17.04.2024 Lesser Black-backed Gulls displaying at La Rosiere, image courtesy of Romano.
Another cold day, cloudy and with a fresh north-northwest wind.
Migrants were thin on the ground, and in the air, again today. Seen passing Corbiere early morning were 16 Guillemots, 7 Razorbills, 6 Fulmars, 29 Gannets, 9 Cormorants, 13 Kittiwakes, a Sandwich Tern, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Curlews, 5 Swallows, 3 White Wagtails, 2 Goldfinches and 21 Linnets. Raptors in the area included a pair of Kestrel a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and 2 Peregrines.
On St Ouen's Pond were 6 Shovelers, 40 Swallows, 12 House Martins and 13 Sand Martins and at the Scrape were a White-fronted Goose, a male Wigeon, a male Shoveler, 8 Lapwings, 2 Oystercatchers, a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler. At Le Pulec was a White Wagtail and at the small pond by L'Etacq were a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler.At Kempt Tower were 2 Reed Warblers, a Willow Warbler and Coot with 4 young.
Sadly, a
Golden Oriole
was found dead on the beach in St Ouen's Bay, so close to making it to the Island.
Numbers are reducing at La Sente, with todays birds including 14 Little Egrets, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 14 White Wagtails, 3 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins, 20 Swallows, a singing Cetti's Warbler, a Marsh Harrier and 4 Brent Geese. At Seymour were 112 Brent Geese and a Great Crested Grebe and a Sparrowhawk was seen in a garden at Green Island. At Rue du Parcq were 40 Swallows and in Grouville Marsh were 50 Swallows, 20 House Martins and a Sparrowhawk. Grands Vaux reservoir held 4 Tufted Duck, 20 House Martins and 5 Swallows.
Yesterday evening, a Short-eared Owl was seen at Grouville Common and 4 Yellow Wagtails plus a Blue-headed Wagtail were at La Sente.
Goldfinch at Kempt Tower MD
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.
20.04.2026 A pair of Shoveler at St Ouen's Pond TP. Another sunny day but with a fresh easterly wind. A few more records from yesterday Cuckoos were seen at Portinfer and Bouley Bay also 11 Wheatears at Les Landes. A male White Wagtail was found at Chateau Clairval Farm, probably a breeding bird. Plenty of Wheatears were around today mainly along the south coast with 8 at Corbiere, 3 at La Rosiere, a single at Beauport, 5 at Noirmont and a single on Beauport Common, where a male Stonechat was also present. At St Ouen's Pond a pair of Shovelers, 4 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Coot with young, a single drake Pochard, 3 Marsh Harriers, a little Grebe, 3 Snipe, up to 10 Swifts plus a steady movement of Swallows, Sand Martins and a few House Martins. A flock of 10 Whimbrels were also seen this morning and a Sedge Warbler was song flighting north of the Pond. At La Sente just 2 Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 10 White and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
19.04.2026 A whitethroat near Kempt Tower taken last week by Romano. A sunny day with a light north-east wind. The first Swifts of the spring were seen this morning at the Elizabeth Ferry Terminal along with a few Swallows moving through and a pair of White Wagtails on the roof. At La Sente 3 Brent Geese , 4 Yellow Wagtails and 2 White Wagtails. The Woodchat Shrike was still at Noirmont this morning along with 11 Wheatears, a Swift, 2 Sand Martins, a Tree Pipit and 5 Whitethroats. Two Willow Warblers were in Les Creux Country Park and another near Trinity Manor. In St Ouen's Bay 7 Snipe and 2 Shovelers were seen from the Wetland Centre and on the Scrape 13 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Wheatears, the White-fronted Goose and 2 Lapwings. Near Kempt Tower Ponds 2 very vocal Little Grebes, 4 Tufted Ducks, 3 Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler. Near the Francis Le Sueur Centre 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Greenfinch, a Firecrest and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Finally On Grouville Golf Course 2 Cirl Buntings, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and on Rue du Pont 4 Wheatears.
