Jersey Birds
14.03.2024 Curlews heading off to roost, passing Corbiere this morning MD
A dry day with high cloud and a fresh southerly wind
Around St Ouen's Pond and Scrape this morning were a White-fronted Goose, a Pink-footed Goose, a Barnacle Goose, 2 Pochard, 3 Wigeon, 24 Shovelers, 38 Teal, a pair of Oystercatcher, 8 Lapwings and 3 Stonechats with another pair of Stonechat by the Cutty Sark. In the Sandpits were 4 Little Grebes, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a pair of Marsh Harrier. At the Airport were 3 singing Skylarks with another on the Sand Dunes.
Another flurry of early birds passing Corbiere included a Red-throated Diver, 8 Common Scoters, 2 Brent Geese, 15 Razorbills, 4 Guillemots, 5 Fulmars, 63 Gannets, a Common Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, a Kittiwake and a Pied Wagtail, but had petered out by 8 am. Waders included 29 Purple Sandpipers and 19 Curlews plus the usual noisy Oystercatcher troupes. 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were close in by the lighthouse.
At La Sente were 2 Shovelers, 34 Cattle Egrets, 18 Little Egrets, 120 Brent Geese, 24 Black-headed Gulls, 22 Redshanks, 5 Greenshanks, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Common Gull and 34 Pied Wagtails, while at Gorey were 8 Common Gulls and 80 Black-headed Gulls. On Queen's Valley reservoir were 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
On Beaumont Marsh were 2 Shovelers, 160 Brent Geese, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Pied Wagtails. Near St Saviour's Hospital were another 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 11 Cattle Egrets, and in Vallee des Vaux were 4 Siskins, 4 Bullfinches and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin
