Jersey Birds

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.

05.03.2025 male Marsh Harrier at St Ouen's Pond MD Early morning fog soon cleared to another fine day at 13c in a light easterly wind A ring-tailed Hen Harrier and a Merlin were seen at Crabbe again on a day when little was moving around the Island. 2 Redwings were seen in St Mary, but most seem to have gone now. On St Ouen's Pond were 22 Shovelers , 12 Wigeon , 4 Little Grebes , 2 Snipe , 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Black-headed Gulls , 6 Cormorants and a Reed Bunting . The Scrape was busy with 290 Brent Geese including 2 juveniles , 38 Teal , 2 Wigeon , the usual array of feral Greylags , 2 Oystercatchers , 8 Snipe , 4 Lapwings , a Grey Heron , a Water Rail , a Song Thrush and a Chiffchaff seen. In the Sandpits were 34 Tufted Duck, a Wigeon , a Shoveler , a Little Grebe , a male Marsh Harrier and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . Little was passing Grosnez, with 5 Razorbills , 12 Gannets , 16 Fulmars , a Mediterranean Gull and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen in an hour, and on Les Landes were 2 Peregrines , 2 Marsh Harriers , 3 Stonechats , a Raven , a Kestrel and 20 Meadow Pipits . 5 Goldfinches flew in from the north. At Petit Port, ahead of the morning high tide, were 35 Brent Geese , a Shelduck and 11 Curlews . In St Aubin's Bay, 3 Black-necked Grebes and 7 Great Crested Grebes were between Bel Royal and First Tower while at St Aubin were 42 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 25 Redshanks . At West Park were 94 dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Little Egret and 50 Oystercatchers . At La Sente were a Serin , a Pintail , 2 Shelduck , 50 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks and a White Wagtail . Scattered reports from elsewhere on the Island today include a Grey Wagtail by Jackson's Garage, a Redwing at Mon a l'Abbe, 6 Cattle Egrets at Maufant, a Firecrest in Grouville Marsh, 400 Brent Geese and 25 alba Wagtails in Grouville Bay and another Grey Wagtail , a Chiffchaff and 14 Tufted Ducks at Grands Vaux. In Vallee des Vaux this morning were a Firecrest and a Blackcap , both singing, and back to yesterday evening there, when a 6 Woodcock , 2 Redwing , 2 singing Song Thrushes and a singing Blackbird were were present. This evening over Vallee des Vaux were 4 Woodcock and a Redwing also 2 Pipistrelle bats .

04.03.2025 The male Hen Harrier at Crabbe today MD A fine but hazy day, with the temperature creeping up to 12c in a light east-northeast wind Signs of Spring are appearing all round in the current conditions, which included Skylarks singing, Lapwings and Marsh Harriers displaying at St Ouen's Pond, a Cirl Bunting singing in Grouville and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming at Jardin d'Olivet. Around St Ouen's Pond and Scrape through the morning were 290 Brent Geese, the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , 15 Wigeon , 28 Shovelers , 3 Tufted Ducks, 18 Teal , 7 Little Grebes , 7 Lapwings , 2 Snipe , 2 Oystercatchers , 5 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 7 Black-headed Gulls , a Grey Heron , 5 Marsh Harriers , 4 Buzzards , a Water Pipit, 40 Starlings and a male Reed Bunting by the Wetland Centre. A further 4 Shovelers were on Kempt Tower pools. At Les Landes were 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Stonechats . At Crabbe were the male Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier , a Buzzard , 2 Kestrels , 5 Choughs , 2 Ravens , 3 Stonechats , 10 Meadow Pipits , 16 Chaffinches and 2 Goldfinches Counts at La Sente included 2 Shelduck, a Pintail, 2 Grey Herons, 33 Cattle Egrets, 13 Little Egrets, a Common Gull, 12 Black-headed Gulls , 69 Redshanks , 10 Linnets , 30 Chaffinches and 15 Goldfinches . At La Lourderie were 2 Mistle Thrushes , 4 Song Thrushes and 30 Chaffinches, and at La Rocque were 225 Brent Geese including 2 ringed individuals. A Kingfisher and 7 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin, a Cetti's Warbler was at L:ongueville Golf Range and at Mont a l"Abbe were 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 250 Crows and 20 Jackdaws .