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05/05/2024. A drake Garganey on the Scrape at St Ouen's Pond.  MD


Showers this morning, but a sunny afternoon with light south-easterly winds.


There was some seabird movement at La Corbiere early this morning including 5 Common Scoters, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Fulmars, 42 Gannets, 4 Common Terns, 11 Kittiwakes, 19 Lesser black-backed Gulls, 35 Great black-backed Gulls, 4 Guillemots also seen a Purple Sandpiper and 5 Swallows. Round the corner at Petit Port 2 Brent Geese and a pair of Shelduck.


At St Ouen's Pond Scrape a drake Garganey, a drake Shelduck, 1 Greenshank, a Redshank, Lapwings with 2 young and a single Yellow Wagtail. 3 Swifts were over Plemont, a White Wagtail was on the Farmers Cricket Pitch at St Martin and a Firecrest was singing in Valley des Vaux. Sparrowhawks were seen at Green Island and at Bel Royal.


At La Sente a single Brent Goose, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshanks, a Redshank, 12 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins and 5 White Wagtails.

by Michael Dryden 8 May 2026
08.05.2026 Reed Warbler at Kempt Tower pools MD A fair to fine day and becoming warm in a fresh southeast wind. Seen during a ringing session at the north end of St Ouen's Pond this morning were a male Whinchat , a Greenland Wheatear , 25 Sedge Warblers , 20 Reed Warblers , a singing Whitethroat , a Water Rail , a pair of Shelduck , a Grey Heron , 12 Swifts , 2 Ravens , a Barn Owl and a trickle of Swallows passing through. At the Sandpits were 12 Tufted Duck , a Shelduck , a Reed Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, 60 Sand Martins and 6 Lesser Black-backe d Gulls. In Les Ormes Valley were 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Dartford Warblers , 2 Whitethroats and 2 Cetti's Warblers . A visit to Les Ecrehous saw 12 Common Terns , a Gannet , 80 Oystercatchers , 2 Grey Plovers , a Whimbrel and 2 Rock Pipits . Early on, passing Corbiere were a pair of Shelduck , 11 Gannets , 7 Swallows and 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and in Petit Port Bay were 2 Curlews , another pair of Shelduck and 78 Oystercatchers. Near the Desalination Plant at La Rosiere were 3 Tree Pipits which landed hear the Railway Walk, a Whitethroat , 5 Dartford Warblers including a family feeding young, a female Stonechat , a Blackcap and a Jay . A further 2 Whitethroats , a singing Dartford Warbler , 5 Swallows and a Blackcap were at Noirmont.
by Michael Dryden 7 May 2026
07.05.2026 Whitethroats are on the Island in good numbers at the moment. This male is holding territory very vocally, near the Scrape MD A dry but cold-feeling day in a fresh easterly wind. 2 Spoonbills flew over the Pond and Scrape mid-morning, but have not been relocated since. In the Scrape area were 4 Whimbrels , the Shelduck pair, a male Shoveler , 3 Swift , 20 Swallows , 25 Sand Martins , 3 Lapwings , a pair of Oystercatchers , a Whitethroat and plenty of Reed Warblers . The Green Sandpiper of recent days has not be reported today. A Sedge Warbler was singing on the East side of the Pond. Seen early morning at Sorel were 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whitethroats , 12 Linnets , a male Stonechat , a Dartford Warbler in song and 2 Peregrines hunting together. At Plemont were 6 Razorbills , 3 Swifts , 8 Swallows , a Dartford Warbler , a Swallowtail butterfy and good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies too. At La Rosiere were a singing Whitethroat , 2 Choughs and another Swallowtail plus 20 Painted Ladies . 3 Tufted Duck were at the millpond in St Peter, while at the Jersey Cider Orchard in trinity were a singing Garden Warbler and 2 Bullfinches . Another Garden Warbler was in song along Route d'Ebenezer and Long-tailed Tits were being fed by adults on Rue du Moulin de Bas in Grouville. A Pied Wagtail was seen in New Street, St Helier.
by Michael Dryden 6 May 2026
