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.
20.04.2025 Lapwing over the Scrape MD A morning of squally showers with a strong and gusty northeast wind, clearing to a fine afternoon Seen at Les Landes were a Tree Pipit , 3 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Wheatears , a Willow Warbler , 6 Swallows and a House Martin , while offshore were 129 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 85 Fulmars , 29 Gannets and 4 Cormorants while heading off from there, were 10 Swallows , 3 House Martins and 5 Linnets . At Plemont were 24 Razorbills , 3 Black-headed Gulls , a Swallow and 30 Linnets. At the Scrape at St Ouen's Pond were 5 Teal , a male Wigeon heading for the Pond, a male Shoveler , 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings , a Redshank , a Snipe and 2 Reed Warblers and overhead were 12 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and 6 Swallows . A male Shelduck and 2 Swallows were at Petit Port and a Purple Sandpiper was seen at Noirmont Point. A Great Crested Grebe was in St Aubin's Bay, at West Park. 8 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm and 7 Tufted Ducks were at Grands Vaux.
19.04.2025 A female Pied Flycatcher , ringed and released at Grouville Marsh this morning, image thanks to David Buxton DB Overnight rain had cleared before Dawn leaving a fair day with a fresh east-southeast wind. The overnight rain brought some new birds to the Island and seen at Grouville Marsh this morning were a Pied Flycatcher, 7 Reed Warblers , 6 Sedge Warblers , 2 Willow Warblers , a Whitethroat , 15 Chiffchaffs , a Tree Pipit, 4 Blackcaps , 6 Cetti's Warblers , 2 Bullfinches , 3 Swallows , a White Wagtail , 2 Green Sandpipers , 4 Water Rails , a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk . At La Rocque were 2 Whimbrels , a Curlew and a Wheatear Passing Grosnez and at Les Landes were an Arctic Skua , 13 Common Scoters , 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Guillemots , 10 Fulmars , 32 Gannets , a flock of 18 Common Terns , 15 Sandwich Terns , 3 Kittiwakes , 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 12 Wheatears , 3 Whitethroats , a Willow Warbler , 3 Tree Pipits , 3 Yellow Wagtails , a White Wagtail, 12 Meadow Pipits , 14 Linnets , 4 Goldfinches, a Peregrine and a Raven . Between Grosnez and Plemont were a Whinchat and 2 Wheatears and at Plemont were 9 Wheatears , 30 Linnets , 10 Swallows and a Puffin . A Cuckoo was at Portinfer. On the Scrape were 3 Shovelers , 4 Teal , 7 Lapwings , a Redshank and a Dunlin and north of St Ouen's Pond were 5 Wheatears . 6 Reed Warblers were at Kempt Tower pools and 2 Stonechats were at La Pulente. In Beaumont Marsh were 3 Grey Herons and a Yellow Wagtail , at St Aubin were 28 pale-bellied Brent Geese and at Grands Vaux were 5 Tufted Ducks .
