Jersey Birds

08.01.2024 Red-throated Divers, with one Black-throated Diver, passing La Coupe yesterday   RdC

A cold and cloudy day with occasional light rain, just 6c in a fresh Easterly wind.

Just a few hints of new birds on the scene today, as the cold air takes over. At St Ouen's Pond were the Hen Harrier, 10 Brent Geese, 9 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 3 Pochard, 3 Shovelers, 54 Lapwings, 53 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Snipe, a Grey Heron, and a Mediterranean Gull, while in the Sandpits were 14 Tufted Duck, 14 Pochard, 5 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Herons and a Great Crested Grebe. A Peregrine and a Purple Sandpiper were at Rocco Tower.

At La Sente were 350 Brent Geese, a Barnacle Goose, a Common Gull, 3 Gadwall, 18 Redshanks, 5 Greenshanks, a Curlew, 22 Grey Herons and 12 Little Egrets. 31 Cattle Egrets were at Rue Parcq and no less than 650 Crows were at Le Catillon.

Seabirds passing La Coupe this morning included 6 Great Northern Divers, 2 Black-throated Divers, 70 Red-throated Divers, a Common Scoter, 39 Razorbills, 3 Guillemots, 11 Brent Geese, 170 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Common Gulls, 3 Kittiwakes, also a Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Redwings, a Chiffchaff, 14 Chaffinches, a Curlew, 4 Stock Doves and a Buzzard.

Beaumont Marsh held 135 Brent Geese, a Cattle Egret and a Curlew, with 25 Brent Geese and 5 Curlews at the Gunsite , 400 Brent Geese at Rue des Hetres and 3 behind Les Mielles Apartments.

Elsewhere, 300 Chaffinches were at Plemont, 8 Cattle Egrets were at Maufant and 12 Tufted Duck plus a Grey Heron were at Grands Vaux.

Woodcock located yesterday evening included 8 at Mont Mado, St John, 2 north of St Ouen's Pond and 7 at Grantez.

Below, a short but interesting video involving the Pink-footed Goose in St Ouen's Bay, courtesy of Jo Bramley.