10.08.2024  A young Grey Heron at Corbiere recently   MD


A fair to fine day, becoming warm at 24c in a west-southwest wind


A selection of birds, seen from the north side of St Ouen's Pond included a large martin sp, possibly a Crag Martin, which was flying with 80 Swifts, but could not be relocated to confirm the identity. Others seen  included 50 Swallows, 15 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 20 Reed Warblers including recently fledged young, Cetti's Warblers feeding fledged young, a Water Rail, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Choughs and 3 Marsh Harriers.  Seen at Mont Matthieu was the family of 4 Little Grebes, 25 Swifts, 40 House Martins, 20 Swallows and 80 Linnets.  Around St Ouen's Pond later morning were 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Black-headed Gulls, a Peregrine, just a few Swallows and 10 Buzzards soaring on the ridge. 6 Little Grebes and a Common Sandpiper were in the Sandpits.


Seen offshore between Jersey and Guernsey, also Sark, were 1500+ Balearic Shearwaters and 6 Common Terns, with 4 Common Scoters and 16 Mediterranean Gulls off St Ouen's Bay. Roosting at Petit Port were 47 Mediterranean Gulls, a Whimbrel, 22 Curlews, 150 Oystercatchers, a Kingfisher, and 2 Sandwich Terns. A Grey Seal was in the Bay and a female Marsh Harrier was disturbing the roosting birds.


Passing Noirmont were 42 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Manx Shearwaters, a Balearic Shearwater, a Grey Heron, 34 Gannets, a Sandwich Tern and 16 Great Black-backed Gulls. 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were bow riding the inbound Condor ferry. On the ground at Noirmont were a Sparrowhawk, 4 Stonechats, 2 Willow Warblers and a singing Dartford Warbler but there was no significant visible migration of passerines.


At La Rocque were 140 Sandwich Terns, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, a Balearic Shearwater, 4 Grey Plovers and 6 Grey Herons.


Yesterday, 4 Common Sandpipers were at Le Pulec.



