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16.12.2024   Grey Heron on the Scrape today   MD

Another overcast day with some light drizzle, mild at 12c in a fresh west-southwest wind.


It was a generally quiet day on the bird front and less were passing Corbiere than in the previous days. Seen in ninety minutes there were a Black-throated Diver, 191 Razorbills, 38 Guillemots, 2 Brent Geese, a Fulmar, 14 Gannets, 52 Kittiwakes, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Cormorants.


A Bittern flew over St Ouen's Pond Scrape, landing in the main reedbed early on with a few Lapwings and a Grey Heron also present there, while on St Ouen's Pond were 10 Teal, 2 Grey Herons, 12 Snipe, 9 Shovelers and a Water Pipit.


5 Cattle Egrets and a Little Egret were in a field in Rue du Hocq in St Clement and the Hoopoe was seen again in St Ouen's Bay.


2 Black Redstarts were seen on a balcony along the Esplanade in St Helier, 15 Redwings and a Grey Wagtail was at La Pouquelaye and a Barn Owl was in Vallee des Vaux



by Michael Dryden 3 April 2025
03.04.2025 A Redshank on St Ouen's Pond Scrape today MD A fine morning was replaced by a wet afternoon, in a fresh easterly wind. Hirundines are starting to show in better numbers around the Island, now April is with us. On St Ouen's Pond, and over the Pond, were a Redshank , a Dunlin , 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings , 39 Teal , 2 Wigeon , 5 Shovelers , a pair of Shelduck , a Grey Heron , at least 8 Swallows , 4 Sand Martins , a Merlin in the Trois Roches, a Wheatear , and a summer-plumaged Water Pipit , while at Kempt Tower were 3 Shovelers , and 4 Tufted Duck , at in St Ouen's Bay were 3 Sandwich Terns . A selection of species passing Grosnez this morning included 4 Guillemots , 5 Razorbills , 40 Gannets , 21 Fulmars , 2 Kittiwakes , 19 Sandwich Terns , 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 10 Swallows , 7 Sandwich Terns , 163 Linnets , 15 Goldfinches , 12 Meadow Pipits , 2 Peregrines , a Raven , 2 Choughs , 17 Crows heading off North, and a Buzzard heading to Guernsey, while on Les Landes were a Wheatear , 4 Swallows , a Sand Martin and good numbers of Meadow Pipits . Seen from Plemont were a Wheatear , another 3 Swallows , 4 Razorbills and 19 Lesser Black- backed Gulls . At Corbiere were 17 Purple Sandpipers , 19 Turnstones and 2 Swallows , while in Petit Port were 2 Shelduck and 4 Curlew . 17 Little Egrets were sitting out the high tide in Stinky Bay at Le Pulec. At Ruelle es Ruaux were 80 pale-bellied and 8 dark-bellied Brent Geese , with another 8 dark-bellied Brent Geese at Havre des Pas and a further 17 Brent Geese on Elizabeth Castle as well as 200 Oystercatchers and 3 Little Egret s. 2 Kestrels were on Mount Bingham and a Dartford Warbler was at Bouley Bay. On the North coast at Sorel were 5 Swallows , a Meadow Pipit and 6 Linnets flying over and a Buzzard arriving off the sea. At La Piece Mauger in St Martin were 13 Cattle Egrets. On Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Teal, a Tufted Duck, a singing Firecrest and a Sparrowhawk and in Vallee des Vaux were 2 Bullfinches and another singing Firecrest . In La Sente were 32 Cattle Egrets and 62 Brent Geese and at Le Hurel in St Ouen's Bay were 540 Brent Geese plus 2 Grey Herons . In Grouville Marsh were a male Shoveler , 2 White Wagtails , 4 Water Rails and 2 singing Cetti's Warbler , while at Queen's Valley were 2 singing Firecrests .On Grouville Common was a Wheatear .
