Jersey Birds

13.02.2025 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are trickling back into the Island, laying claim to being our first Spring migrants! MD A calm but cold and mainly cloudy day , with the Easterly wind still holding sway Not much is changing on a daily basis at the moment, so 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls arriving at Corbiere this morning were a welcome sight. Other birds passing Corbiere included 5 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver , 2 Common Scoters , a Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Razorbills , a Guillemot , 6 Fulmars , 31 Gannets , 45 Shags , 7 Kittiwakes , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 45 Great Black-backed Gulls , 45 Curlews flying in to roost in Petit Port Bay and 20 Purple Sandpipers plus 9 Turnstones were roosting near to Corbiere too. 2 Peregrines were in the vicinity again, plus a Raven . In Petit Port Bay were 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 25 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Shelduck , 11 Brent Geese and 8 Turnstones . At St Ouen's Pond were 15 Wigeon , 10 Shovelers , 7 Pochard , 75 Lapwings , 11 Snipe , a Little Grebe , a Chiffchaff and a massive 570 Brent Geese . In Beaumont Marsh were a male Shoveler , a Teal , 6 Siskins , a Stonechat , a Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk . Along the North coast, 2 Brent Geese were at Roxel Harbour with 6 Cattle Egrets at Rozel Manor, a further 2 Cattle Egrets were on Route des Augerez, a Fulmar , a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk were at Bouley Bay, a male and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier were at Crabbe and 2 Fulmars plus 2 Ravens were at Greve de Lecq. A Kingfisher was seen at Queen's Valley and 3 Tufted Duck plus 2 Grey Wagtails were at Grands Vaux reservoir. Yesterday evening, a Short-eared Owl was at Egypt.

12.02.2025 A recent image of a Great Crested Grebe at La Rocque, taken by Romano RDC A cold and mainly cloudy day in a fresh easterly wind At La Sente this morning were 2 Shelduck , 152 Brent Geese , 11 Grey Herons, a Lesser Black-backed Gull , a Marsh Harrier, 66 Redshanks and 5 Greenshanks . A further 14 Brent Geese and a Curlew were at Fliquet and on Grande Route de Rozel was a single Cattle Egret . On and around Queen's Valley reservoir were 12 Tufted Duck, 20 Redwings , 4 Siskins and 3 Bullfinches . Some early passage at Corbiere included 7 Red-throated Divers , a male Red-breasted Merganser , 21 Brent Geese feeding on the causeway again, 13 Razorbills , a Guillemot , 55 auk sp , unidentified due to their distance, 7 Fulmars , 70 Gannets , 6 Cormorants , 27 Kittiwakes , 15 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 59 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Purple Sandpiper and also 2 Peregrines . In Petit Port were 2 pairs of Shelducks , 6 Brent Geese , 20 Curlews , 52 Black-headed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls . At St Aubin's Harbour were 28 Redshanks and 2 Turnstones and on Beaumont Marsh were 2 Shovelers and 6 Brent Geese . In the backfields at St Ouen's Pond were 400 Brent Geese , on the Pond were 10 Coot and 7 Tufted Ducks and on Mont Matthieu were 11 Redwings , 3 Song Thrushes and 2 Choughs . In St Peter's Vally, at La Hague reservoir, were 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks , 3 Coot and 4 Moorhens . At Mont a L'Abbe were 200 Crows , a Grey Wagtail and 15 Redwings and at Grands Vaux reservoir were a single Tufted Duck , a Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk .

11.02.2025 A Cormorant on the South Canal at St Ouen's Pond MD A cold and cloudy day in a light Easterly wind (7c) At least it was dry! A little early movement past Corbiere this morning, which petered out after 9 am, included 21 Brent Geese feeding on the causeway, 58 Razorbills , 13 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 38 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 25 Kittiwakes , 9 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Common Gulls , 36 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Grey Heron , 2 Peregrines and 5 Goldfinches . 4 Harbour Porpoises were offshore. 34 Curlews were at Petit Port. In the backfields behind St Ouen's Pond were 15 Skylarks , 20 Starlings , 4 Marsh Harriers , the Pink-footed Goose with Barnacle Goose friend, and 7 Choughs . 2 Tufted Duck were on Kempt Tower pools while up on Mont Matthieu were 24 Redwings , 6 Song Thrushes and another 2 Tufted Duck . On the Scrape were 61 Lapwings , and a Stock Dove and in the Sandpits were 43 Tufted Duck and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls . 300+ Brent Geese were in Rue des Hetres in St Peter. In St Brelade's Bay were 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Great Crested Grebe and on Beaumont Marsh were 2 Teal , 2 Song Thrushes , a Chiffchaff and a Buzzard . 11 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm and another Cattle Egret was in fields near the Jersey Zoo. In St Helier Marina at dusk this evening were 212 mainly Pied Wagtails in a roost, 2 Kingfishers and a Great Crested Grebe Back to yesterday evening, when 12 Woodcock were over Vallee des Vaux, some of them in display flight.