by Romano da Costa 1 April 2026
01.04.2026 A Sparrowhawk on the lookout for a meal in a St Clement garden, thanks to Alan Gicquel for the photo. Seen in the Sandpits were 9 Swallow , 4 Sand Martin , 16 Tufted Duck , 2 Shelduck , a Stonechat and a Cetti's Warbler while around St Ouen's Pond were the White-fronted Goose , 4 Barnacle Geese , 2 Shelduck , 33 Shoveler , 24 Teal , a Wigeon , 8 Tufted Duck , 2 Little Grebe , 42 Sand Martin , 10 Swallow , 50 Linnet and a Reed Bunting . A Willow Warbler and 4 Song Thrush were opposite Jersey Pearl and 2 Shelduck and a Brent Goose were at Petit Port. At La Sente were 3 Redshank and 3 Common Gull while 6 Greenshank were at Queen's Valley. Beaumont Marsh held 15 Pale-bellied Brent Geese , 5 Brent Geese and a Grey Heron . Elsewhere, 2 Sand Martin were at Handois, 6 Tufted Duck were on Grands Vaux and 2 Chough were at the Harbour.
by Romano da Costa 31 March 2026
31.03.2026 A small migrant flock of Barnacle Geese that arrived on the Scrape this morning and spent the day resting and feeding. Thanks to Tony Paintin for the photo In Grouville Bay were 576 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck and a Common Gull while at La Sente were a Little Ringed Plover , 9 Redshank , 3 Cattle Egret and a Cetti's Warbler . At Grouville Marsh were 3 Snipe , 2 Teal , 4 Water Rail , 5 Cetti's Warbler , a Bullfinch , a Sparrowhawk , a Mallard with 13 ducklings and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull with another 9 at Five Oaks. At La Rocque this evening were 5 Greenshank , 7 Grey Plover , 19 Turnstone and a Curlew . Grands Vaux reservoir held 4 Tufted Duck , 3 Teal , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull , a Willow Warbler and a Firecrest and 2 Swallow over Victoria Village. A Grey Wagtail was again in Vallee des Vaux. On St Ouen's Pond were the White-fronted Goose , 30 Shoveler , 7 Tufted Duck , 7 Teal , 2 Little Grebe , 3 Snipe , a Grey Heron , 2 Cetti's Warbler , a Water Pipit and 4 Marsh Harrier while on the Scrape were the 4 Barnacle Geese , 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler and 14 Teal .
by Romano da Costa 30 March 2026
30.03.2026 One of the last remaining Redshank at La Sente, as most are on their way to their breeding grounds now. Thanks to Alan Gicquel for the photo. Seen at La Sente today were a Little Ringed Plover , a Greenshank , 9 Redshank , 6 Little Egret , 3 Cattle Egret , a Common Gull , a Black-headed Gull , 4 White Wagtail and a Cetti's Warbler while at La Rocque were 3 Greenshank and just 6 Brent Geese . At La Hocq were 63 Brent Geese and at Grands Vaux were 4 Teal , 4 Tufted Duck and a Black-headed Gull . On the Scrape were 2 Shelduck , 37 Teal , 2 Oystercatcher and 3 Lapwing while on the Pond were 26 Shoveler , a Wigeon and 6 Sand Martin . In St Brelade's Bay were just 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and at Petit Port 2 Shelduck and a Brent Goose .
by Romano da Costa 29 March 2026
29.03.2026 A Raven making some noise in St Ouen's Bay RdC Seen at La Sente were 3 Black-headed Gull , 8 Redshank , 2 Shelduck , 2 Cattle Egret and 4 White Wagtail while at Grands Vaux were a House Martin , 28 Sand Martin , 3 Swallow and 2 Teal . Around St Ouen's Pond were the White-fronted Goose , 32 Teal , 23 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 2 Oystercatcher , 5 Lapwing , 2 Snipe , 2 Stonechat , 10 Swallow , 6 Sand Martin and 45 Linnet . A Barn Owl was on Mont Matthieu. At Ouaisne were 9 Chiffchaff , 4 Song Thrush , 4 Greenfinch , a Snipe , a Great Crested Grebe and 28 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with another 22 at St Aubin along with a Kingfisher , 5 Redshank and 4 Turnstone . At Beaumont Marsh were a Brent Goose , 4 Snipe , a Little Egret and a Grey Heron .
by Romano da Costa 28 March 2026
28.03.2026 A Sand Martin skimming the surface at La Sente RdC The first House Martin of the year was seen at Grands Vaux this morning along with 12 Sand Martin , 5 Swallow , 2 Teal , a Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaff . At La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 12 Little Egret , 2 Cattle Egret , 6 Redshank and a Black-headed Gull . Up at Sorel were 2 Swallow , 4 Song Thrush , 2 Raven and a Peregrine while a Great Northern Diver was in St Brelade's Bay. St Ouen's Pond held 27 Shoveler , 6 Teal , 2 Tufted Duck , 8 Sand Martin and 3 Swallow .
