07.09.2024 The Black Tern in the Sandpits today MD
Despite the forecast, a dry day , but overcast with an easterly wind.
A good morning for birds at Grouville Marsh with plenty of migrants found. A Melodious Warbler which was ringed and released was the highlight, but plenty of other seen included a Hobby, 3 Tree Pipits, a flycatcher sp, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Redstart, a Whitethroat, 8 Reed Warblers, 25 Willow Warblers, 50 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 5 Cetti's Warblers, a Firecrest, a Swift, 40 Swallows, 20 House Martins, 8 Water Rails, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 5 Buzzards, a Kingfisher and a Long-eared Owl.
In St Ouen's Bay today, the Black Tern was still in the Sandpits along with a Greenshank, 3 Redshanks, 2 Common Sandpipers, 12 Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck, a White Wagtail, 100 Starlings, 4 Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull and c 200 hirundines. A Sandwich Tern flew over the Sandpits too. On the Scrape were 12 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 4 Snipe, a Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Willow Warbler, with a Reed Warbler on the South Canal. At Le Pulec were 8 Common Sandpipers, 3 Stonechats, a Curlew, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Grey Seal.
On Les Landes today were a Wryneck, 20 Wheatears, a White Wagtail and 15 House Martins. In Petit Port Bay were 45 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Curlews and 12 Little Egrets. Noirmont was quiet again with 15 Yellow Wagtails, a Wheatear, a White Wagtail, 15 Swallows and 5 Chiffchaffs seen. Offshore were 15 Gannets, 4 Sandwich Terns and a Mediterranean Gull.
This afternoon, a Honey Buzzard flew over Bel Royal with another, or the same bird, seen later near Mont Felard. Also at Bel Royal were 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Sandwich Terns. 2 of the three House Martin nest boxes at Rosedale Court are still active. A Swift flew over Tower Road. Seen at Grands Vaux were a Hobby chasing a dragonfly, a Grey Wagtail and a singing Firecrest. On Beauport Common were 5 Whinchats and a Stonechat.
At La Rocque on the high water were 10 Grey Herons, 12 Turnstones and 10 Grey Plovers.
Yesterday, at Millais Farm in St Ouen were 4 Ravens, a Buzzard and 6 Swallows, with one nest there still active. A Wheatear was there on Wednesday.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin