Jersey Birds

11.01.2026 The first winter Iceland Gull from yesterday was keeping a low profile, but was seen briefly in Stinky Bay at Le Pulec around noon today, before flying off towards the Pinnacle. Thanks go to Stuart Matthews for this super image, taken there yesterday SM A cold day, but mainly dry in overcast conditions, with a fresh and gusty south-southeast wind (8c) Most eyes were trained on the northwest of the Island, despite the uncomfortable conditions. Seen from Le Pulec morning long were a Great Northern Diver , 3 Black-throated Divers , 7 Red-throated Divers , 3 unidentified diver sp , 5 Razorbills , 2 Guillemots , 26 auk sp, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers , 7 Brent Geese , 149 Shags , 15 Cormorants , 5 Little Egrets , 51 Curlews , 7 Golden Plovers , 4 Turnstones , a Dunlin , 61 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 25 Mediterranean Gulls , 96 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 5 Kittiwakes and 3 Pied Wagtails . The Iceland Gull visited Stinky Bay briefly. Around St Ouen's Pond were a Bittern, a first winter Caspian Gull , 1,300+ Lapwings , a Golden Plover , the Pink-footed Goose , 3 Dunlin and a Water Pipit . In St Ouen's Bay were 340 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 40 Mediterranean Gulls and 30 Sanderlings . On the Golf Course were 45 Mediterranean Gulls and in the Sandpits were 15 Pochard , 26 Tufted Duck , 3 Little Grebes , 5 Oystercatchers , 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 55 Great Black-backed Gulls . At Petit Port were a Shelduck , 27 Curlews , 11 Grey Plovers , 13 Turnstones , 5 Purple Sandpipers , 65 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull and a Kingfisher . In St Aubin's Harbour were 35 Redshanks and a Turnstone and at Beaumont Marsh were 480 Brent Geese . At La Sente were a Gadwall , a Teal , 11 Grey Herons , 2 Curlews , 2 Redshanks , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 13 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Common Gulls and a Redwing . Grey Wagtails were seen in gardens in St Peter's Village and Old St John's Road, St Helier and at Cowley Farm were 4 Cattle Egrets and another Grey Wagtail . Below : The Iceland Gull taking a rest. Image courtesy of Stuart Matthews.

10.01.2026 An oiled Kittiwake passing Corbiere. Image: MD. A fair day in a moderate northwest wind, milder at 9c. A first winter Iceland Gull was found in Stinky Bay, at Le Pulec this morning, probably the individual seen passing Corbiere yesterday. Also there were 3 Yellow-legged Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull and 12 Little Egrets, and 6 Mediterranean Gulls were at La Saline. Also in St Ouen's Bay, 28 Ringed Plovers and 11 Dunlin were at La Tour Carre and 60 Sanderlings , 5 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plovers and a Turnstone were at Sand's Slip. On St Ouen's Pond were 5 Tufted Ducks, 30+ Shovelers , a Little Grebe , 2 Grey Herons , 2 Water Pipits , a Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechats , 90 Brent Geese , and in the backfields were 100+ Lapwings and a large mixed flock of gulls . Another busy morning for seabirds passing Corbiere, included counts of a Red-necked Grebe in company with 2 Slavonian Grebes , a Great Northern Diver , a Brent Goose , a Common Scoter , 64 Gannets , 216 Razorbills , 147 Guillemots , 113 Shags , 25 Cormorants , 740 Kittiwakes , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 121 Great Black-backed Gulls , 29 Mediterranean Gulls , 10 Common Gulls, 4 Black-headed Gulls , a Yellow-legged Gull and 7 Purple Sandpipers . In Petit port Bay were 40 Curlews , 2 Shelduck and 3 Little Egrets . At La Sente were 3 Little Egrets , 7 Cattle Egrets , 16 Grey Herons , a Greylag , 3 Common Gulls , 4 Meadow Pipits , 4 Teal , 242 Brent Geese and 6 Ravens . A White-fronted Goose was at Grouville Marsh again. A Peregrine was seen near La Crete. In Rozel Harbour were a Little Egret and a Grey Wagtail with another Grey Wagtail seen inflight over Red Houses this afternoon. At Beaumont Marsh were 435 Brent Geese, 2 Cattle Egrets , 2 Little Egrets , a Curlew and a Grey Heron . Evening update : The Snow Bunting was seen again near to Kempt Tower and in St Ouen's Bay this afternoon were 1000+ Lapwings , 100 Brent Geese , a Sparrowhawk , 3 Choughs and 2 Stonechats . 3 Red-breasted Mergansers were near Faulkner's Fisheries at Le'Etacq. A Wigeon was at La Sente and in Grouville Bay this afternoon were 340 Brent Geese, a Common Gull , 65 Sanderlings , 29 Black-headed Gulls , 17 Curlews , 2 Sandwich Terns and 7 Grey Plovers .

