are moving through the island, this one was photographed at St Ouen's Pond by Tom Frazer. It was another quiet morning at Victoria Tower with just 80 Starling , 18 Skylark , 8 Song Thrush , 6 Blackbird , a Redwing , 72 Chaffinch , a Brambling , 14 Siskin , 10 Goldfinch , 5 Meadow Pipit and a Blackcap . Along St Clements inner road were 42 Cattle Egret with another 31 along La Lourderie and 2 more at La Sente along with 5 Grey Heron . 8 Siskin were in a St Clements garden, 7 Greenshank were at Queen's Valley and 20 Brent Geese were at Harve des Pas. At St Aubin were 250 Brent Geese with included 65 Pale-bellied and 30 Redshank . Seen at Le Pulec were 210 Oystercatcher , 24 Curlew , 27 Cormorant and 11 Little Egret while up at Les Landes were a Peregrine , 2 Kestrel , a Skylark , a Stonechat and 3 Chough . Yesterday afternoon at Le Pulec were 18 Rock Pipit and 11 Little Egret , up at Plemont were 200 Chaffinch and 8 Reed Bunting while at Crabbe were 75 Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting . In Vallee des Vaux were 4 Redwing and 2 Goldcrest and at Noirmont in the evening were a Short-eared Owl , 2 Snipe and a passage of Redwing flying over.
11.11.2025 A small flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls resting in St Ouen's Bay RdC In the Sandpits this morning were 8 Little Grebe , 74 Coot , 38 Tufted Duck and a Lesser Black-backed Gull while at St Ouens Pond were 28 Shoveler and 2 Little Grebe with 35 Ringed Plover roosting nearby. Passing over Victoria Tower were 82 Chaffinch , a Brambling , 3 Song Thrush , 3 Blackbird , 2 Meadow Pipit and 4 Goldcrest. 79 Cattle Egret were along Causie lane with another 36 along La Lourderie which are likely to mostly the same birds moving around. 12 Grey Heron were at La Sente. Yesterday evening at St Ouens Pond were 350 Starling , 6 Snipe , a Woodcock , 2 Reed Bunting , 3 Chiffchaff and a Water Rail .
10.11.2025 The male Yellow-crowned Bishop is still here, frequenting the reedbeds on the south canal at the Scrape. Thanks to Frank le Quesne for the brilliant photo. Seen in Grouville Bay this morning were 260 Sanderling , 48 Dunlin , 137 Grey Plover , 21 Ringed Plover , a Bar-tailed Godwit and 28 Turnstone while at La Hocq were 2 Chough . At St Aubins were 29 Redshank , 2 Turnstone , 65 Black-headed Gull and a Mediterranean Gull . St Ouen's Pond held 25 Shoveler , 3 Little Grebe , 2 Snipe , 2 Cormorant and 2 Marsh Harrier .
09.11.2025 A Reed Bunting in the sunshine at St Ouen's Pond, thanks to Tom Frazer for the lovely photo. Seen at La Rocque this morning were the first 8 Red-breasted Merganser of the winter, 215 Oystercatcher , 78 Turnstone , 70 Dunlin , 65 Grey Plover , 2 Redshank , a Great Crested Grebe , 2 Sandwich Tern and 3 Pied Wagtail . It was quiet up at Victoria Tower with 234 Starling , 20 Redwing , 4 Song Thrush , 2 Blackbird , 3 Skylark , 141 Woodpigeon , 18 Stock Dove , a Snipe , 174 Chaffinch , 4 Brambling , 14 Siskin , 13 Greenfinch , 7 Goldfinch , 13 Meadow Pipit , 2 Pied Wagtail passing over while on the ground were 2 Blackcap , 4 Chiffchaff , 5 Goldcrest and 2 Firecrest . At Grouville Marsh were 35 Chiffchaff , 15 Blackcap , 12 Firecrest , a Goldcrest , 6 Reed Bunting , 14 Siskin , 8 Cetti's Warbler , 2 Bullfinch , 3 Stonechat , 2 Grey Wagtail , 30 Chaffinch , 2 Brambling , 45 Jackdaw , a Skylark , 5 Redwing , 6 Song Thrush and a Sparrowhawk while in fields near to the Parish Hall were 200 Chaffinch , 3 Brambling , 3 Reed Bunting , 15 Goldfinch and 2 Stonechat . At St Ouen's Pond scrape were 68 Lapwing , a Kingfisher , 6 Reed Bunting , 2 Stonechat and 7 Marsh Harrier while on the beach nearby were 28 Ringed Plover , 8 Great Black-backed Gull and 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull with another 75 passing Corbiere earlier. In Vallee des Vaux this afternoon were a Fieldfare , 30 Redwing , 4 Goldcrest , 2 Firecrest and a Grey Wagtail with 2 Woodcock seen near Surville Manor.
