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.
04.05.2025 . This fine Melodious Warbler was ringed and released at Grouville Marsh this morning, image courtesy of David Buxton A fair to cloudy day in a light northerly wind, Also at Grouville Marsh this morning was a Garden Warbler, and 2 Swifts were over Gorey Village and a further 3 Swifts were at Elizabeth Harbour with 110 Oystercatchers at Elizabeth Castle. Odds and ends seen passing Corbiere included 2 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 3 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , a flock of 10 Black-headed Gulls , 33 Shags , 43 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Marsh Harrier , a Curlew , 5 Swallows and a Grey Seal , with a Sedge Warbler in song there near the lower car park. In Petit Port Bay were two pairs of Shelduck at war with each other, 5 Whimbrels and a Grey Heron . On La Rosiere common were 42 Crows , 8 Jackdaws , a Raven , 2 Swallows and 2 Whitethroats , also a Painted Lady butterfly. Around St Ouen's Pond were a pair of Shelduck , 3 Grey Herons - one a possible juvenile bird, 4 Shoveler , 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Swifts , a Water Pipit , a Stonechat , and Reed Warblers and on the Scrape were a pair of Shelduck , 2 Whimbrels , 4 Lapwings and 2 Oystercatchers . At Kempt Tower pools were 2 Little Grebes, a Stonechat , a Greenfinch , a Reed Warble r and a Chiffchaff. Around Noirmont were a Whitethroat , a Dartford Warbler , and a Wheatear . 2 Swallowtail butterflies were on Portelet Common. At Plemont were 5 Razorbills , 13 Fulmars , 2 Ravens , 3 Swallows and c20 Linnets feeding. In St Catherine's Woods were a Redstart , a Song Thrush , a Blackcap , a Firecrest , a Greenfinch , a Swallow and a further 2 Painted Ladies .
03.05.2026 A Purple Sandpiper roosting at Corbiere. RdC Mainly cloudy this morning, but sunny this afternoon, light westerly winds. A ringing session early this morning at St Ouen's Pond found 20 Sedge and 25 Reed Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears, 30 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 8 House Martins, 2 Grey Herons, a drake Wigeon, 2 drake Shovelers and 6 Tufted Ducks. Late morning 6 Buzzards were overhead and a Common Sandpiper was seen. At the Scrape, a Golden Plover, 5 Whimbrels, a pair of Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings and a pair of Shelduck. A Common Sandpiper was at Le Pulec. At Petit Port, 3 Whimbrels and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. Roosting at Corbiere were 8 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Turnstones. At Noirmont this morning, a Cuckoo, 2 male Whitethroats holding territory, and a Swallowtail Butterfly. On the north coast at Plemont, 3 Puffins, 6 Razorbills, 5 Swifts, 120 Swallows over and a Peregrine Falcon. A Cettis's Warbler was singing on Mont Matthieu and at Handois 4 Tufted Ducks and a singing Firecrest. Yesterday evening at St Ouen's Pond, 2 Water Rails, a Wheatear and a singing Reed Bunting.
02.05.2026 A handsome Lesser Black-backed Gull on the southwest coast RdC Seen on the Scrape this morning were a Golden Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 4 Swift, 11 Swallow, a Whinchat and 3 Reed Warbler. At Le Pulec were a Shelduck, 2 Little Egret and 28 Oystercatcher with 37 Swallow at L'Etacq and 15 Swallow near Grosnez. Up at Plemont were 2 Razorbill, a Peregrine, 5 Swift, 17 Swallow, 8 Fulmar and 2 Raven while at Sorel were 2 Whitethroat, 25 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin and 2 Marsh Harrier. Seen at Grouville Marsh were 6 Sedge Warbler, 9 Reed Warbler, 3 bullfinch, 4 House Martin and 8 Swallow.
01.05.2026 Garden Warblers are being seen moving through the Island now with the first having been seen and in song in Samares Manor grounds on the 27th April. Image: MD A Hoopoe was a welcome visitor to a garden off Route des Augerez in St Peter and 2 Yellow Wagtails were in a horsefield at Grantez. Reported from the north side of St Ouen's Pond from first light were 5 Sedge Warblers , 15 Reed Warblers , 2 Blackcaps , a singing Reed Bunting , a Wheatear , a Shoveler and a Peregrine , also 15 Painted Lady butterflies. On and around the Scrape were 3 Shelduck , a pair of Coot with 4 young, a Black-headed Gull , a Caspian Gull , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 6 Whimbrels , 2 Wheatears , 3 Swallows , a male Shoveler , a pair of Oystercatcher , a Sedge Warbler , several Reed Warblers , a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier which took a Lapwing chick. On the Sand dunes were 2 Garden Warblers and in the Sandpits were good numbers of Sand Martins , a Shelduck , 6 Oystercatchers and an alba Wagtail . At Le Pulec were 4 Little Egrets and 3 Cormorants . In Grouville Bay were 2 Shelduck and 3 Whitethroats were singing at Sorel. A further 2 Whitethroats were at Noirmont also a Chiffchaff and Greenfinch , plus another 16 Painted Ladies . 5 Buzzards were seen in flight over Mont Felard in St Lawrence. One extra for yesterday was a Greenland Wheatear on Grouville Common
30.04.2026 female Shelduck at the Scrape today. A decreasing easterly wind and feeling warm this afternoon. Waders in St Ouen's Bay this morning included, 33 Ringed Plovers, 15 Sanderling and 5 Dunlin at Le Port. Nine Whimbrels flew into the Scrape, also seen there was a drake Shoveler, a Shelduck, 2 Lapwings with 2 chicks, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears. At Les Landes 5 Wheatears and a pair of Stonechats. North of the Airport a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Sparrowhawk and singing Skylarks. Up at Victoria Tower 5 Swifts and a Sparrowhawk. In Grouville Bay 6 Bar-tailed Godwits. Yesterday evening a Teal was still on the Scrape and 4 Common Sandpipers were at Sands Slip, St Ouen's Bay.