by Romano da Costa 27 March 2026
27.03.2026 A recent Purple Sandpiper near Petit Port, they will soon be off on their journey back to Arctic Norway or Svalbard for the summer RdC At La Rocque this morning were 196 Brent Geese , 22 Curlew , 12 Sanderling , 16 Grey Plover , a Bar-tailed Godwit , 35 Turnstone , 3 Redshank , 6 Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe while nearby at La Sente were 7 Redshank , 2 Shelduck , 18 Little Egret , 2 Cattle Egret , 2 Black-headed Gull , 3 Swallow , 4 Song Thrush and a White Wagtail . At Grouville Marsh were a Redwing , 6 Song Thrush , 2 Reed Bunting , 2 Water Rail , 4 Bullfinch , 13 Jay , a Chough , a Raven and 2 Meadow Pipit . 2 Teal were at Queen's Valley. Grands Vaux Reservoir held 2 Tufted Duck , 60 Sand Martin and 5 Swallow . Around St Ouen's Pond were 25 Sand Martin , 6 Swallow , 22 Shoveler , 17 Teal , 2 Shelduck , 4 Tufted Duck , a Snipe and a Grey Heron while roosting at Petit Port were 3 Shelduck , 2 Great Black-backed Gull and 53 Oystercatcher .
by Romano da Costa 26 March 2026
26.03.2026 A Rock Pipit , taken by Mick The first Ring Ouzel of the year has been in a garden in Grouville, first being seen on there on the 22nd. Around St Ouen's Pond were 6 Swallow , a Sand Martin , a pair of Reed Bunting , a Water Pipit , 4 Stonechat , 25 Linnet , 26 Shoveler , 11 Teal , 4 Lapwing , a Redshank , 2 Oystercatcher , 3 Snipe , a Grey Heron and the White-fronted Goose . At La Sente were 4 Black-headed Gull , 3 Redshank , 2 Shoveler , 18 Little Egret and 5 Cattle Egret . Up at sorel were 4 Swallow , 6 Snipe were at Grouville Marsh and 6 Swallow and 2 Teal were at Grands Vaux. In Grouville Bay were 4 Wheatear , a Sanderling and a Grey Plover .
by Romano da Costa 25 March 2026
25.03.2026 A Great Crested Grebe at La Rocque RdC Seen at La Sente were 92 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 34 Little Egret , 5 Cattle Egret , 4 Black-headed Gull , a Common Gull , 6 Redshank, a Snipe , 2 White Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail. In Grouville Bay were 424 Brent Geese , 61 Oystercatcher , 4 Curlew , a Common Gull , a Great Crested Grebe , a Sandwich Tern and a Wheatear while at La Rocque were a Black-necked Grebe , 2 Gannet and 2 Wheatear . At Grouville Marsh a Peregrine was seen carrying a Kestrel it had just caught! In St Brelades Bay were 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with another 30 at St Aubins at the same time.
by Romano da Costa 24 March 2026
24.03.2026 A Starling showing off his glossy coat RdC Seen at La Sente were 5 Greenshank , 11 Redshank , a Snipe , 2 Shelduck , 3 Cattle Egret , 12 Little Egret and 2 White Wagtail while at Queen's Valley were a Greenshank , 6 Cormorant and a Tufted Duck . Up at Sorel were 18 Song Thrush , a Swallow and 4 Stonechat while at St Ouen's Pond were 12 Shoveler , 8 Tufted Duck , 14 Teal , 2 Snipe , 4 Lapwing , 12 Sand Martin and a Black-headed Gull with a Wheatear near Sands. At Grands Vaux were 4 Teal and a Grey Wagtail was again in Vallee des Vaux. Yesterday, 350 Sanderling were seen on the Ecrehous.
by Romano da Costa 23 March 2026
23.03.2026 A Buzzard flying by. A common species on the island with an estimated 40 pairs. Photo by Mick. In Grouville Bay this morning were 560 Brent Geese and 9 Common Scoter while at La Sente were a Little Ringed Plover , 6 Greenshank , 17 Redshank and 18 Little Egret . At Grouville Marsh from dawn were 10 Chiffchaff , 5 Cetti's Warbler , a Firecrest , a Bullfinch , 9 Cattle Egret , 5 Snipe , 4 Teal , 2 Water Rail and a White Wagtail and at Grands Vaux were 6 Tufted Duck and a Grey Heron . A Grey Wagtail was still in Vallee des Vaux. Around St Ouen's Pond were 26 Shoveler , 15 Tufted Duck , a Pochard , 2 Shelduck , a Grey Heron , 2 Oystercatcher , 5 Marsh Harrier , a Mallard with 9 ducklings, a Skylark and a Reed Bunting . At Beauport were 2 Wheatear , a Redwing and a pale Buzzard .
More posts