10.02.2025 A drake Teal at the Wetland Centre this morning. MD A miserable day with rain through the morning and mainly grey skies this afternoon, winds from the East and a maximum of 6c Seen from the shelter of the Wetland Centre at St Ouen's Pond this morning were c 150 Brent Geese , 15 Wigeon , 23 Shovelers , 5 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 59 Lapwings , 9 Snipe , a Little Grebe , 44 Starlings , 2 Marsh Harriers , 4 Chough and a Chiffchaff . By La Tour Carre in St Ouen's Bay were 34 Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin and a Skylark . At St Ouen's Pond this evening were 250 Brent Geese and 12 Marsh Harriers . One Mistle Thrush was in fields by Grouville Marsh while at La Sente were 2 Shelduck , a Wigeon , 8 Grey Herons , 18 Little Egrets , 6 Redshanks and a Marsh Harrier . In Grouville Bay were 19 Curlews , 20 Turnstones and 4 Grey Plovers . At Grands Vaux were 70 Redwings and 50 Chaffinches . Below : A recent image of a Grey Heron on the Scrape MD

09.02.2025 Another fine image from Romano - a Grey Plover at La Rocque RDC A mainly dry day, with showers passing to the North of the Island, but cold (1c to 5c) in light Easterly winds. A busier morning at Corbiere saw 5 Pintails , 2 Shovelers , 4 Red-throated Divers , 2 Black-throated Divers , 461 Razorbills , 11 Guillemots , 7 Fulmars , 112 Gannets , a Brent Goose, 5 Cormorants , 10 Purple Sandpipers , 19 Kittiwakes , 11 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 52 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Grey Heron passing, also 2 Peregrines which took a Turnstone and offshore, 2 Porpoises , 6 Common Dolphins and a Grey Seal. At Petit Port were 22 Ringed Plovers , 8 Dunlin , 45 Curlews , 18 Turnstones , a Purple Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull . Another 5 Purple Sandpipers were at La Moye Point. In Portelet Bay were 9 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Chiffchaff. Off of Grosnez were 40 Gannets feeding over 6 Porpoises and a Raven and at Crabbe were an adult male and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier , 2 Peregrines , a Merlin , a Marsh Harrier , a Raven , 24 Choughs , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 30 Chaffinches and 20 Linnets . At Grouville Marsh were 2 Mistle Thrushes again, 40 Redwings , 2 Snipe , a Reed Bunting and a Common Gull and a Pintail was at a flooded Rue du Parcq.On Rue du Rat was a Cattle Egret and at Rue Ponterrin near Victoria Village were 7 Cattle Egrets and 9 Teal . Outside St Aubin's Harbour were 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese , 32 Redshanks , 57 Black-headed Gulls and a Grey Wagtail . Another Grey Wagtail was on Mont Matthieu and at Rozel Harbour were 16 dark-bellied Brent Geese .

08.02.2025 Thanks to Romano for this beautiful image of a Purple Sandpiper at Corbiere RDC Rain on and off through the morning cleared to a cloudy afternoon, but cold at 4c in a light south-southeast wind. Reports at a premium today, unsurprisingly given the weather. A brief visit to Corbiere first thing saw a Red-throated Diver , 25 Gannets , 26 Shags , 1 Mediterranean Gull and a Peregrine . On St Ouen's Pond in the rain were 9 Wigeon , 7 male Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 2 Shovelers , a Little Grebe , a Grey Heron and 7 Snipe . At La Sente were 20 Brent Geese , 8 Grey Herons , 28 Redshanks , a Greenshank , a pair of Shelduck , a Brambling , 30 Chaffinches and 2 Chiffchaff . At Grouville Marsh were 2 Mistle Thrushes and a Marsh Harrier . At the Green Waste site at la Collette were a pair of Stonechats and a Meadow Pipit , and a Little Egret was in the Old Harbour in St Helier. Scattered reports from elsewhere included 6 Brent Geese , 2 Gannets and 3 Harbour Porpoises by St Catherine's Breakwater, a Cattle Egret in Rue Croiserie , Trinity , 10 Tufted Duck , and 2 Buzzards at Grands Vaux reservoir and another Little Egret was at Rozel Harbour.