by Romano da Costa 2 April 2025
02.04.2025 A male Peregrine surveys his surroundings, in search of a meal RdC A warm sunny day with a moderate easterly wind. Passing Corbiere this morning were 3 Red-throated Diver , 4 Manx Shearwater , 4 Common Scoter , 17 Razorbill , 6 Guillemot , 26 Gannet , 4 Fulmar , 3 Cormorant , 16 Sandwich Tern , 9 Kittiwake , 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 26 Great Black-backed Gull , 4 Curlew , 2 Skylark , 26 Linnet , 2 Meadow Pipit , 2 Peregrine , a Grey Seal and 2 Harbour Porpoise while in Petit Port were a Shelduck , 6 Curlew and 7 Little Egret . On the Scrape were a Little Ringed Plover , a Redshank , a Snipe , 2 Oystercatcher , 6 Lapwing , 3 Wigeon , 29 Teal , 8 Brent Geese , a Shoveler , 6 Sand Martin and a Swallow . At La Sente were 300 Brent Geese , 4 Raven and 4 Little Egret while in St Catherine's Woods were a Green Sandpiper , 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker , 3 Short-toed Treecreeper , 11 Chiffchaff , 2 Blackcap and a Mallard with 15 ducklings. Up at Plemont were 3 Swallow and 2 Raven , another 5 Swallow were over Les Platons and 3 Fieldfare and 2 Raven were over St John and at Sorel were 3 Swallow , a Wheatear and a Peregrine . Elsewhere, 20 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 56 Brent Geese were near St Aubin, 13 Brent Geese and 2 Sanderling were at La Rocque and at Grands Vaux were 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 10 Tufted Duck , 2 Teal , 2 Swallow , a Firecrest and 2 Raven . Yesterday evening a Jack Snipe and 9 Common Snipe were at St Ouens Pond.
by Romano da Costa 1 April 2025
01.04.2025 A Short-toed Treecreeper prospecting a possible nesting site, thanks to Tom Frazer . A Sunny day with a moderate easterly wind. Seen at La Sente today were 77 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , a Swallow and 21 Cattle Egret while nearby at Seymour were a Common Sandpiper , a Curlew and 175 Brent Geese. Around St Ouens Pond were 2 Wigeon , 18 Teal , 4 Lapwing , 4 Swallow , 8 Sand Martin , a House Martin and 2 Wheatear with a Willow Warbler in the tamarisk by the Wetlands Centre. In the Sandpits were 32 Tufted Duck , 2 Shelduck , 4 Sand Martin , 2 Swallow and 2 Redshank while at Petit Port were 3 Shelduck , 70 Oystercatcher , 4 Brent Geese and a Little Egret with a Great Crested Grebe in Elizabeth Harbour and 32 Brent Geese at West Park. At Queens Valley were 2 Greenshank and at Grands Vaux were 9 Tufted Duck , 2 Teal , a Willow Warbler , 4 Chiffchaff and a Swallow . A Wheatear was at Noirmont.
by Romano da Costa 31 March 2025
31.03.2025 Another view of the Little Ringed Plover at La Sente recently RdC A warm sunny day with a light easterly wind. The first two of our breeding Puffin were back along the north coast near Plemont this morning along with 34 Razorbill , 5 Fulmar and 2 Kestrel . At St Ouens Pond were 31 Shoveler , a Little Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull while passing Corbiere were a Sand Martin and 3 Woodpigeon . At Kempt Tower were 4 Shoveler , a Little Grebe , a singing Water Rail and 2 Tufted Duck with 2 more on Mont Matthieu. The pair of Shelduck were again at Le Pulec along with 90 Oystercatcher , 12 Little Egret and 2 Stonechat while up at Les Landes were 2 Swallow , a Wheatear , 6 Stonechat , 4 Linnet , 5 Chough and 3 Marsh Harrier . Seen at La Sente were 3 Redshank , 8 Cattle Egret , 4 Little Egret , 12 Brent Geese , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Wheatear . Elsewhere a Kingfisher was still in the Marina, a Swallow was at L'Etacq, a Grey Heron was at Beaumont Marsh and 9 Tufted Duck and 2 Teal were at Grands Vaux.
