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21.09.2024  Sandwich Tern with food, image courtesy of John Ovenden


A fine and warm morning, becoming cloudy with showers this afternoon in a south-east wind


A good selection of species seen at or flying over Noirmont included a Purple Heron, high from the South and a flock of 6 Great White Egrets heading East over St Aubin's Bay. More regular species included 5 Cormorants, 1,073 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 3 alba Wagtails, 355 Swallows, 15 House Martins, 3 Sand Martins, a Skylark, 6 Chaffinches, 53 Linnets and 45 Goldfinches. On the ground were 2 Whinchats, 2 Wheatears, 2 Stonechats, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, a Firecrest and 7 Dartford Warblers. A Redstart was at Portelet and a Wheatear was at Ouaisne.


At Grouville Marsh this morning were a Redstart, a Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, 30 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 15 Robins, a Firecrest, 150 Swallows and House Martins, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Chaffinches, 3 Linnets, a Water Rail, 10 Cattle Egrets, 4 Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Teal and 25 Jackdaws. On Grouville Common were 4 Blackcaps and 5 Collared Doves.


In St Aubin's Bay this morning were 42 Brent Geese, 7 of them pale-bellied Brent at Bel Royal and at St Aubin were 16 Redshanks and 5 Little Egrets roosting above Bel Croute.  Over St Helier this afternoon were 600+ Swallows and 87 House Martins. 80 Swallows were over St Clement this afternoon too.


On the Scrape were a Purple Heron, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 12 Teal,  a Kingfisher, a Grey Heron and a Yellow Wagtail and a Wheatear, 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Willow Warbler and 4 Water Rails were to the North of St Ouen's Pond. At Petit Port were 28 Curlews, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls and 9 Turnstones. At Les Ormes were a Willow Warbler, plus  good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Robins and in the Sandpits later were a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Little Grebes and 4 Grey Herons. At Le Pulec were 47 Black-headed Gulls and 5 Little Egrets.


 Accumulations of hirundine was seen widely around the Island this afternoon, notably 550 Swallows at First Tower and 200 mixed Swallows and House Martins at the Wetland Centre.


A Grey Wagtail was at Grands Vaux, a Grey Wagtail and 58 Swallows flew over Vallee des Vaux. In a garden there, were 2 Firecrests, a Goldcrest, 10 Chiffchaffs and 2 Short-toed Treecreepers.  10 Choughs were at Corbiere headland and at Manor Farm, Vinchelez, three House Martin nests were still active.

