Jersey Birds

15.01.2024  Grey Heron at the Wetland Centre today  MD

A cloudy morning and a sunny afternoon, less cold at 7c but still feeling chilly in a fresh northerly wind.

Around St Ouen's Bay, staring at the Wetland Centre, were a Little Grebe, 4 Gadwall, 23 Wigeon, a Grey Heron and a Reed Bunting. A Hen Harrier was seen from the Scrape Hide and in the backfields were a White-fronted Goose with the Greylags and c 200 Brent Geese. At Sand Slip were 10 Ringed Plovers, 19 Dunlin and what were likely to be the same 200 Brent Geese.  At Kempt Tower pools were 2 Little Grebes, 13 Shovelers, 6 Tufted Duck, a male Teal, a Water Rail, a Snipe, a Grey Wagtail, a Chiffchaff, a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard.

There was the usual rush of auks past Corbiere at first light with 1,319 Razorbills and 312 Guillemots counted. Otherwise it was a quiet morning there with a Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Divers, 25 Gannets, a Fulmar, 47 Kittiwakes, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Common Gulls plus a few Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Common Dolphins sighted. 25 Rock Pipits were at L'Etacq.

250 Brent Geese including 17 pale-bellied Brent were in fields behind Les Mielles Apartments at Beaumont, where 5 Shovelers were also present. A Common Sandpiper was at St Helier Harbour, also  our resident Coal Tit was showing well at Pont Marquet

At Grouville Marsh was a pair of Marsh Harrier, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, 7 Cattle Egrets, 4 Water Rails, and a Reed Bunting, while at Gorey were 20 Ringed Plovers, 50 Dunlin and 90 Sanderlings.

The result of the Brent Goose count on the 12th January 2024 is now available for download on the Resources page.