Jersey Birds

20.02.2025 Not all of the Oystercatchers around our coast at the moment are local birds. This image, taken by Romano, shows an Icelandic ringed bird at La Rocque recently- the second one seen here this Winter. A milder day at 11c, with rain clearing before Dawn, leaving an overcast day in a southerly wind. Good numbers of birds were at La Rocque this morning with counts there of 3 Black-necked Grebes , 650 Dunlin, 390 Sanderlings , 165 Turnstones , 268 Grey Plovers , 58 Curlews , 105 Oystercatchers , 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Black Redstart . La Sente was also busy, with a Merlin , 500 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 5 Greenshanks , 66 Redshanks , 12 Cattle Egrets , 24 Little Egrets , 11 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 200 Black - headed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 2 Ravens , 30 Pied Wagtails and a Chiffchaff seen . 2 Mistle Thrushes were at Grouville Marsh, also 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and another Mistle Thrush was in Route des Hetres in St Peter, where 10 Redwings , 36 Pied Wagtails and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also present. 3 Cattle Egrets were at Les Charrieres. Another 3 Cattle Egrets were near Rozel Manor, also 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , and 22 Brent Geese were at Rozel Harbour. Fieldfares have been very scarce this winter, but 8 have been seen at Sorel in the last few days. 100 Chaffinches were at Rue de Douaire in St John. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at Augres. Just a few birds to note passing Corbiere this morning, which included 32 Brent Geese - 29 of which were in a flock heading north offshore, presumably already heading back, also 21 Razorbills , 2 Guillemots , a Fulmar , 63 Gannets , a Red-throated Diver , 16 Cormorants , 2 Kittiwakes , 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 46 Great Black-backed Gulls . At Petit Port were 34 Curlews , 4 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper . At and around St Ouen's Pond were 15 Wigeon , 22 Shovelers , 3 Little Grebes , 55 Lapwings , 9 Snipe , 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Water Pipit . Roosting near the Cutty Sark in St Ouen's Bay were 36 Ringed Plovers , 22 Dunlin and 5 Sanderlings . On Mont Matthieu, behind St Ouen's Bay, were 7 Redwings , a Song Thrush , a Chiffchaff , a pair of Chough , a Buzzard , a Marsh Harrier and a Red Squirrel and at La Rue du Clos Fallu Trinity, were 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Common Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 120 Black-headed Gulls .

19.02.2025 A stunning image from Tom Frazer of a ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Crabbe. TF A mainly dry day, cloudy in an east-southeasterly wind, but milder at 10c. On and around St Ouen's Pond this morning were 410 Brent Geese , 15 Wigeon , 2 Tufted Duck , 5 male Pochard , 10 Shovelers , 9 Snipe , 65 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , a Water Rail , 2 Little Grebes , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Sparrowhawk , 5 Marsh Harriers , a Buzzard , a Grey Heron , a Water Pipit and a Chiffchaff . In the Sandpits were 3 Little Grebes , 2 Shelduck , 12 Tufted Ducks , 8 Oystercatchers , a Mediterranean Gull and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . In St Ouen's Bay, 5 Sanderlings were at Sands Slip and further up the Bay, 25 Ringed Plovers and 18 Dunlin were roosting behind the seawall. 9 Little Egrets were at La Pulente and 6 Little Egrets were at Le Pulec. Little was passing Corbiere, ahead of a little patchy rain, with a Red-breasted Merganser , a Guillemot , 18 Gannets , 3 Fulmars , 4 Cormorants and a Common Gull seen in one hour. At Petit Port were 32 Curlews , 24 Turnstones , a Purple Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull . A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was at Crabbe again while in Rue des Hetres, St Peter, were 2 Mistle Thrushes and 10 Redwings . Birds at La Sente included 500 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 12 Grey Herons , 26 Little Egrets , 3 Cattle Egrets , 3 Lapwings , 58 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , a Marsh Harrier and 12 Pied Wagtails . Roosting at St Aubin were 31 Redshanks and 3 Turnstones , while at Beaumont Marsh were 180 Brent Geese , 2 Teal , a Shoveler , a Stonechat and a Pied Wagtail. Yesterday evening, 80 Sanderlings and 50 Dunlin were at La Haule. In St Brelade's Bay today were 3 pale-bellied Brent Geese and at Beauport, a Brambling again visited a garden feeder. At Mont a l'Abbe were 400 Crows , 20 Redwings , 25 alba Wagtails , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls while at Augrez were 500 Chaffinches , 2 Bramblings , and 15 Redwings . In Vallee des Vaux this evening were 4 Bullfinches , a Grey Wagtail, a Blackcap and overhead at least 12 Woodcocks with 3 birds calling, a Grey Heron and Redwings , also a small bat sp .