08.11.2025 The Yellow-browed Warbler at Ouaisne this morning, thanks to Dave Buxton. It was quieter on the visible migration front today but seen passing over Victoria Tower were 83 Song Thrush , 79 Redwing , 12 Blackbird , 9 Skylark , 52 Starling , a Redpoll , 192 Chaffinch , a Brambling , 28 Greenfinch , 18 Linnet , 4 Siskin , a Reed Bunting , 3 Pied Wagtail , 39 Woodpigeon , 11 Stock Dove and 4 Brent Geese while on the ground were a Black Redstart , 3 Chiffchaff , a Blackcap and 2 Goldcrest . Down at Ouaisne were a Yellow-browed Warbler , 20 Chiffchaff , 25 Goldcrest , 6 Firecrest , 2 Blackcap , 2 Song Thrush , 2 Redwing and 2 Woodcock while flying over were 450 Woodpigeon , 140 Siskin , 20 Chaffinch , a Brambling , 2 Skylark , 2 Raven , 2 Marsh Harrier and a pale Buzzard . Seen in the Sandpits were 25 Tufted Duck , 6 Pochard , 35 Coot , 2 Little Grebe , a Grey Heron , 2 Stonechat and 2 Marsh Harrier while nearby at St Ouens Pond were 29 Shoveler , 11 Teal , 3 Little Grebe , 4 Lapwing , 3 Snipe , a Water Rail , a Grey Heron , 6 Marsh Harrier , 30 Starling , 2 Blackcap and 3 Reed Bunting and a t Corbiere were 38 Curlew , 3 Purple Sandpiper and 7 Brent Geese . A Kingfisher was seen again in Queen's Valley and at Beaumont Marsh were 5 Brent Geese , 2 Snipe and a Grey Wagtail .
07.11.2025 Just some of the 101 Cattle Egret in St Clement this morning! Thanks to Alan Gicquel for the photo. It was a fruitful morning over Victoria Tower again with 3,137 Redwing , 63 Song Thrush , 11 Blackbird , 5 Skylark , a Serin , 1,069 Chaffinch , 19 Brambling , 140 Siskin , 8 Linnet , a Grey Wagtail , 15 Stock Dove , 2 Grey Heron and a Cormorant while on the ground were 3 Chiffchaff , 2 Blackcap , a Firecrest and 4 Goldcrest . A great count of 101 Cattle Egret were in fields along Causie lane and 933 Brent Geese were in Grouville Bay. At Grouville Marsh this morning were 45 Chiffchaff , 10 Firecrest , 2 Goldcrest , 2 Grey Wagtail , 16 Siskin , 4 Bullfinch , 20 Song Thrush , 10 Blackbird , 8 Cetti's Warbler , 2 Reed Bunting , a Woodcock , 4 Stonechat , 6 Water Rail and 4 Teal while flying over were 850 Redwing , 130 Chaffinch , a Brambling , 8 Skylark , a Snipe , a Greenshank and 2 Marsh Harrier . In fields near to the Parish hall were 150 Chaffinch and 20 Goldfinch . At Petit Port were 44 Mediterranean Gull , a Kingfisher , a Grey Heron and 11 Little Egret with 52 Turnstone , a Purple Sandpiper and a Black Redstart at Corbiere. A check of St Aubins found 24 Redshank and a Grey Wagtail and a Goldcrest was picked up after flying into the windows of the RBC building on the Esplande, but was happily released after a short rest.