09.01.2026 Today's first winter Iceland Gull as it passes Corbiere. Image: MD Storm Goretti duly passed over the Island with wind gusts of up to 94 mph, which had dropped back to a west-northwest F7 by this morning. Seawatching was popular this morning and was rewarded by an Iceland Gull which passed Corbiere, but not ,so far, seen again. Maybe tomorrow? Among the many gulls passing there were a Caspian Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, 293 Great Black-backed Gulls , 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 25 Kittiwakes , a Mediterranean Gull, a Common Gull , 100+ Herring Gulls and 2 Black-headed Gulls . Also seen were 96 Gannets , 5 Fulmars , 133 Razorbills , 122 Guillemots , another 68 unidentified auks , a Brent Goose , 2 Lapwings , a Curlew , 158 Shags and 13 Cormorants . Roosting on the rocks were 9 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper . At Petit Port were 41 Curlews , 2 Shelduck and 5 Mediterranean Gulls . Seen from Le Pulec were 3 Yellow-legged Gulls , 320 Herring Gulls , a Mediterranean Gulls , 90 Black-headed Gulls and 12 Little Egrets . In St Ouen's Bay were another Yellow-legged Gull and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . At St Ouen's Pond were a Bittern and a Water Pipit , with 1000+ Lapwings and 4 Golden Plovers in the fields behind the Pond. In the Sandpits were a male Gadwall , 15 Pochard , a Greenshank , a Dunlin and a Yellow-legged Gull . At La Sente were 166 Brent Geese , the single Greylag , a Wigeon , a Teal , 21 Grey Herons, 10 Little Egrets , 12 Cattle Egrets , 11 Lapwings , 16 Redshanks , 17 Black-headed Gulls , 12 Common Gulls and a Buzzard . The White-fronted Goose remained at Grouville Marsh and 6 Redwings were seen over Vallee des Vaux. In Beaumont Marsh were 24 Brent Geese , 53 Black-headed Gulls , a Curlew , a Cattle Egret , 2 Little Egrets and 3 Snipe . The results of November's and December's counts of Brent Geese and Waders are now available on this website, and can be downloaded from the Resources page free of charge.