17.02.2025 Thanks go to John Ovenden for this fine image of a male Hen Harrier at Crabbe JO A little light rain cleared through before Dawn leaving a cold and cloudy day behind it in a moderate east-southeasterly wind. At La Sente this morning were 450 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , a Pintail , 9 Grey Herons , 14 Little Egrets , 64 Redshanks , 5 Greenshanks , 2 Curlews and 6 Lapwings . In Grouville Bay , as seen from Seymour Slip were 330 Dunlin , 240 Sanderlings , 157 Grey Plovers , 11 Ringed Plover , 32 Turnstones and 3 Common Gulls , with 250 Brent Geese seen at the Fauvic end of the Bay later. A Mediterranean Gull was among 50 Black-headed Gulls on Queen's Valley reservoir. On St Ouen's Pond were 290 Brent Geese , 3 Grey Herons , 2 Teal , 8 Snipe , 15 Wigeon , 5 Pochard , 3 Shovelers and 2 Little Grebes . At Crabbe were a Marsh Harrier , 2 Buzzards , 6 Lapwings , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Reed Buntings , c200 Chaffinches , 5 Linnets , 10 Goldfinches , 7 Song Thrushes, 10 Skylarks , 40 Meadow Pipits , 2 Ravens , 6 Choughs , 9 Jackdaws and 5 Stock Doves . 50 Black-headed Gulls flew over in two flocks heading West. and 5 Fieldfares were seen at Hautes Croix. A quiet morning at Corbiere saw 4 Guillemots , one Brent Goose , 28 Gannets , a Fulmar , 10 Cormorants , 30 Shags , a Kittiwake and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls pass in two hours. 2 Peregrines were present again. 17 Redwings and a Marsh Harrier were at Gorselands. The results of the Wader count on the 14th February are now available to download on the Resources page.

16.02.2025 Wigeon over St Ouen's Pond today MD A better day with good amounts of sunshine, but still cold at a maximum 6c in an easterly wind. At St Ouen's Pond this morning were 289 Brent Geese , 15 Wigeon , 25 Teal , 5 Pochard , a Tufted Duck , 3 Shovelers , 3 Grey Herons , 12 Snipe , 67 Lapwings , 14 Mediterranean Gulls , 6 Black-headed Gulls , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 40 Starlings . Seen passing Corbiere first thing were a Red-throated Diver , a single Brent Goose , 8 Razorbills , 70 Gannets , 11 Fulmars , 16 Cormorants , 8 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Kittiwakes , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 48 Curlews , with 25 Purple Sandpipers roosting there. In Petit Port Bay were 37 Curlews , 12 Turnstones , 32 Mediterranean Gulls and 6 Little Egrets . At Crabbe were a male and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier, also a Merlin. Counts for La Sente this morning included c500 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 86 Redshanks , 5 Greenshanks , 11 Grey Herons , 17 Little Egrets , a Cattle Egret and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls while at Grouville Marsh was a Mistle Thrush . Among waders at La Rocque were 120 Dunlin , 340 Sanderlings , 7 Red-breasted Mergansers , 5 Mediterranean Gulls , a Common Gull and a Black Redstart . In Beaumont Marsh were 400 Brent Geese , 3 Shovelers , a Peregrine and a Water Rail, while at St Aubin were 32 Redshanks , 9 Turnstones and 9 adult pale-bellied Brent Geese . A gathering of birds in Rue de la Garenne in Trinity involved a Grey Heron , a Buzzard , 2 Ravens , several Redwings , 6 Long-tailed Tits and a selection of finches including Chaffinches , Goldfinches and Greenfinches . At Cowley Farm were 2 Cattle Egrets . Garden birds in Vallee des Vaux included 4 Bullfinches , 2 Firecrests , 2 Blackcaps also 52 Redwings , 2 Ravens and 5 Woodcock at Dusk. Yesterday , in Rue de la Croiserie were 74 Redwings and 4 Song Thrushes . Below : A mass arrival of Brent Geese at St Ouen's Pond, spot the only juvenile ! MD

