Jersey Birds

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 .

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.

10.04.2025 One of today's Ring Ouzels at Les Landes MD A cloudy and cold-feeling morning turned into a clear afternoon in moderate easterly winds. At least 4 Ring Ouzels were along the cliffs south of Grosnez Point at Les Landes this morning, where 7 Wheatears were also present and 6 Swallows plus a Hawfinch flew over, the latter a rarity here in the Spring. Seabirds passing Corbiere early morning included a Great Skua , 3 Manx Shearwaters , 42 Guillemots , a Shelduck , 2 Fulmars , 35 Gannets , 2 Sandwich Terns , 8 Kittiwakes , 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Cormorants . Also seen were 2 Peregrines , 4 Swallows and a White Wagtail with 3 Wheatears feeding on the headland. 2 Shelduck were in Petit Port Bay and a Stonechat was near La Pulente car park. At Le Pulec this afternoon were 8 Little Egrets , 2 Wheatears and 2 Stonechats . On or over the Scrape were 12 Teal , a female Wigeon , a Grey Heron , the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , 20+ Sand Martins , 5 Swallows , 5 Lapwings , a singing Skylark , 2 Yellow Wagtails, and a Reed Warbler on the South Canal. In fields at La Rocque this morning were a Common Redstart , 3 Yellow Wagtails , 60 Meadow Pipits , 80 Linnets , 2 Skylarks , 2 Swallows , 3 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff . Seen from Le Hurel in Grouville Bay were 306 Brent Geese, 6 Curlews , a Black-headed Gull and a Common Gull and at La Sente were 2 Cattle Egrets . At Beaumont Marsh this afternoon were a Grey Heron and a Swallow .  Below : Another view of a male Ring Ouzel at Les Landes this morning MD

09.04.2025 A Wheatear at Corbiere yesterday. Most of the Wheatears passing through the Island at the moment are of the larger and more brightly-coloured Greenland race leucorhoa MD The fine and clear conditions continued today, but with a stronger and distinctly cool northeast wind. Passing offshore at Grosnez this morning were a Red-throated Diver , 208 Razorbills , 65 Guillemots , 2 Common Scoters , 93 Fulmars , 56 Gannets , 44 Sandwich Terns , 42 Kittiwakes , 12 Black-headed Gulls , 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 28 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Cormorants . Others seen there included a Peregrine , 2 Ravens , a Wheatear , 2 White Wagtails , 13 Linnets and 10 Meadow Pipits . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were a Little Ringed Plover, a single Wigeon , 21 Teal , 3 Shovelers , the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , 5 Lapwings , 3 Wheatears , a Yellow Wagtail , 22 Sand Martins , a Swallow and a Little Egret , while on the Pond were 24 Shovelers , 15 Swallows and 20 Sand Martins . To the north of the Pond were 5 Wheatears , with a further 9 Wheatears by the Jersey Pearl and another Wheatear plus a Sand Martin on Mont Matthieu. A single Swallow was seen at Corbiere. Evening update : A turn over in the birds at the Scrape since this morning, saw 2 Shelduck , 100 Swallows , 10 Sand Martins, 7 Wheatears , 3 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Snipe , 2 Oystercatchers and a Common Sandpiper there later this afternoon. At the Farmer's Cricket ground in St Martin were 5 White Wagtails with 2 Cattle Egrets in a field nearby. In Grouville Bay were 39 Sanderlings and a Wheatear, while at Grouville Marsh were a Willow Warbler, 15 Swallows , 10 Sand Martins and 6 Meadow Pipits . At Grands Vaux were 2 Teal and 10 Tufted Duck .