18.04.2025 A spectacular male Marsh Harrier at St Ouen's Pond this week MD A poor day for weather, with heavy showers on and off throughout the daylight hours, cold at 11c in a strong and gusty southeast wind A trickle of birds passed Corbiere, before the rain set in, which included a Common Scoter , 3 Guillemots , 28 Gannets , a Fulmar , 12 Shags , a Curlew , 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 23 Great Black-backed Gulls . 2 Shelduck were at Petit Port again. Sitting off at Plemont were a Puffin and a Razorbill . On the Scrape were 7 Teal , a pair of Shoveler , a pair Shelduck which included the manic male which was seeing off all-comers, 6 Lapwings , a Snipe , a pair of Oystercatcher , 8 Swallows , 4 House Martins and a Reed Warbler in song on the South Canal. Seen at the Wetland Centre later morning were 50+ Swallows , 30+ Sand Martins and 2 Oystercatchers , possibly the birds from the Scrape. At Grouville Marsh were 2 Green Sandpipers , an adult Grey Heron and a singing Reed Warbler and a single Brent Goose was at Gorey. 5 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm. Extras for yesterday include 2 Shovelers , 3 Snipe and 4 Reed Warblers while at Kempt Tower were 2 Wheatears . Below : A ghostly Corbiere Lighthouse this morning, collecting the only available rays of the Sun, just after it had risen. MD
17.04.2025 A fine drake Teal on the Scrape, one of only a few left now as they head off to their breeding areas. MD A clear and almost Spring-like day apart from the cool temperatures still with us. Winds were moderate from the south-southeast. Yesterday's Hoopoe was not been seen, so far, today and may well have left us during last night's very clear conditions. 4 Cattle Egrets remain at La Sente with a White Wagtail also there and 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese plus 68 Oystercatchers were in Grouville Bay. Roosting on the high tide at La Rocque this morning were a Whimbrel , 5 Curlews , 6 Grey Plovers , 26 Turnstones and a Dunlin , with a Wheatear also on the rocks there. Another Curlew and 4 Turnstones were off Webber's Lane Slip. In St Aubin's Bay, 24 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin and at Beaumont Marsh were a Grey Heron , a Willow Warbler , 3 Swallows and 2 Long-tailed Tits . On the Scrape were 4 Teal , 6 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , a Yellow Wagtail, a Reed Warbler , 4 Swallows and a Sand Martin and in the fields behind St Ouen's Pond were 3 singing Reed Warblers , 2 singing Cetti's Warblers and 2 Stonechats . Seen at Les Landes were a Wheatear and 21 Swallows while at Petit Port were a Whimbrel and 2 Shelduck . Extra for yesterday were 17 White Wagtails at the Farmer's Cricket Ground in St Martin, 2 Cirl Buntings on Grouville Common and a Grey Heron at Hydrangea Avenue in St Ouen.
16.04.2025 Hoopoe on Grouville Common, image courtesy of Romano RDC A cold but mainly bright day in a fresh southwest wind. Yesterday's Hoopoe was still present this morning, near the ice cream van at the north end of Grouville Common and 2 Cattle Egrets were by Grouville Church. a Wheatear was at La Sente. Passing Grosnez this morning were 3 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , a Red-throated Diver , 42 Fulmars , 40 Gannets , 5 Cormorants , 18 Kittiwakes , 2 Sandwich Terns and 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . Heading off over Grosnez were 23 Swallows and a White Wagtail, while at Les Landes were 2 Wheatears , 4 Stonechats , 3 Dartford Warblers , 20+ Linnets , 30 Meadow Pipits , 2 Choughs , a Sparrowhawk and 2 Marsh Harriers . In St Ouen's Bay, 45 Oystercatchers and 14 Little Egrets were at La Pulec and a Snipe was at the Wetland Centre. On the Scrape were 9 Teal , 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings , 3 Wheatears, a Reed Warbler and 3 Yellow Wagtails while feeding overhead were 10 Sand Martins , a House Martin and 2 Swallows . 80 Linnets and a White Wagtail were on the seaside of the Wetland Centre too. On Kempt Tower pools were 7 Tufted Ducks , a pair of Shoveler and 4 Little Grebes . Also singing there were a Reed Warbler , a Blackcap and a Skylark . 80 pale-belled Brent Geese were at La Haule.
15.04.2025 Fulmar at Grosnez MD An increasingly stormy day, but with most rain missing the Island to the West. Winds veered from southeast to southwest with force 6 in gusts. Some visible migration via Les Landes and Grosnez before the winds increased too much, included the first Hobby of the year, 166 Swallows , 40 Sand Martins , 3 Yellow Wagtail , 9 White Wagtails , 122 Linnets , 5 Goldfinches , a Greenfinch , a Chaffinch , 87 Meadow Pipits and 45 Woodpigeons . A few birds passing offshore included 12 Common Scoters , a Manx Shearwater , a Guillemot , 20 Fulmars , 23 Gannets , 9 Sandwich Terns and 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . 2 Wheatears and a pair of Stonechats were on the ground there and also seen were 2 Peregrines , a Kestrel , 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Ravens . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were 6 Teal , Lapwings mating and a Wheatear and in the Sandpits were 30 Sand Martins , 14 Tufted Ducks , a pair of Shelduck , 5 Great Black-backed Gulls and 17 Herring Gulls , and a Stonechat , with Oystercatchers seen mating there, with a second female close by! What was presumably the resident Whooper Swan there was seen heading high to the East shortly after Sunrise. 32 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay, with another 11 pale-bellied Brent and 3 Curlews seen at St Aubin. A Hoopoe was seen this afternoon at the north end of Grouville Golf Course, near to the ice cream van parking area. Also there, was a Whitethroat and on the very windy beach were 61 Oystercatchers and 5 Brent Geese.