07.01.2026 A beautiful male Black Redstart which is currently resident in Robin Bay at La Rocque, with thanks to Romano for the fine image RDC A cold front moved over the Island during the night leaving a fair to cloudy day in a gusty northwest wind, bult milder at 9c. Jersey is still gaining the benefit of the cold weather to it's north, in birding terms. In St Ouen's Bay, over 1000 Lapwings were seen, some passing through, also 6 Golden Plovers , a wild type Greylag Goose and a buzzard sp , possibly a Rough-legged Buzzard, with is worth looking out for. Another busy morning for seabirds off Corbiere included an out of season Manx Shearwater, 2,354 Guillemots, 528 Razorbills , 3 Fulmars , 145 Gannets , a Great Northern Diver , a Common Scoter , 75 Shags , 5 Cormorants , 155 Kittiwakes , 301 Great Black-backed Gulls , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 19 Mediterranean Gulls , 5 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Common Gulls . A small pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins moved south past the lighthouse too. In Petit Port Bay on the falling tide were 34 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 10 Great Black-backed Gulls . At La Sente were a wild type Greylag Goose, 229 Brent Geese , a Wigeon , 17 Lapwings , a Cattle Egret , 5 Little Egrets , 19 Grey Herons , a Common Gull , 13 Snipe , 40 Starlings , 12 Redwings , 20 Chaffinches , 3 Pied Wagtails and 4 Ravens . On Queen's Valley reservoir were 18 Tufted Ducks , 4 Teal , a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail , while at Le Catillon were 27 Lapwings and 80 Starlings . A White-fronted Goose was still at Grouville Marsh and 13 Cattle Egrets were on Fauvic Marsh. 2 Black Redstarts were at La Rocque again, also 130 Oystercatchers were there. Another 60+ Lapwings were at Hautes Croix and in Beaumont Marsh were a Cattle Egret , a Little Egret , a Grey Heron , 16 Snipe , a Marsh Harrier and 2 Pied Wagtails . 33 Redshanks and 3 Turnstones roosted at St Aubin this morning, and a Common Sandpiper was in the St Helier Marina, near La Folie Inn site, also 4 Brent Geese .

08.01.2025 A White-fronted Goose in flight, image courtesy of Romano RDC A poor day for weather, with rain throughout, as Storm Goretti approached us. Storm force winds from the West and Northwest are forecast and a rare red 'danger to life' warning is in force for this evening and overnight for the Channel Islands. We will see what is left by tomorrow. Stay safe. Seen from the shelter of the Wetland Centre at St Ouen's Pond from first light were a Bittern , a White-fronted Goose , 62 Shoveler , 6 Teal , 2 Little Grebes , 165 Brent Geese , 26 Snipe , 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Water Pipit and a Stonechat . A count of Lapwings in the fields behind St Ouen's Pond found 1,038 present, also 8 Golden Plovers , 220 Stock Doves and 25 Starlings . The Snow Bunting remained at Kempt Tower, with a Stonechat also there. On Sand's Slip on the rising tide were 76 Sanderlings and 3 Ringed Plovers while at the Cutty Sark were 35 Ringed Plovers , 21 Dunlin and a single Sanderling . At the bottom of Jubilee Hill were a first-winter Caspian Gull and a Common Gull . At Le Pulec and in Stinky Bay were 8 Gannets , a Guillemot , a Kittiwake , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 70 Black-headed Gulls , a Pied Wagtail and the usual Rock Pipits . In Beaumont Marsh were a Cattle Egret , 2 Little Egrets , 11 Snipe and 110 Black-headed Gulls . On the East side of the Island, a Lapwing , 26 Common Gulls and 4 Mediterranean Gulls were at Le Catillon and in Grouville Marsh were 9 Lapwings and 100 Redwings . At La Sente were 8 Lapwings , 5 Teal , a Wigeon , a Greylag Goose , 28 Pied Wagtails , 45 Starlings and 60 Chaffinches and on Route des Cotils were 68 Cattle Egrets , 12 Mediterranean Gulls , 35 Common Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 150 Black-headed Gulls . In and over a Vallee des Vaux garden were 30 Redwings , a Siskin , 3 Blackcaps and 3 Ravens . Yesterday, 2 Cattle Egrets were by the Windmill in St Peter and another Cattle Egret was at Trinity Manor.