06.05.2026 The Green Sandpiper at St Ouen's Pond Scrape this morning. MD A mainly cloudy to overcast day, dry but feeling cold in a moderate northeasterly wind. In Grouville Marsh this morning were a Cuckoo , 8 Sedge Warblers , 15 Reed Warblers , 10 Chiffchaffs , one wearing a Spanish ring, and a Grey Heron . The Hoopoe was still near la Route des Augerez and was heard singing at one point, and a Puffin was seen at Plemont. On the Scrape were a Green Sandpiper , 4 Lapwings , the pair of Oystercatcher , a pair of Shelduck , a male Shoveler , 2 Chough , and 2 singing Whitethroats plus good numbers of Reed Warblers , while flying over were a Black-headed Gull , 5 Yellow Wagtails , 50+ Swallows , 25 Sand Martins , 8 Swifts and a Peregrine with prey, probably a pigeon sp. At the Wetland Centre were a (the?) Green Sandpiper and 3 Stonechats . At the Kempt Tower pools were 2 Tufted Duck , 10+ Reed Warblers, 2 Swifts , and a Blackcap . At Noirmont were a Wheatear , 2 singing Whitethroats and 2 Dartford Warblers and a quiet morning at Corbiere saw just 4 Guillemots , a Fulmar , another pair of Shelduck , 16 Gannets , and 4 Cormorants plus 15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins , in one hour. A third pair of Shelduck , a Grey Heron and a Curlew were in Petit Port Bay. Extra reports from yesterday included a Hobby over Mont les Vaux, 3 Curlews at Lady's Rock, the Hoopoe at Route des Augerez, and a Blackcap , a Chiffchaff and a Greenfinch at Jardin d'Olivet. On Portelet Common were a Redstart , a Goldcrest , a Mistle Thrush and 40 Crows near to La Cotte.
by Michael Dryden 5 May 2026
05.05.2026 It's that time of year! A male Stonechat feeding a hungry mouth at the Wetland Centre this morning MD. Rain lurked South and East of the Island all day, but very little actually fell in Jersey. Cloudy conditions made it a cold-feeling day in a moderate northeast wind. Passing Grosnez in the early overcast were a Great Northern Diver , 5 Gannets , 18 Fulmars , 4 Cormorants , 65 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 35 Great Black-backed Gulls , 19 Swifts , 14 Swallows , 4 Linnets , 2 Peregrines , 3 Buzzards and a Raven . At Le Pulec were a Whimbrel a pair of Shelduck and 3 Little Egrets . In St Ouen's Bay, at Kempt Tower ponds, were a drake Shoveler , 2 pairs of Tufted Duck , 2 singing Little Grebes , and a singing Sedge Warbler . On Les Mielles de Morville were 2 singing Whitethroats and a Cetti's Warbler . At St Ouen's Pond were 5 Swifts , 100+ Swallows , 20 Sand Martins , 10 House Martins , 2 male Shovelers , 4 Tufted Ducks , several singing Reed Warblers and a family of 4 Stonechat . A Green Sandpiper , a pair of Shelduck , a male Shoveler , Oystercatchers on eggs, a Lapwing and 3 Choughs .
by Michael Dryden 4 May 2026
04.05.2025 . This fine Melodious Warbler was ringed and released at Grouville Marsh this morning, image courtesy of David Buxton A fair to cloudy day in a light northerly wind, Also at Grouville Marsh this morning was a Garden Warbler, and 2 Swifts were over Gorey Village and a further 3 Swifts were at Elizabeth Harbour with 110 Oystercatchers at Elizabeth Castle. Odds and ends seen passing Corbiere included 2 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 3 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , a flock of 10 Black-headed Gulls , 33 Shags , 43 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Marsh Harrier , a Curlew , 5 Swallows and a Grey Seal , with a Sedge Warbler in song there near the lower car park. In Petit Port Bay were two pairs of Shelduck at war with each other, 5 Whimbrels and a Grey Heron . On La Rosiere common were 42 Crows , 8 Jackdaws , a Raven , 2 Swallows and 2 Whitethroats , also a Painted Lady butterfly. Around St Ouen's Pond were a pair of Shelduck , 3 Grey Herons - one a possible juvenile bird, 4 Shoveler , 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Swifts , a Water Pipit , a Stonechat , and Reed Warblers and on the Scrape were a pair of Shelduck , 2 Whimbrels , 4 Lapwings and 2 Oystercatchers . At Kempt Tower pools were 2 Little Grebes, a Stonechat , a Greenfinch , a Reed Warble r and a Chiffchaff. Around Noirmont were a Whitethroat , a Dartford Warbler , and a Wheatear . 2 Swallowtail butterflies were on Portelet Common. At Plemont were 5 Razorbills , 13 Fulmars , 2 Ravens , 3 Swallows and c20 Linnets feeding. In St Catherine's Woods were a Redstart , a Song Thrush , a Blackcap , a Firecrest , a Greenfinch , a Swallow and a further 2 Painted Ladies .
3 May 2026