by Michael Dryden 05 Oct, 2024
05.10.2024 One of three Hobby that passed Noirmont through the morning MD
by Michael Dryden 04 Oct, 2024
04.10.2024 Another Swallow passes Noirmont this morning MD
by Michael Dryden 03 Oct, 2024
03.10.2024 A different view of Linnets , this time in formation over Noirmont today MD
by Michael Dryden 02 Oct, 2024
02.10.2024 Male Linnet at Noirmont MD
by Michael Dryden 01 Oct, 2024
01.10.2024 A fine Wheatear in this morning's sun at Noirmont MD
by Michael Dryden 30 Sept, 2024
30.09.24 A juvenile Great-Black-backed Gull in St Ouen's Bay, image courtesy of Romano RDC
by Michael Dryden 29 Sept, 2024
29.09.2024 Cormorant passing Corbiere MD High cloud through the morning with patchy rain this afternoon and a significant south-east wind up to force 7 in gusts A varied range of species passed Corbiere this morning, which included 7 dark-bellied Brent Geese , 4 Common Scoters , 7 Balearic Shearwaters , 10 Gannets , 13 Guillemots , 6 auk sp , an adult Arctic Skua , 11 Cormorants , 25 Shags , 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 14 Common Gulls , 14 Mediterranean Gulls , 6 Black-headed Gulls , 32 Great Black-backed Gulls , 27 Sandwich Terns , one tern sp , 2 Curlews , 20 small waders far offshore, and 2 Bottle - nosed Dolphins . Heading West off the headland were 42 Swallows , 12 House Martins , 3 alba Wagtails and 5 Meadow Pipits and hunting there were 2 Peregrines . At Petit Port this afternoon were a Caspian Gull, 60 Great Black-backed Gulls, 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , a Kingfisher , 11 Turnstones and a Common Sandpiper . In the Sandpits were 280 Swallows , 10 House Martins , 34 Cormorants , 30 Little Grebes , a Great Crested Grebe , 61 Coot , 3 Little Egrets , 4 Grey Herons , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 26 Black-headed Gull s, 11 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Peregrines , a Stonechat , 8 Linnets and 2 Ravens . At Le Port in St Ouen's Bay were 28 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin , a Sanderling and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . A Hobby flew over Mont les Vaux in St Aubin this afternoon as well as 30+ Swallows . In St Catherine's Woods this morning were a Grey Heron , a Grey Wagtail and 2 Firecrests . At Devil's Hole were a Grey Heron , a Peregrine and 7 Swallows and in Mourier Valley were 5 Tufted Ducks . Evening update: 4 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm, at the Gunsite were 25 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 5 Black-headed Gulls with 149 Black - headed Gulls and 7 Sandwich Terns were at La Haule and 19 Redshanks plus 46 dark-bellied Brent Geese at St Aubin.
by Michael Dryden 28 Sept, 2024
28.09.2024 Buzzards at La Rocque recently, image courtesy of Robin Richards Showers this morning and a fair afternoon, winds from the north-northwest but lighter. A good amount of visible migration on offer at Noirmont, included a Red-throated Pipit , calling but not landing. Counts there included 600 Swallows , 63 House Martins , 460+ Meadow Pipits, 5 Yellow Wagtails , 19 alba Wagtails , a Wheatear , 60 Linnets , 8 Goldfinches , 5 Stonechats , 2 Sparrowhawks and 3+ Buzzards including one pale bird. 2 Balearic Shearwaters and 3 Sandwich Terns passed Grosnez early on and Seen passing Corbiere were the first Black-throated Diver of the Autumn, 2 Balearic Shearwaters , a Razorbill , 19 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Kittiwakes , a Sandwich Tern , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Turnstone , 2 Skylarks , 21 Swallows , 2 Grey Wagtails , 15 Linnets , 38 Meadow Pipits , a Chiffchaff , a Marsh Harrier and 2 Ravens . 14 Cattle Egrets were in fields opposite Holme Grown in Grouville, 28 Tufted Duck were on Queen's Valley reservoir and a Whitethroat , a pair of Stonechat and a Chiffchaff were on Grouville Common. A Wheatear was at Beaumont Marsh and 48 Brent Geese were at First Tower along with 100 Black-headed Gulls . A further 23 Brent Geese were in Grouville Bay and another Wheatear was by El Tico in St Ouen's Bay.
by Michael Dryden 27 Sept, 2024
27.09.2024 Great Black-backed Gulls are on the Island in excellent numbers at the moment. Many of them originate on Chausey, just a few kilometres to the south-east of us. This is confirmed by a good number of them wearing green rings put on there, including the centre bird in flight, J43. MD A fierce day for weather with strong and gusty southwest winds gave way to even stronger and more gusty northerly winds after the passage of a squall with heavy rain on it, mid-morning. A few migrants were still heading off from Noirmont despite everything with 578 Meadow Pipits and 30 Linnets seen. Birds caught up in the squall line included a Golden Plover , 14 Swallows , 6 House Martins , and 3 Yellow Wagtails ( also 2 Red Admiral butterflies). Offshore were 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull , a Black-headed Gull and 4 Sandwich Terns . Among the birds in the Sandpits were 31 Cormorants , 11 Little Grebes , a Little Egret , 29 Swallows , 3 Great Blacked Gulls and numbers of Tufted Duck and Coot . At Petit Port were 64 Great Black-backed Gulls and 17 Curlews , while 6 Sandwich Terns were at St Aubin.
by Michael Dryden 26 Sept, 2024
26.09.2024 This Marsh Harrier, feeding in the wind at Les Landes today, was wearing a blue colour-ring J58, put on it in Jersey MD A stormy day, wind-wise with some showers thrown in, winds coming from the southwest up to F7 at times. A difficult day for the birds ( and birders too.) Seen passing Grosnez were 2 Balearic Shearwaters, a Fulmar , 19 Gannets , 2 auk sp , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , 2 Little Egrets, 3 House Martins out at sea and a Raven . On the lee side of Les Landes were 4 Marsh Harriers , 3 Buzzards including a pale-phase bird, a Peregrine , 13 Swallows , 3 House Martins , 20+ Meadow Pipits and 2 Ravens. In the Sandpits were a Greenshank , 40 Little Grebes , 2 Great Crested Grebes , 3 Pochard , 65 Great Black-backed Gulls , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 26 Cormorants . On the Scrape were 3 Teal , 20 Meadow Pipits , 8 Stock Doves and a Chiffchaff . 3 Swallows were seen at Rue de la Fontaine in St Peter. In a slightly sheltered Petit Port Bay this afternoon were 135 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 12 Mediterranean Gulls and 22 Curlews . A male and a juvenile Cirl Bunting were on Grouville Common and 4 Grey Herons plus 100 Crows were at La Sente. Elsewhere, 2 Ravens were over Vallee des Vaux with a Firecrest in a garden there and a Buzzard was at Rozel.
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