06.01.2026 with the current cold conditions to the north of us, Lapwings and Golden Plovers are starting to arrive on the Island in numbers now. These Lapwings were seen here dropping into the field at Le Catillon today. Image : MD A fair day with good sunny periods in a light northwest wind. Seen at La Rocque from first light were 4 Great Northern Divers, 46 Red-breasted Mergansers , 6 Pochard , 12 Gannets , 10 Slavonian Grebes , 3 Black-necked Grebes , 11 Lapwings , 8 Greenshanks , 70 Ringed Plovers , 90 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 12 Grey Herons and 31 Little Egrets , also 2 male Black Redstarts . In Grouville Bay were another Great Northern Diver , 3 Black-necked Grebes , 5 Great Crested Grebes , 12 Teal , 623 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , a Knot , 455 Sanderlings , 300 Dunlin , 2 Bar-tailed Godwits , and another Black Redstart . Maximum numbers at Le Catillon were 330 Lapwings, 47 Golden Plovers, 30 Starlings and 15 Common Gulls . At La Sente were 103 Brent Geese, 9 Snipe , 23 Lapwings , 10 Redwings , 3 Song Thrushes and 2 Pied Wagtails . A White-fronted Goose was at Grouville Marsh again. Also seen there were 25 Reed Buntings , 12 Chiffchaffs , 5 Blackcaps , 3 Cett i's Warblers , 2 Bullfinches , 60 Redwings , 2 Song Thrushes , 6 Teal , 2 Woodcocks , a Snipe , 2 Marsh Harriers , a Sparrowhawk , 80 Jackdaws , a Barn Owl and 9 Cattle Egrets overflying. In St Ouen's Bay were a Caspian Gull , 2 Common Gulls , 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 12 Mediterranean Gulls and 20 Black-headed Gulls . 40 Shovelers were on St Ouen's Pond and in the fields behind St Ouen's Pond were 337 Lapwings, 200 Stock Doves and 106 Brent Geese . A Bittern was seen at the Scrape again. Up at Les Landes were 27 Golden Plovers , a Peregrine , 4 Stonechats , 2 Ravens and 4 Choughs . At Le Pulec were 125 Oystercatchers , 7 Little Egrets and 40 Rock Pipits . In Beaumont Marsh were 4 Snipe and 2 Pied Wagtails , in St Brelade's Bay were 3 Pied Wagtails and at Gorselands was a single Lapwing . At La Freminerie ( St Saviour) w ere 7 Lapwings , 22 Pied Wagtails , 55 Redwings and 40 Chaffinches . 3 Teal , 5 Tufted Ducks and a Chiffchaff were in Grands Vaux and in a field by Hautes Croix Stores in St John were a further 50 Lapwings .

05.01.2026 A Knot, one of two at La Rocque yesterday, image courtesy of Romano RDC A poor morning for weather, with rain continuously till lunchtime, then a fair afternoon in a moderate northerly wind and cold at 3c. In Grouville Bay this morning, were 2 Great Northern Divers , 5 Great Crested Grebes , a Slavonian Grebe , a Black-necked Greb e, 4 Gannets and a Knot . At La Sente were the Greylag Goose , a Wigeon , 81 Brent Geese , a Curlew , 2 Lapwings , 20 Redwings , 2 Song Thrushes and 70 Chaffinches . In Grouville Marsh were a White-fronted Goose , 18 Cattle Egrets , 61 Coot , a Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler . At La Rocque were a Stonechat and 2 Black Redstarts , while at Le Catillon were 143 Lapwings, 58 Golden Plovers - the first numbers of this Winter, and 2 Common Gulls . 30 Cattle Egrets were in a field by St Clement's Church, and at Le Roncier were 15 Redwings and 18 Lapwings , with another 15 Redwings at Mont es Neaux as well as 10 Skylarks , 3 Snipe , 2 Song Thrushes and 33 Lapwings . 6 Tufted Ducks were at Grands Vaux. Seen through the pouring rain passing Le Pulec were 1,260 Guillemots, 1,180 auk sp, the vast majority also likely to have been Guillemots , and 83 Razorbills . Also seen were a Red-throated Diver , 112 Gannets , 11 Cormorants , 35 Shags , 215 Kittiwakes , 114 Mediterranean Gulls, 52 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Common Gull, 23 Curlews , 20 Meadow Pits and 30+ Rock Pipits . By Kempt Tower were the Snow Bunting and 2 Stonechats . 3 Sanderlings were by Sands Slip, also 2 Shelduck flew through.. St Ouen's Pond, as viewed from the Wetland Centre, held 3 Wigeon , 42 Shoveler , 13 Teal , 6 Tufted Ducks , 3 Little Grebes , a Grey Heron , 11 Snipe , a male Sparrowhawk , a Water Pipit and a Stonechat . In the backfields were 100+ Brent Geese, 200 Lapwings, 2 Golden Plovers , a Merlin , 4 Reed Buntings and 200 Stock Doves . At Augres were another 22 Lapwings and 12 Redwings and at the green waste site at La Collette were 2 Stonechats . Last night, Barn Owls were located in St Martin and Trinity.