14.04.2025 Despite their dubious credentials, our currently resident odd couple still make a pleasing sight. Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose on the Scrape MD A cool and mostly cloudy day in a fresh southerly wind. A second day when new birds were at a premium. Seen at the Scrape this morning were 8 Teal , 2 Shovelers , a male Reed Bunting, 2 Reed Warblers , 6 Yellow Wagtails, a White Wagtail, a Peregrine , 20+ Swallows , 6 House Martins and 3 Sand Martins , the pair of Oystercatchers and 5 Lapwings , also a Swallowtail butterfly. A Snipe was at the Wetland Centre and north of St Ouen's Pond were 6 Reed Warblers , a Sedge Warbler and a Wheatear . Another Wheatear was near Kempt Tower and a further one was at Grosnez. In the Sandpits were 2 Shelduck , 24 Tufted Duck and a selection of hirundines in small numbers. A male Stonechat was on the sea side of the road at La Pulente. A brief visitation to Corbiere saw 2 Manx Shearwaters , 10 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 4 Sandwich Terns and an immature Kittiwake and a Bullfinch was in song at Les Creux. On Ouaisne Common were a Little Grebe , a Cetti's Warbler , 3 Dartford Warblers and several Chiffchaffs . 67 pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen in Ruelle es Ruaux again. Evening update: A Ring Ouzel was in a garden at Vinchelez, St Ouen and to the north of St Ouen's Pond were 2 Sedge Warblers , 5 Reed Warblers, a Blackcap , 2 Water Rails , 2 Shovelers , 3 Snipe , 40 Sand Martins and 25 Swallows . On Les Ecrehous were 9 Purple Sandpipers , 2 Whimbrels and Little Egret and 2 Crows . A visit to Les Ecrehous yesterday saw a Sandwich Tern, 3 Gannets , 100 Oystercatchers , 25 Turnstones , a Crow and a ringed Rock Pipit .
13.04.2025 Purple Sandpiper at Corbiere, image courtesy of Romano RDC. A dry but cloudy day with winds now firmly back in the West. The shift of wind direction into the West looks to have resulted in most migrant birds disappearing. Passing Grosnez this morning were 4 Common Scoters , 3 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 32 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , 3 Cormorants , 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Greylag Geese heading North. At Les Landes were a Wheatear , a Peregrine , a Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtails and 2 Swallows . 17 Razorbill were off Plemont. At the Wetland Centre were 2 Snipe and 2 Reed Warblers while on the Scrape were another Snipe , 2 Oystercatchers , just a single Teal , the Pink - footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , 4 Lapwings , a Reed Warbler , 30 Linnets and 2 overflying Whimbrels . 15 Purple Sandpipers were still at Corbiere, with a Wheatear and a Sparrowhawk also seen there and in Petit Port Bay were 2 Shelduck , 3 Little Egrets and 115 Oystercatchers . On the Farmer's Cricket Ground in St Martin were 5 White Wagtails and 6 Meadow Pipits and at Cowley Farm were 5 Cattle Egrets. 3 Tufted Duck were on Grands Vaux reservoir. On Ouaisne Common were a pair of Little Grebe, a singing Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaffs , Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler . A pair of Swallows is back at Warren Farm and in Vallee des Vaux were a pair of Firecrest , a pair of Goldcrest , a pair of Blackcap and a Sparrowhawk .