07.02.2025 A Short-toed Treecreeper at Pont Marquet this week MD A cold and cloudy day, staying mainly dry, with plenty of rain skirting to the North. Winds were fresh from the east-northeast Bramblings have been in very short supply this Winter so singles seen today at Beauport, at Mont Cochon and overflying Vallee des Vaux rate as good sightings. At La Sente this morning were 250 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 4 Grey Herons , 31 Little Egrets , 2 Cattle Egrets , 22 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks and a female Marsh Harrier standing on the remains of another Grey Heron . At La Rocque was a Black-necked Grebe and by Gorey Pier was a Great Northern Diver . Passing Corbiere were 250 Gannets , 4 Red-throated Divers , 2 Black-throated Divers , 2 unidentified diver sp , 4 Razorbills , 8 Guillemots , 4 Kittiwakes , 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 18 Great Black-backed Gulls . Seen from the Wetland Centre were 45 Teal , 15 Wigeon , 10 Shovelers , 7 male Pochard , 10 Brent Geese , 31 Coot , a Grey Heron , 2 Snipe and in the backfields, 45 Lapwings , 50 Starlings , 90 Chaffinches and 9 Choughs . In the Sandpits were 2 Little Grebes , 33 Tufted Duck and 2 Marsh Harriers .

06.02.2025 Curlews arriving at Petit Port this morning MD A fair to cloudy day in a chilly east-northeast wind A busier morning for seabirds than the last few days at Corbiere, saw 752 Gannets , 17 Fulmars , a Red-throated Diver , 149 Razorbills , 9 Guillemots , 5 Cormorants , 15 Kittiwakes , 19 Mediterranean Gulls and 60 Great Black-backed Gulls pass, mainly heading northeast. 2 Peregrines were on site as usual. Roosting in Petit Port Bay were 44 Curlews , 158 Oystercatchers and 6 Turnstones . In St Ouen's Bay, at the Sandpits, were 2 Shelduck , 2 Little Grebes and 6 Oystercatchers and on the Pond were 14 Wigeon , 7 Pochard , 6 Teal and 13 Shovelers . At the North end of the Bay, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at La Saline and 11 Little Egrets , a pair of Stonechats and a Black Redstart were at Le Pulec. 6 Redwings were at La Grande Piece in St Peter. Seen at La Sente this morning were 2 Shelduck , 5 Greenshanks , 25 Redshanks , a Common Gull , 19 Grey Herons and 9 Cattle Egrets , 22 Little Egrets and 400 Brent Geese and near Grouville Marsh were 2 Mistle Thrushes and a female Wigeon . At Gorey were 12 Common Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull and 74 Oystercatchers and near St Clement's Football pitch were 6 Cattle Egrets and a Lesser Black-backed Gull . Yesterday evening at La Haule were a Ringed Plover , 320 Sanderlings and 100 Dunlin , with Redwings flying over calling.

05.02.2025 male Firecrest at Pont Marquet this morning MD A fine but hazy day, feeling Spring-like at 11c in calm winds A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was showing again at Crabbe this morning, where 2 Marsh Harriers , a Buzzard , 2 Kestrels , 8 Song Thrushes , a Skylark , a Stonechat , 60 Linnets , 30 Chaffinches , 45 Meadow Pipits , 2 Ravens , 2 Jackdaws and 6 Choughs were also seen. A Little Grebe was on La Hague reservoir in St Peter's Valley. On St Ouen's Pond were 275 Brent Geese , 9 Wigeon , 9 Shoveler , 7 Pochard , a Tufted Duck , 2 Little Grebes , 70 Lapwings , 7 Snipe , a Mediterranean Gull , a Chiffchaff and a pair of Stonechats . Little was moving past Corbiere with 92 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , a Common Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull of note in one hour. Around the southwest of the Island, 2 Dartford Warblers were singing at Gorselands, with 8 Redwings and a singing Chaffinch also there while at Les Creux was a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and at Petit Port were 33 Curlews , 25 Turnstones and 3 Purple Sandpipers . At Pont Marquet Country Park were 4 Firecrests , a Goldcrest , 5 Short-toed Treecreepers , a Jay and a Buzzard . At La Sente were 220 Brent Geese , 25 Little Egrets , 2 Cattle Egrets , 11 Grey Herons , 61 Redshanks , 5 Greenshanks and a Snipe Another Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in St Catherine's Woods, with a Grey Heron also there. 12 Brent Geese and 2 Grey Herons were at Fliquet and 5 Brent Geese plus a Little Egret were at Rozel. A Black-necked Grebe was at First Tower. This evening at Le Roncier were 6 Cattle Egrets , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 75 Black-headed Gulls .