04.01.2026 A Song Thrush at Pont Marquet this week. Image: MD A cold day with showers just to the West of the Island, in a light northerly wind In Grouville Bay were a 525 Brent Geese , Knot , 360 Sanderlings , 450 Dunlin , 2 Bar-tailed Godwits , 220 Grey Plovers , a Greenshank and 2 Shovelers , while at La Rocque were 11 Red-breasted Mergansers , a Black-necked Grebe, 48 Ringed Plovers and 2 male Black Redstarts . Around a frosted Grouville Marsh were a White-fronted Goose , a Barnacle Goose , 56 Coot , 6 Cattle Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. 3 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm while at La Sente were 63 Brent Geese and a Greylag . Passing Corbiere in two hours this morning, were 6 Red-throated Divers , a Common Scoter , 4,286 Razorbills, 1,438 Guillemots , 285 Gannets, 602 Kittiwakes , 10 Mediterranean Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Common Gulls and 13 Great Black-backed Gulls . On St Ouen's Bay beach were 122 Mediterranean Gulls , a Kittiwake , a Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 5 Great Black-backed Gulls and 70 Black-headed Gulls . On the Scrape was a Bittern. In the orchard near Trinity Church were 18 Fieldfares , 35 Redwings , 2 Song Thrushes , a Blackcap , 5 Ravens and a Woodcock . A Grey Wagtail visited a garden feeder in Greve de Lecq and in the St Helier Marina was a roost of 150+ alba Wagtails .

03.01.2025 A Redwing feeding on Ivy berries at Pont Marquet. Image: MD A cloudy morning with light showers and a fair afternoon, but cold at 7c in a fresh northwest wind. A bumper passage of birds past Corbiere this morning saw, in three hours, 11,275 Razorbills and Guillemots , 276 Gannets , a Fulmar , 2,004 Kittiwakes , 19 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 10 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Turnstone , a Peregrine , 2 Ravens and a Harbour Porpoise . In Petit Port Bay were 22 Curlews , and 2 Shelduck . At Le Catillon were 28 Common Gulls and 6 Lapwings , and at La Sente were a Wigeon , 2 Shelducks , 28 Brent Geese , 2 Cattle Egrets and a Common Gull . 2 Grey Wagtails were near the RNLI station at Archirondel and 2 Black Redstarts were seen at La Rocque and Robin Bay. On St Ouen's Pond were 29 Shovelers , 31 Brent Geese , 2 Grey Herons , a Snipe , 3 Little Grebes and a Water Pipit . The Snow Bunting remained near Kempt Tower while on St Ouen's beach were 60+ Mediterranean Gulls , a Common Gull and 25 Great Black-backed Gulls . In the fields behind St Ouen's Pond were 190 Lapwing , c200 Stock Doves and 2 Skylarks and in the Sandpits were 9 Little Grebes , 41 Tufted Ducks , 10 Pochard and a Pied Wagtail . On Jubilee Hill, following a plough, were 13 Mediterranean Gulls , a Black-headed Gull and 23 Herring Gulls . On Handois Reservoir were 23 Tufted Ducks, 67 Mallard , 3 Grey Herons , 5 Cormorants , 3 Chiffchaffs and a Siskin, and at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay were c300 Brent Geese and 3 Curlews . In Bouley Bay were 2 Buzzards and 5 Fulmars and a Blackcap was seen at a garden feeder at La Moye.