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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.
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.
18.04.2026 Bird of the year, so far, was this handsome Woodchat Shrike that was seen at Noirmont today. The first record of this species in the Island since 2019 RdC Also seen at Noirmont alongside the Woodchat Shrike were 6 Wheatear , a Whitethroat , 2 Chiffchaff and 5 Swallow . Passing Corbiere were 2 Manx Shearwater , a Great Northern Diver , 3 Guillemot , 2 Fulmar , 2 Gannet , 2 Swallow and a Wheatear . Seen at St Ouen's Pond from dawn were 25 Sedge Warbler , 15 Reed Warbler , 3 Willow Warbler , 5 Chiffchaff , 3 Blackcap , a Whitethroat , 6 Wheatear , 2 Reed Bunting , 25 Swallow , 40 Sand Martin , a Yellow Wagtail , 3 Whimbrel , a Curlew and a Sandwich Tern . At La Sente were 2 Little Ringed Plover , 3 Brent Geese , 2 Little Egret , 2 Swallow , a Wheatear and 2 White Wagtail while at Le Hocq were 2 Wheatear , 8 Curlew , 58 Oystercatcher , 6 Little Egret and 5 Brent Geese . 4 Swallow and a Grey Heron were at Beaumont Marsh and 2 House Martin were at La Hougie Bie. Yesterday, a Cuckoo was heard calling in the woods of Les Creux country park, the first reported this spring. Below, another view of the Woodchat Shrike thanks to Jo Bramley.
17.04.2026 An often tricky species to photograph, this Cetti's Warbler sat in the open for Alan Gicquel this morning. Around St Ouen's Pond were 2 Shelduck , 4 Shoveler , 2 Snipe , 2 Lapwing , 2 Oystercatcher , 7 Reed Warbler , a Sedge Warbler , a Reed Bunting and 6 Wheatear . Whitethroat were heard singing along Les Vaux Cuissin and Ville au Bas in St Ouen and 2 Wheatear and a Cetti's Warbler were along Rue a L'Eau. At Noirmont were 4 Wheatear , a Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler , at Gorselands 3 Wheatear and at Sorel 6 Wheatear , 4 Swallow and a Stonechat . A Swallow , a Wheatear and 2 Kestrel were at Grosnez and 9 Fulmar were on cliffs near Bouley Bay.
16.04.2026 A recent Little Ringed Plover at a very muddy La Sente RdC Around St Ouen's Pond this morning were 8 Reed Warbler , 2 Sedge Warbler , 8 Chiffchaff , a Blackcap , 10 Swallow , 5 Sand Martin , 2 Wheatear , a Snipe and 2 Stonechat while in the Sandpits were 2 Shelduck and 40 Sand Martin . At Le Mielle de Morville were 2 Whitethroat , a Willow Warbler and 3 Cetti's Warbler , with another Cetti's Warbler on Mont Matthieu and at Le Pulec 2 Shelduck and 2 Stonechat . At Les Landes were 3 Wheatear and 3 Stonechat and at Beauport were 2 Wheatear . Seen at La Sente were a Little Ringed Plover , a Grey Wagtail , 7 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Brent Geese while at Queen's Valley was a Common Sandpiper and 2 Shelduck were near Gorey. In a garden at La Pouquelaye were 2 Bullfinch , 2 Blackcap , 3 Goldcrest and a Sparrowhawk .
