13.04.2024  A Cetti's Warbler by the path at Kempt Tower pools today   MD


It was a second warm day, although becoming overcast this afternoon, in a light southerly wind.


Spring migrants continued to trickle in despite the clear conditions and new today was a Hoopoe near La Moye Point, a Cuckoo calling near to Grouville Marsh, 2 Ring Ouzels at Grosnez and a second Iberian Wagtail, this time at La Sente, but no Grashopper Warblers were recorded.


Other birds at La Sente this morning included 11 Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck,  Yellow Wagtail, 4 White Wagtails and 2 Greenshanks. In Grouville Marsh through the morning were  5 Marsh Harriers, 4 Buzzards,2 Grey Herons,  a Sparrowhawk, a Reed Warbler, 4 singing Cetti's Warblers, 15 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Swallows and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.


At Corbiere and La Rosiere were 2 Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wagtails overflying, a Willow Warbler, 2 Dartford Warblers, 2 pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Ravens and 2 Peregrines. 8 Common Scoter passed by offshore. In Petit Port Bay were 3 Shelduck, 93 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstones and 2 Little Egrets.


In St Ouen's Bay, at the Scrape, were 4 Teal and a male Shoveler, while on the north side of St Ouen's Pond were 2 Wheatears, 2 Sand Martins and 5+ singing Reed Warblers. At the Kempt Tower pools were 5 Tufted Duck, a singing Little Grebe, a Reed Warbler, 10+ Chiffchaffs and 3 singing Cetti's Warblers.


Around Les Landes were 8 Wheatears, a male Stonechat, a White Wagtail, 6 Choughs and 2 Buzzards, with 2 Manx Shearwaters, a Kittiwake and a Guillemot passing by at Grosnez.


At other locations, a Common Sandpiper and 5 Tufted Duck were on Grands Vaux reservoir and at Beaumont Marsh were 104 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 9 dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Wheatear.


Evening update: A second Cuckoo for the day was at Rue du Pont in Trinity this evening and 3 Brent Geese were in the Old Harbour in St Helier. At the Scrape were 24 Teal, 4 Shovelers, 2 Shelduck, 4 Snipe, 50+ Swallows and 20 Sand Martins.

A gang of young Choughs at Les Landes this morning   MD

17.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 17 February 2026
17.02.2026 Goldcrest at Pont Marquet today. Image: MD

16.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 16 February 2026
16.02.2026 A cute Fulmar passing Grosnez this morning. Image: MD

15.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 15 February 2026
15.02.2026 Female Red-breasted Merganser at close quarters, La Rocque Harbour, with thanks to Romano for the image RDC

14.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 14 February 2026
14.02.2026 A great image of a Kingfisher at Queen's Valley, image courtesy of Dave Warncken.

13.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 13 February 2026
13.02.2026 A beautiful comparison montage of Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver at La Rocque. Thanks Romano! RDC

12.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 12 February 2026
12.02.2026 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are already returning to our latitude, with 25 seen passing Grosnez this morning, including this pristine bird MD

11.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 11 February 2026
11.02.2026 Slavonian Grebe , at La Rocque, image courtesy of Romano RDC

10.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 10 February 2026
10.02.2026 Snipe have been in short supply so far this Winter. These were at the Wetland Centre this week. MD

09.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 9 February 2026
09.02.2026 By way of a change, a Common Dolphin passing Grosnez this morning, one of 16 seen. MD An overcast day with heavy rain this afternoon in a fresh to strong south-southeast wind (10c) Little is changing at the moment on the bird front. Today's counts from La Sente include c350 Brent Geese , 2 Shoveler , a Wigeon , 11 Curlews , 72 Redshanks , 6 Greenshanks , 2 Snipe , 13 Grey Herons , 26 Little Egrets , 2 Cattle Egrets , 120 Black-headed Gulls , 26 Common Gulls and 3 Mediterranean Gulls . 64 Cattle Egrets were at Rue Parcq. In Grouville Marsh were 55 Cattle Egrets and 40 Linnet and at La Rocque were a Black - throated Diver , a Great Northern Diver , 2 Red-breasted Mergansers , a Black-necked Grebe and 2 Black Redstarts . Most interest at Grosnez surrounded a loose pod of 16 Common Dolphins which were being followed by 105 Gannets as they moved East. Otherwise, seen there were 2 grey goose sp , 30 + Fulmars , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 2 Curlews and 11 Linnets . On St Ouen's Pond were 10 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck , 5 Wigeon , 54 Shoveler , 120 Brent Geese , 2 Little Grebes , a Grey Heron , 28 Lapwings , a passing Grey Plover , 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Water Pipit . By Sands Slip were 24 Dunlin , 22 Ringed Plovers , 3 Sanderling and 2 Oystercatchers . Waders at Petit Port included 28 Turnstones , 5 Purple Sandpipers and 17 Grey Plovers . In Beaumont Marsh were 520 Brent Geese and 73 Black-headed Gulls . At The Elms in St Peter were 38 Redwings and a Goldcrest , and by St John's Village were 100+ Stock Doves .

08.02.2026

by Michael Dryden • 8 February 2026
08.02.2026 A young Lapwing at the Wetland Centre today. MD Some early rain and hill fog, then cloudy with the odd shower in a fresh south-southeast wind (10c) At La Sente this morning were 24 Little Egrets , a Lapwing , a Snipe , 11 Grey Herons , 2 Shoveler , 350 Brent Geese , 76 Redshanks , 7 Greenshanks , a Common Gull , 40 Black-headed Gulls , and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls at at Rue Parcq were 82 Cattle Egrets and 32 Curlews . On Grouville Common were a Stonechat , 4 Blackcaps , a Cirl Bunting , 2 Greenfinches and a singing Song Thrush . At La Rocque were a Black-throated Diver , 5 Great Northern Divers , 2 Slavonian Grebes , 3 Black-necked Grebes , 4 Red-breasted Mergansers , 26 Ringed Plovers , 2 Bar-tailed Godwits , 370 Turnstones , 200 Grey Plovers, 650 Dunlin and 480 Sanderlings . Seen from Le Pulec were a Great Northern Diver , 35 Gannets , 41 Shags , 7 Cormorants , 14 Curlews , 200 Oystercatchers , 15 Little Egrets , 200 Oystercatchers and 24 Rock Pipits, and seen from the Wetland centre were 172 Brent Geese , 5 Wigeon , 47 Shoveler , 4 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 26 Lapwings , 8 Snipe , 2 Little Grebes and a Water Pipit . 36 Brent Geese were at Petit Port as well as 52 Mediterranean Gulls . At Kempt Tower were the Snow Bunting , 4 Tufted Ducks , 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Stonechats . In Beaumont Marsh were 2 Cattle Egrets, 3 Little Egrets , 50 Black-headed Gulls , 30 Redwings and 9 Pied Wagtails , and at St Aubin were 6 Great Crested Grebes , 33 Redshanks and 3 Turnstones . A Grey Wagtail was in it's regular garden on Old St John's Road in St Helier. Yesterday evening, 60 Sanderlings were in St Brelade's Bay on the high tide.
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