Jersey Birds

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.

24.04.2026 A Common Sandpiper at the Scrape today, thanks to Jo Bramley for the picture. The fine weather continues with a moderate easterly wind. A good selection of birds at St Ouen's Pond, today, seen mainly from the Scrape Hide, an Osrpey, a Merlin, 2 Peregrines, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, one Ruff, a Yellow Wagtail, 9 Wheatears, a pair of Shelduck, a drake Pochard and 15 Swifts. In Le Braye Sandpit, a Hobby, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, 70 Sand Martins and 10+ Swifts. At Noirmont, a Whinchat near Warren Farm, the first this spring, a Whitethroat and 2 Common Buzzards. At Elizabeth Harbour, 8 Wheatears, a Black Redstart and 5 Swifts. Two Swifts were at St Aubin also 3 Choughs. In the east of the Island, a Cirl Bunting, one Bullfinch and a Cetti's Warbler were seen on Grouville Common. In Grouville Bay, 6 Brent Geese, 2 Curlew, a Whimbrel and 12 Sanderlings. At La Sente which is nearly dry now, 2 Brent Geese, a Whimbrel, 2 Cattle Egrets and a Little Egret. A late record from Queen's Valley Reservoir yesterday of a single Wheatear.

23.04.2026 Thanks to Romano for this picture of a male Stonechat. Another fine day but still with a fresh easterly wind. Plenty of Wheatears today, mainly in the west of the Island, with 7 at Corbiere, 4 on Les Blanches Banques, 12 at St Ouen's Pond, 6 at Les Laveurs, 8 at La Saline and singles at Beauport Common and La Sente. Mid-morning at Kempt Tower in St Ouen's Bay about 20 were reported moving north in less thana 15 minute period. Other birds at St Ouen's Pond included 5 Swifts, 3 Whimbrels, a Little Ringed Plover, a single Snipe, 4 Lapwings, a pair of Oystercatchers and a pair of Stonechat in the back fields east of the Pond. A sedge Warbler was singing near the North Canal. In the east of the Island at La Sente, a single Brent Goose, 3 White and a Pied Wagtail, with 3 Yellow Wagtails nearby at Happy Hens. At Seymour Slip 4 Brent Geese, 16 Oystercatchers and 3 Little Egrets. In La Rue de Pont 83 Herring Gulls and 5 Great Black-backed Gulls were roosting in a recently ploughed field. This evening at Noirmont, 7 Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Dartford Warbler, 5 Swallows, a Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk.

22.04.2026 A Wheatear, taken by Romano. Another mainly sunny day but still with a strong east wind. A few Wheatears were seen today but little else. Up at a windy Les Landes were 2 Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, one Peregrine, 15 Swallows, 20 Linnets, a Skylark and 5 Wheatears. Roosting at Le Pulec, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Cormorants, 10 Shags, 40 Oystercatchers and overhead a pale phase Buzzard being mobbed by Crows. At Les Laveurs 8 Wheatears. At the Scrape, St Ouen's Pond 3 Lapwings, a Peregrine, one Willow Warbler, 7 Wheatears and a Swift. Six more Wheatears were on Beauport Common and a Whitethroat was singing in a garden in St Martin.

21.04.2026 There are probably 5 breeding pairs of Shelduck on the Island, this drake was at La Sente. RdC A sunny day but feeling chilly in the fresh to strong easterly wind. In Le Braye Sandpit this morning 8 Tufted Ducks, a Pair of Shelduck, a pair of Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers and 100+ Sand Martins split into two colonies. Most of yesterday's Wheatears have departed, with just 2 found on Les Blanches Banques, a single at the Scrape and 3 at Noirmont, where a Whitethroat was also seen. Roosting at Petit Port were 99 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, a Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets and a pair of Shelduck. At St Ouen's Pond 3 Snipe, 4 Lapwing and 3 Swifts. At a rapidly drying La Sente were another pair of Shelduck, 2 Brent Geese and 3 White Wagtails.