15.02.2025 A Redwing at Beaumont Marsh, image courtesy of George Louis GL The cold and cloudy conditions continue at 6c maximum in a fresh southeast wind. At La Sente this morning were 240 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 12 Grey Herons , 2 Cattle Egret s, 69 Redshanks and 6 Greenshanks and at Fauvic were 10 Cattle Egrets . Another 5 Cattle Egrets were near Rozel Manor entrance while at Rozel harbour were a Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawks displaying. 24 Cattle Egrets were in Grouville Marsh and yet another Cattle Egret was at Le Catillon as well as 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 280 Black-headed Gulls . Early passage past Corbiere included a Red-throated Diver , 4 Common Scoters, a Razorbill , 102 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 43 Shags , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Kittiwakes , a Common Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 21 Great Black-backed Gulls , with 9 Purple Sandpipers roosting there and a Grey Seal was feeding close in. On the headland there were a Peregrine , a Kestrel and a Dartford Warbler . In Petit Port Bay on the falling tide were 33 Curlews , 57 Turnstones , 35 Mediterranean Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull . A Bittern was seen at St Ouen's Pond, the first sighting for several days Around Beaumont Marsh were 73 Brent Geese , including 22 pale-bellied Brent Geese , a Shoveler , a Kingfisher , 3 Firecrests chasing flies on the gravel path, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Greenfinches and 5 Redwings . A Black-necked Grebe was at West Park and on Dannemarche reservoir were 15 Tufted Ducks and near Glencoe were 75 Redwings . At Grands Vaux reservoir were 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 20 Redwings . In Vallee des Vaux were 5 Bullfinches , 2 Firecrests , 4 Redwings and 2 Blackcaps and near Le Catelet in St John were 150 Stock Doves . Late yesterday at Grouville Marsh were 2 Chiffchaffs , 30 Reed Buntings, 4 Cetti's Warbler s, 6 Redwings , 6 Water Rails , 3 Teal , a Woodcock , a Snipe , 2 Ravens , 70 Jackdaws and a Barn Owl

14.02.2025 It was another co-ordinated count day for waders and Brent Geese , with results to follow soon. Above is one of the Redshanks at La Sente MD A cold and windy day, following the early clearance of rain, so not ideal for the counters in a gusty southeast wind. This morning at La Rocque were 2 Great Northern Divers , a Black-throated Diver , 2 Slavonian Grebes , a Black-necked Grebe , a Great Crested Grebe , 21 Red-breasted Mergansers , a Common Scoter , 157 Black-headed Gulls , 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Common Gulls and among the waders there were 125 Grey Plovers , 147 Dunlin and 45 Sanderling , also a Raven . Waders on the beach at Seymour included 202 Grey Plovers , 441 Dunlin , 391 Sanderling , and 13 Ringed Plovers . At La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 71 Redshanks , 7 Greenshanks , 13 Grey Herons and 24 Pied Wagtails and in Causie Lane were 140 Stock Dove s as well as 92 Brent Geese . 14 Coot were at Grouville Marsh. A Firecrest was seen at Bouley Bay. 6 Great Crested Grebes were at First Tower in St Aubin's Bay while near Glencoe in St Lawrence were 12 Fieldfares , 25 Redwings and a Sparrowhawk . On St Ouen's Pond were 14 Wigeon , 7 Pochard and 60 Lapwings while on Les Mielles golf course were 40 Coot . Waders in St Ouen's Bay included 36 Ringed Plovers and 21 Dunlin . Yesterday evening at Le Catillon were a Woodcock , 20 Redwings and 6 Song Thrushes, and at Mont a L'Abbe were another 15 Redwings and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Below: Sanderling on Grouville Beach today. MD