by Romano da Costa 30 March 2025
30.03.2025 A rather handsome garden visitor, a male Sparrowhawk , thanks to Alan Gicquel for the photo. Early cloud and rain soon cleared to a sunny day with a north westerly wind. Seen on the Scrape at St Ouens Pond in the rain were 9 Swallow , 5 Sand Martin , a Common Sandpiper , 3 Wigeon , 20 Teal , 3 Shoveler , 10 Brent Geese , 2 Oystercatcher , 5 Lapwing , 5 Little Egret , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 3 Black-headed Gull with a Wheatear and 2 Chough next to Kempt Tower and a pair of Shelduck at Le Pulec. Up at Les Landes were a Wheatear , a Swallow , a Grey Wagtail and 2 Kittiwake offshore while east of Plémont were 18 Razorbill and 2 Fulmar . At La Sente were 210 Brent Geese , 14 Cattle Egret , 10 Little Egret and a Pied Wagtail with another 14 Cattle Egret and a Swallow near St Martins School. Elsewhere, 12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese , a Great Crested Grebe , 3 Redshank and a Turnstone were at St Aubin, a Swallow flew over Sorel and 8 Buzzard were over Bonne Huit. Grouville Marsh held 2 Snipe , 6 Water Rail , a Cattle Egret and 3 Willow Warbler while on Grands Vaux Reservoir were 5 Tufted Duck and 3 Willow Warbler .
by Romano da Costa 29 March 2025
29.03.2025 The Little Ringed Plover at La Sente, thanks to Alan Gicquel for the photo. Another sunny day with a south westerly wind. Passing Corbiere this morning were 20 Manx Shearwater , 50 Kittiwake , 3 Common Gull , 2 Mediterranean Gull , 20 Guillemot , 2 Razorbill , a Common Scoter and 6 Linnet while a Willow Warbler was near Poplars tea room. Seen at La Sente were the Little Ringed Plover , 2 Redshank , 44 Cattle Egret , 7 Little Egret , 2 Shelduck and 2 White Wagtail while 2 Swallow flew over La Roncier. At Ouaisne this morning were 12 Chiffchaff , a Firecrest , a Cetti's Warbler , a Dartford Warbler , 2 Song Thrush , 4 Greenfinch , 2 Coot , a Snipe and 3 Little Grebe and at Beaumont Marsh were 2 Shoveler , 3 Willow Warbler and 2 White Wagtail . Seen around St Ouens Pond were a Gadwall , 2 Shelduck , 21 Teal , 20 Shoveler , 6 Wigeon , a Lapwing , 2 Oystercatcher , 7 Brent Geese , the Pink-footed Goose and its Barnacle Goose partner and 2 Cetti's Warbler and over Val de la Mare were 11 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin . Up at Plemont were 5 Razorbill , 5 Fulmar , a Peregrine , a Swallow and 12 Linnet while a pair of Stonechat were at Le Pulec and 3 Choughs at La Rosiere. At Le Hocq were 19 Brent Geese and 8 Little Egret and in Vallee des Vaux were a Firecrest and a plucked Bullfinch ! Below, a short video of the Little Ringed Plover , thanks to Jo Bramley
by Romano da Costa 28 March 2025
28.03.2025 A recent flock of Common Gull in Grouville Bay, now they should be reaching their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe RdC An overcast morning with showers until lunchtime and sunshine this afternoon. Seen at La Rocque were 4 Swallow , 17 Curlew , 17 Turnstone , 2 Ringed Plover , 5 Sanderling , 19 Redshank , 3 Greenshank and a Grey Plover while at Le Hurel were 320 Brent Geese , 36 Oystercatcher and 11 Curlew while at La Sente held a Little Ringed Plover , a Redshank , 2 Shelduck , 15 Brent Geese , a Curlew , 11 Cattle Egret , 2 Raven , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Cetti's Warbler and on Grouville Common were 22 Starling , 6 Linnet and 4 Greenfinch . At Grouville Marsh were a Willow Warbler and a Little Ringed Plover . At St Ouens Pond were a male Reed Bunting , 24 Shoveler , a Wheatear and a Pied Wagtail while in the Sandpits were 34 Tufted Duck , 2 Shelduck and 2 Stonechat . 2 Dartford Warbler , 2 Shoveler and 2 Little Grebe were at Kempt Tower. 3 Redwing were at La Sergente Fam is St Peter and a family of Mallards were at Beaumont Marsh. Yesterday a Black Redstart was at L'Etacq and a Redwing was heard flying over Pier Road at night.