03.05.2026 A Purple Sandpiper roosting at Corbiere. RdC Mainly cloudy this morning, but sunny this afternoon, light westerly winds. A ringing session early this morning at St Ouen's Pond found 20 Sedge and 25 Reed Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears, 30 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 8 House Martins, 2 Grey Herons, a drake Wigeon, 2 drake Shovelers and 6 Tufted Ducks. Late morning 6 Buzzards were overhead and a Common Sandpiper was seen. At the Scrape, a Golden Plover, 5 Whimbrels, a pair of Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings and a pair of Shelduck. A Common Sandpiper was at Le Pulec. At Petit Port, 3 Whimbrels and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. Roosting at Corbiere were 8 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Turnstones. At Noirmont this morning, a Cuckoo, 2 male Whitethroats holding territory, and a Swallowtail Butterfly. On the north coast at Plemont, 3 Puffins, 6 Razorbills, 5 Swifts, 120 Swallows over and a Peregrine Falcon. A Cettis's Warbler was singing on Mont Matthieu and at Handois 4 Tufted Ducks and a singing Firecrest. Yesterday evening at St Ouen's Pond, 2 Water Rails, a Wheatear and a singing Reed Bunting.
by Romano da Costa 2 May 2026
02.05.2026 A handsome Lesser Black-backed Gull on the southwest coast RdC Seen on the Scrape this morning were a Golden Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 4 Swift, 11 Swallow, a Whinchat and 3 Reed Warbler. At Le Pulec were a Shelduck, 2 Little Egret and 28 Oystercatcher with 37 Swallow at L'Etacq and 15 Swallow near Grosnez. Up at Plemont were 2 Razorbill, a Peregrine, 5 Swift, 17 Swallow, 8 Fulmar and 2 Raven while at Sorel were 2 Whitethroat, 25 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin and 2 Marsh Harrier. Seen at Grouville Marsh were 6 Sedge Warbler, 9 Reed Warbler, 3 bullfinch, 4 House Martin and 8 Swallow.
by Michael Dryden 1 May 2026
01.05.2026 Garden Warblers are being seen moving through the Island now with the first having been seen and in song in Samares Manor grounds on the 27th April. Image: MD A Hoopoe was a welcome visitor to a garden off Route des Augerez in St Peter and 2 Yellow Wagtails were in a horsefield at Grantez. Reported from the north side of St Ouen's Pond from first light were 5 Sedge Warblers , 15 Reed Warblers , 2 Blackcaps , a singing Reed Bunting , a Wheatear , a Shoveler and a Peregrine , also 15 Painted Lady butterflies. On and around the Scrape were 3 Shelduck , a pair of Coot with 4 young, a Black-headed Gull , a Caspian Gull , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 6 Whimbrels , 2 Wheatears , 3 Swallows , a male Shoveler , a pair of Oystercatcher , a Sedge Warbler , several Reed Warblers , a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier which took a Lapwing chick. On the Sand dunes were 2 Garden Warblers and in the Sandpits were good numbers of Sand Martins , a Shelduck , 6 Oystercatchers and an alba Wagtail . At Le Pulec were 4 Little Egrets and 3 Cormorants . In Grouville Bay were 2 Shelduck and 3 Whitethroats were singing at Sorel. A further 2 Whitethroats were at Noirmont also a Chiffchaff and Greenfinch , plus another 16 Painted Ladies . 5 Buzzards were seen in flight over Mont Felard in St Lawrence. One extra for yesterday was a Greenland Wheatear on Grouville Common
30 April 2026
30.04.2026 female Shelduck at the Scrape today. A decreasing easterly wind and feeling warm this afternoon. Waders in St Ouen's Bay this morning included, 33 Ringed Plovers, 15 Sanderling and 5 Dunlin at Le Port. Nine Whimbrels flew into the Scrape, also seen there was a drake Shoveler, a Shelduck, 2 Lapwings with 2 chicks, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears. At Les Landes 5 Wheatears and a pair of Stonechats. North of the Airport a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Sparrowhawk and singing Skylarks. Up at Victoria Tower 5 Swifts and a Sparrowhawk. In Grouville Bay 6 Bar-tailed Godwits. Yesterday evening a Teal was still on the Scrape and 4 Common Sandpipers were at Sands Slip, St Ouen's Bay.
29 April 2026
29.04.2026. A nice image of a Rock Pipit at La Corbiere. RdC A strong easterly wind, cloudy with a few brighter spells. The weather kept passerine sightings to a minimum, but there were a few waders around today. In Grouville Bay a Whimbrel, 2 Sanderlings and a Common Sandpiper. In St Ouen's Bay at Sands Slip, 123 Bar-tailed Godwits flew in from the north, 20 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin and 2 Sanderlings. At Le Braye Sandpit, 2 Grey Herons, 10Swifts, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, c80 Sand Martins, and a Cetti's Warbler. Four Whimbrels landed on Les Mielles Golf Course. Over St Ouen's Pond at least 50 House Martins and 10 Swifts.
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