12.04.2025 Just one Wigeon is left on the Scrape, from the wintering flock of c15, seen here yesterday and still there today MD The promisied rain for the Islands this afternoon, decided to avoid us with winds remain light in the southeast for one more day. A fair selection of species were seen at Grosnez and Les Landes, despite a general lack of migrants being seen. A Short-eared Ow l was near Grosnez Castle at sunrise, 3 Ring Ouzels were on the cliffs south of the Castle, a male Stonechat was on the racecourse and at least 15 Wheatears visited through the morning. In the air there, were 2 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Swallows , plus a few Linnets , Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits , as well as 2 Peregrines , while passing offshore were 73 dark-bellied Brent Geese in three flocks, a Black-throated Diver , a Common Scoter , a Sandwich Tern and 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . There was a report of a Cuckoo to the southwest of St John's Village, the first of the season and at Grands Vaux were 9 Tufted Duck and a singing Firecrest . In Grouville Marsh through this morning were a Grasshopper Warbler , heard reeling twice, 4 Reed Warblers, 25 Blackcaps , 10 Willow Warblers , 25 Chiffchaffs , 6 singing Cetti's Warblers , a Bullfinch , 2 Water Rails , a Green Sandpiper , 3 Snipe , 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Grey Heron , 4 Swallows , 16 Jackdaws flying out of a roost, 2 Kestrels , a Sparrowhawk , 3 Marsh Harriers and 6 Buzzards . A Barn Owl was seen at Le Catillon. On the Scrape were 18 Teal , a Wigeon , and Oystercatcher , 4 Lapwings , 2 Wheatears and 2 Cetti's Warblers and at the Wetland Centre were 14 Shovelers , 3 Tufted Ducks , a Snipe and a Little Egret . 4 Wheatears were seen on Beauport Common. In Beaumont Marsh were 2 Swallows , a White Wagtail , 3 Blackcaps and 2 Long-tailed Tits and in Ruelle es Ruaux were 75 pale-bellied Brent Geese . Below : This morning's Short-eared Owl at Grosnez. MD
11.04.2025 A Little Ringed Plover which was feeding on the grass area opposite the Wetland Centre this morning MD A fine start to the day was followed by sea fog on the north and east coasts, becoming fine again this after noon in an easterly wind. On the ground at Les Landes this morning were 2 Ring Ouzels , 3 Yellow Wagtails and at least 20 Wheatears , while passing offshore prior to the fog arriving were 3 Little Gulls , 7 Kittiwakes , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 41 Sandwich Terns, 11 Guillemots , 5 Razorbills , 22 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , and flying over there were 2 House Martins , 4 Sand Martins , 4 Swallows , 78 Linnets , 15 Goldfinches , 3 Chaffinches and 41 Meadow Pipits . At Kempt Tower pools were 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Shovelers , 4 Little Grebes and 2 Marsh Harriers and at the Wetland Centre were a Snipe and 2 Shovelers . plus a Little Ringed Plover feeding on the grass on the sea side of the road. On the Scrape were a Wigeon , 21 Teal , a Common Sandpiper , a Little Ringed Plover ( possibly the same one as above), 2 Oystercatchers , a Snipe , 3 Wheatears , 20 Sand Martins , 5 Swallows , also a Shelduck seen flying through St Ouen's Bay. Shovelers with 5 young were seen on the South Canal. In the Sandpits were 34 Tufted Ducks , a Little Grebe, 2 Grey Herons , 10 Coot , a pair of Shelduck , a pair of Marsh Harriers , a Wheatear 5 Swallows and 18 Sand Martins visiting nest holes. La Sente held 7 Brent Geese and a Lesser Black-backed Gull and at the Happy Hens were 8 Cattle Egrets. On a foggy Grouville Common were 12 Linnets , 2 Greenfinches , 2 Blackcaps , 6 Chiffchaffs and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker. 6 Turnstones were at the end of St Catherine's Breakwater. Another 10 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm. At Gorselands were an adult Grey Heron , 2 Peregrines , a Common Redstart, a Black Redstart and 5 Wheatears and seen from Plemont were 2 Razorbills , 8 Fulmars and 5 Wheatears . Another Wheatear was on Beauport Common this evening.