29.04.2026. A nice image of a Rock Pipit at La Corbiere. RdC A strong easterly wind, cloudy with a few brighter spells. The weather kept passerine sightings to a minimum, but there were a few waders around today. In Grouville Bay a Whimbrel, 2 Sanderlings and a Common Sandpiper. In St Ouen's Bay at Sands Slip, 123 Bar-tailed Godwits flew in from the north, 20 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin and 2 Sanderlings. At Le Braye Sandpit, 2 Grey Herons, 10Swifts, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, c80 Sand Martins, and a Cetti's Warbler. Four Whimbrels landed on Les Mielles Golf Course. Over St Ouen's Pond at least 50 House Martins and 10 Swifts.
28.04.2026 A Peregrine at Les Landes taken by Romano da Costa. Feeling cooler today, cloudy in a fresh north-east wind, sunny this afternoon. At Grouville Marsh and surrounding areas this morning, 7 singing Reed Warblers, a pair of Bullfinch, a grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 7 Buzzards and a few Swallows passing through. At Grands Vaux Reservoir, a Grey Heron and 40 Swallows. Up at Victoria Tower, a Peregrine and 3 Swifts. In the west of the Island, starting at La Corbiere. Little was offshore, but a local Shelduck flew past, plus a Wheatear. Near La Pulente a pair of Stonechats. In Le Braye Sandpit, 14 Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, 16 Coot, 26 Herring Gulls, 5 Swallows, c80 Sand Martins and a pair of Marsh Harriers. Opposite the GAP hide was a juvenile Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler. Four Swifts were over Le Braye Slip. A male Stonechat was on Beauport Common and at Gorselands, 2 Whitethroats and a Dartford Warbler. At St Ouen's Pond c100 mixed hirundines and 3 Swifts. On the Scrape a pair of Shelduck. A single Wheatear was at Les Laveurs. Up at Les Landes a pair of Marsh Harriers, 2 Wheatears and a Stonechat. An interesting report yesterday of a possible Crossbill at the Corbiere end of the Railway Walk, one to look out for! Also on Les Ecrehous a single Wheatear.
27.04.2026 A Dartford Warbler, taken by Romano. Another sunny day with a light north-east wind. At Grouville Marsh early this morning, 12 Sedge Warblers, including a French ringed bird, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Firecrests, 8 Blackcaps, a Snipe, one Sparrowhawk, 8 Swallows, and at 6-30 a Cuckoo was calling in the direction Grouville Golf Course, but was not heard again. A few waders were noted in Grouville Bay, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrels, 4 Curlew, 8 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Brent Geese. A walk through St Catherine's Woods on a beautiful morning found a nice selection of birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Song Thrush, Garden Warbler (the first this spring), Firecrests, at least 6 Blackcaps and a Buzzard. At Gorselands this morning were 3 Dartford Warblers and 2 singing Whitethroats. At St Ouen's Pond 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Snipe, the usual Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard and on the Scrape 2 Whimbrels and a Peregrine.
26.04.2026 A very attractive Dunnock, taken by Romano da Costa. Sunny and warm with a light south-east wind. At Grouville Marsh a singing Serin, possibly present yesterday as well, a Wheatear and 3 Swallows. At La Sente 3 White Wagtails and a Wheatear. A late Cattle Egret was still in Rue des Fonds, Grouville and at Seymour Slip 5 Little Egrets, 9 Oystercatchers and 7 Whimbrels. Up at Victoria Tower a Turtle Dove, the first this spring. Seen at the Farmers Cricket pitch in St Martin a White Wagtail, a pair of Marsh Harriers and a Raven. Moving west to St Ouen's Pond, on the Scrape,a Shelduck, a pair of Oystercatchers and a Lapwing chick sadly taken by a Marsh Harrier. Yesterday evening Barn Owls were seen at La Blinerie and near Maufant and the first Nightjar of the spring was churring in the south-west of the Island.
25.04.2026 A pair of Oystercatchers at The Scrape, St Ouen's Pond. JB Sunny with a light south-easterly wind. A ringing session at St Ouen's Pond this morning was fairly quiet. Among the birds seen were 3 Sedge Warblers, 11 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears, 2 singing Stonechats,10 Chiffchaffs and 4 Shovelers. Birds over a Peregrine, one Yellow Wagtail and 4 Black-headed Gulls. Two Whitethroats were singing on the hillside behind the Pond. In Le Braye Sandpit a Shelduck, 8 Oystercatchers, 50 Sand Matins and 2 Choughs over. Two Wheatears were on Les Blanches Banques and 5 at Les Laveurs. A pair of Shelduck were at Le Pulec and also a pair of Stonechats. At Sorel on the north coast, 2 Whitethroats, a singing Willow Warbler a pair of Stonechats and a Dartford Warbler. Cuckoos were seen or heard near Grouville Marsh and in St Catherine's Woods this morning. On Elizabeth Castle c50 Oystercatchers, in St Aubin's Bay a pod of 6 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and a very close in Gannet! A Map butterfly was seen at Victoria Tower and a Guillemot, possibly a JSPCA release was standing on the beach at Gorey. A couple of late records from yesterday a Teal on the Scrape, 2 Swifts over St Helier Marina and 3 Common Sandpipers at Queen's Valley Reservoir.