by Romano da Costa 27 March 2025
27.03.2025 One of the many Meadow Pipits displaying in St Ouen's Bay RdC A warm sunny day with a very light easterly wind. Seen at Corbiere this morning were a male Cirl Bunting , 2 Black Redstart , 2 Wheatear , 8 Chough and 2 Raven with 4 Shelduck and 8 Curlew at petit Port while at Les Landes were 2 Black Redstart , a Wheatear , 5 Stonechat and 14 Fulmar offshore. 5 Swallow flew in off the sea at Beaumont, where 3 Shoveler were on the marsh. At West Park were 50 Brent Geese which included 19 Pale-bellied while on Elizabeth Castle were 2 Wren , 2 Wheatear and 3 Curlew . At St Ouens Pond were 6 Wigeon , 26 Teal , 24 Shoveler , a Little Grebe , 7 Lapwing , a Snipe , 2 Oystercatcher , a Reed Bunting , 2 Stonechat and 2 Wheatear with another Wheatear near Kempt Tower and up on Mont Matthieu were a Willow Warbler , a Cetti's Warbler , 2 Shoveler and 3 Tufted Duck . Out east at la Sente were 59 Cattle Egret and 22 Little Egret and at Grands Vaux were 2 Teal .
by Romano da Costa 26 March 2025
26.03.2025 A handsome Blue-headed Wagtail at La Sente RdC A warm sunny day with a light north easterly wind. There was no sign of the Alpine Accentor today, but other birds that were seen at Corbiere were 3 Black Redstart , a Wheatear , 7 Linnet , a Firecrest , 7 Chough , 2 Raven and 2 Guillemot offshore while at Petit Port were 4 Shelduck and 12 Curlew . A Hoopoe was seen along La Rue du Rat in St Martin at lunchtime, the second in as many days and follows the large influx that are arriving into the southern part of England, so worth keeping an eye out for more. O n the Scrape were 6 Wigeon , 19 Teal , 31 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 2 Oystercatcher , 7 Lapwing and Willow Warbler while on the Pond were 15 Shoveler , 6 Teal , a Jack Snipe and 3 Swallow with 2 Yellow Wagtail , a Wheatear , 3 Skylark and 2 Stonechat near Kempt Tower. At La Sente were 46 Cattle Egret , 29 Little Egret , a Curlew , 18 White Wagtail , 6 Pied Wagtail , 2 Shelduck and a Grey Heron and nearby at La Rocque were 52 Sanderling , 3 Greenshank , 2 Redshank , 19 Curlew and 38 Brent Geese while another 623 were in Grouville Bay. A Grey Wagtail was in Vallee des Vaux, 14 Brent Geese were at West Park, 5 Chough were on the incinerator at La Collette and 2 Redwing were heard over Gorey last night.
by Romano da Costa 25 March 2025
25.03.2025 The Alpine Accentor posing nicely yesterday evening RdC A mostly cloudy day with some bright spells and a north westerly wind. The Alpine Accentor was still at Corbiere, although much more elusive, also seen were 2 Swallow , a Black Redstart and a Wheatear while nearby in St Brelades Bay were 20 Pale-bellied Brent Geese . At La Sente were a Yellow Wagtail , 4 Blue-headed Wagtail , 38 White Wagtail . 3 Pied Wagtail , 2 Shelduck , 2 Redshank , 59 Cattle Egret , 21 Little Egret and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull . At Le Hurel were 55 Sanderling and 280 Brent Geese while in Vallee des Vaux were a Grey Wagtail and a Woodcock . In the Harbour were 7 Brent Geese and a Little Egret and at St Aubin were 27 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 10 Redshank . Seen on St Ouens Pond were 46 Shoveler , a Pochard , 6 Teal , 2 Little Grebe and 3 Reed Bunting while in the Sandpits were 28 Tufted Duck and 2 Shelduck and on Mont Matthieu 2 Shoveler and a Little Grebe . In a garden on La Ruette de la Carriere in St John were a Brambling and a Firecrest . Below, another view of the Alpine Accentor , thanks to Keith Pyman .
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