06.11.2025 One of today's Skylarks , flying over the bunker at Noirmont. Image: MD A day of varying amounts of cloud, but feeling warm at 16c in a moderate southerly wind After yesterday's relatively quiet scene, visible migrants were back in numbers this morning. Seen from Victoria Tower were 3,861 Redwings , 2 Mistle Thrushes , 8 Song Thrushes , 3 Blackbirds , 2 Skylarks , 3,186 Starlings, 146 Chaffinches , 5 Bramblings , 37 Siskins , 36 Linnets , 6 Goldfinches , 102 Woodpigeons , 2 Pied Wagtails , 3 Meadow Pipits , 4 Goldcrests and a Firecrest . It always amazes, how different the species mix can be between Victoria Tower and Noirmont, less than ten miles apart. Today's counts at Noirmont included 3,677 Woodpigeons , 16 Stock Doves, a Woodlark , 32 Skylarks , 303 Starlings , 44 Song Thrushes, just a single Redwing , a Mistle Thrush , 4 Blackbirds , 3 Stonechats , a Lapwing , 1,192 Chaffinches , 9 Siskins , 3 Bramblings , 5 Goldfinches , 17 Greenfinches , 10 Linnets , 68 Meadow Pipits , 5 Pied Wagtails , 2 arriving Blue Tits , a Dartford Warbler , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls , also a Peregrine , a Sparrowhawk , 3 Buzzards and 8 Ravens . In Les Ormes Valley from Dawn, were a late Swallow , 2 Firecrests , 5 Goldcrests , 6 Chiffchaffs , 8 Blackcaps , 2 Bullfinches , a Water Rail, 60 Song Thrushes , 35 Redwings , 15 Blackbirds , 130 Starlings , 4 Skylarks , a Fieldfare , 8 Siskins , 5 Bramblings , 120 Chaffinches , 2 Meadow Pipits , 2 Linnets ,, also 17 Black-headed Gulls, a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier . On Ouaisne Common were a Woodcock , 3 Firecrests , 5 Goldcrests , 25 Chiffchaffs , 2 Blackcaps , 3 Song Thrushes , a Skylark , a Siskin , 8 Ravens and a Marsh Harrier . At St Catherine's were 105 Brent Geese and a Grey Seal, and In Grouville Bay were 800 Brent Geese including one pale-bellied bird , these counts including a good number of juveniles. On Grouville Common were q flock of 30 Starlings , 2 Stonechats , 4 Pied Wagtails , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , 2 Firecrests and 2 Long-tailed Tits .
05.11.2025 A Goldcrest at Pont Marquet this week. Image: MD A cloud and grey day, mild in a fresh to strong southeast wind. Early movement over Victoria Tower this morning included 296 Redwings , 3 Song Thrushes, 3 Blackbirds , 280 Starlings , 274 Chaffinches , 4 Bramblings , 4 Goldfinches , and 123 Siskins , with 6 Goldcrests , 2 Firecrests and 4 Chiffchaffs also there. A quieter morning at Noirmont saw a Great Northern Diver flying over the headland, and among the more regular species were 1,130 Woodpigeons, 2 Skylarks , 255 Chaffinches , 18 Goldfinches , 2 Linnets , 14 Redwings , 2 Song Thrushes , 60 Meadow Pipits , 7 Stonechats , a Dartford Warbler , a Marsh Harrier , a Sparrowhawk , 5 Ravens , 2 Choughs and a Grey Heron . 29 Shovelers were on St Ouen's Pond and 2 Teal plus a Grey Heron were at Kempt Tower pools. At the Scrape were 13 Marsh Harriers and a Grey Heron . At Petit Port were 27 Curlews and a Mediterranean Gull and in Beaumont Marsh were 4 Brent Geese , 4 Ravens , a Grey Wagtail and 2 Pied Wagtails . This evening , Redwings were in flight over La Pouquelaye and yesterday evening, Redwings were heard in flight over both Noirmont and Vallee des Vaux.