13.02.2025 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are trickling back into the Island, laying claim to being our first Spring migrants! MD A calm but cold and mainly cloudy day , with the Easterly wind still holding sway Not much is changing on a daily basis at the moment, so 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls arriving at Corbiere this morning were a welcome sight. Other birds passing Corbiere included 5 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver , 2 Common Scoters , a Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Razorbills , a Guillemot , 6 Fulmars , 31 Gannets , 45 Shags , 7 Kittiwakes , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 45 Great Black-backed Gulls , 45 Curlews flying in to roost in Petit Port Bay and 20 Purple Sandpipers plus 9 Turnstones were roosting near to Corbiere too. 2 Peregrines were in the vicinity again, plus a Raven . In Petit Port Bay were 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 25 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Shelduck , 11 Brent Geese and 8 Turnstones . At St Ouen's Pond were 15 Wigeon , 10 Shovelers , 7 Pochard , 75 Lapwings , 11 Snipe , a Little Grebe , a Chiffchaff and a massive 570 Brent Geese . In Beaumont Marsh were a male Shoveler , a Teal , 6 Siskins , a Stonechat , a Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk . Along the North coast, 2 Brent Geese were at Roxel Harbour with 6 Cattle Egrets at Rozel Manor, a further 2 Cattle Egrets were on Route des Augerez, a Fulmar , a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk were at Bouley Bay, a male and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier were at Crabbe and 2 Fulmars plus 2 Ravens were at Greve de Lecq. A Kingfisher was seen at Queen's Valley and 3 Tufted Duck plus 2 Grey Wagtails were at Grands Vaux reservoir. Yesterday evening, a Short-eared Owl was at Egypt.

12.02.2025 A recent image of a Great Crested Grebe at La Rocque, taken by Romano RDC A cold and mainly cloudy day in a fresh easterly wind At La Sente this morning were 2 Shelduck , 152 Brent Geese , 11 Grey Herons, a Lesser Black-backed Gull , a Marsh Harrier, 66 Redshanks and 5 Greenshanks . A further 14 Brent Geese and a Curlew were at Fliquet and on Grande Route de Rozel was a single Cattle Egret . On and around Queen's Valley reservoir were 12 Tufted Duck, 20 Redwings , 4 Siskins and 3 Bullfinches . Some early passage at Corbiere included 7 Red-throated Divers , a male Red-breasted Merganser , 21 Brent Geese feeding on the causeway again, 13 Razorbills , a Guillemot , 55 auk sp , unidentified due to their distance, 7 Fulmars , 70 Gannets , 6 Cormorants , 27 Kittiwakes , 15 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 59 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Purple Sandpiper and also 2 Peregrines . In Petit Port were 2 pairs of Shelducks , 6 Brent Geese , 20 Curlews , 52 Black-headed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls . At St Aubin's Harbour were 28 Redshanks and 2 Turnstones and on Beaumont Marsh were 2 Shovelers and 6 Brent Geese . In the backfields at St Ouen's Pond were 400 Brent Geese , on the Pond were 10 Coot and 7 Tufted Ducks and on Mont Matthieu were 11 Redwings , 3 Song Thrushes and 2 Choughs . In St Peter's Vally, at La Hague reservoir, were 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks , 3 Coot and 4 Moorhens . At Mont a L'Abbe were 200 Crows , a Grey Wagtail and 15 Redwings and at Grands Vaux reservoir were a single Tufted Duck , a Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk .

11.02.2025 A Cormorant on the South Canal at St Ouen's Pond MD A cold and cloudy day in a light Easterly wind (7c) At least it was dry! A little early movement past Corbiere this morning, which petered out after 9 am, included 21 Brent Geese feeding on the causeway, 58 Razorbills , 13 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 38 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 25 Kittiwakes , 9 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Common Gulls , 36 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Grey Heron , 2 Peregrines and 5 Goldfinches . 4 Harbour Porpoises were offshore. 34 Curlews were at Petit Port. In the backfields behind St Ouen's Pond were 15 Skylarks , 20 Starlings , 4 Marsh Harriers , the Pink-footed Goose with Barnacle Goose friend, and 7 Choughs . 2 Tufted Duck were on Kempt Tower pools while up on Mont Matthieu were 24 Redwings , 6 Song Thrushes and another 2 Tufted Duck . On the Scrape were 61 Lapwings , and a Stock Dove and in the Sandpits were 43 Tufted Duck and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls . 300+ Brent Geese were in Rue des Hetres in St Peter. In St Brelade's Bay were 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Great Crested Grebe and on Beaumont Marsh were 2 Teal , 2 Song Thrushes , a Chiffchaff and a Buzzard . 11 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm and another Cattle Egret was in fields near the Jersey Zoo. In St Helier Marina at dusk this evening were 212 mainly Pied Wagtails in a roost, 2 Kingfishers and a Great Crested Grebe Back to yesterday evening, when 12 Woodcock were over Vallee des Vaux, some of them in display flight.