17.03.2025 An adult Gannet passing close in at Grosnez this morning. MD
A fine day but cold in a fresh to strong east-northeast wind.
Good numbers of birds were passing Grosnez in the blustery conditions through the morning, although nothing unusual. Counts there included 2 Red-throated Divers, a single Guillemot, 77 Fulmars, 57 Gannets, 5 Kittiwakes, a Black-headed Gull, a Common Gull, 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, 170 Herring Gulls, also 72 Meadow Pipits, an alba Wagtail, a Raven and 8 Crows which arrived from the North. Two Porpoises were there through the morning to attract interest from the birds, as they fed.
On St Ouen's Pond were 3 Sand Martins, 5 Little Grebes, 22 Shovelers, 9 Teal, a Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler, while at the Scrape were 240 Brent Geese, 10 Wigeon, 13 Teal, 2 Shelduck, 8 Lapwings, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Black-headed Gulls. In the Sandpits were 2 Little Grebes, 44 Tufted Duck, 2 Wigeon, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a singing Cetti's Warbler and a pair of Marsh Harriers. 60 Brent Geese were at L'Etacq and on Mont Matthieu were a Stonechat and another Cetti's Warbler.
Seen at La Sente were 350 Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, a 7 White Wagtails and 7 Pied Wagtails, and just 2 Redshanks, while across at the Happy Hens were 2 Cattle Egrets. Another 15 Cattle Egrets were following a ploughing tractor in Maufant. 7 Brent Geese were in Rozel Harbour. In Vallee des Vaux were a Grey Wagtail and a singing Firecrest. In Grouville Bay were 40 Sanderling and 28 Black-headed Gulls.
At St Aubin were 20 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Redshanks and 9 Turnstones and on Ruelle es Ruaux were 330 Brent Geese which included another 20 pale-bellied birds.
A Redwing was on Mont a l'Abbe and 8 Tufted Duck and a Grey Heron were on Queen's Valley reservoir.
Extras for yesterday evening were a Short-eared Owl at Egypt and a Snipe on Mont Mado.
A happy Porpoise at Grosnez today, one of two which were attracting lots of interest from passing Gannets. MD
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin