Jersey Birds

15.05.2026 A fine pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Grosnez. MD Temperatures remained well below the norm for May, not helped by cloudy conditions and a northerly wind. Migrants are thin on the ground at the moment, but a Cuckoo was calling at Greve de Lecq, near the Prince of Wales and 2 Great Egrets flew over Mont les Vaux in St Aubin. Seen from a chilly Grosnez were a Manx Shearwater , 11 Common Terns , 2 Sandwich Terns , 8 Guillemots , 48 Gannets , just 6 Fulmars , 6 Cormorants , 5 Kittiwakes , 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 15 Great Black-backed Gulls , 42 Swallows , 19 House Martins , a male Stonechat , a pair of Marsh Harriers , a pair of Buzzards and 2 Ravens . Around St Ouen's Pond from first light till mid-morning were 2 Sedge Warblers , a Whitethroat , 4 Wheatears , 12 Swifts , 25 Swallows , 16 House Martins , a singing Reed Bunting , a Stonechat , a female Shoveler , a Sparrowhawk , and a Peregrine . In Les Ormes Valley were a Garden Warbler , 2 Chiffchaffs , 2 Peregrines and 3 Marsh Harriers and a Whitethroat was singing on Chemin du Moulin in St Ouen. A pair of Shelduck was at Petit Port as usual, while at Gorselands were 6 Whitethroats , 2 Dartford Warblers , 3 Greenfinches , a Chough , 30+ Painted Lady Butterflies and a Small Tortoiseshell . At Kempt Tower pools were a male Shoveler , a Tufted Duck and another Whitethroat . On the North coast, at Les Platons were up to 12 Ravens , 5 Dartford Warblers , 7 Swallows , 3 House Martins, 5 Swifts , 3 Linnets , a Blackcap , a Kestrel and a Buzzard , plus a Swallowtail butterfly. Seen at Seymour were 26 Ringed Plovers , 8 Dunlin and a Bar-tailed Godwit . At Elizabeth Castle were 2 Whimbrels , a Wheatear , 20+ Linnets , 2 Little Egrets, 4 Swifts , a Blackbird and a Raven .

14.05.2026 This male is one of the Marsh Harriers currently breeding at St Ouen's Pond. MD A cold and blustery day with occasional showers in a strong northwest wind. A few birds passing Corbiere in the unpleasant conditions, prior to 8 am, included 4 Manx Shearwaters , 24 Guillemots , 5 Fulmars , 21 Gannets , a Sandwich Tern , 3 Kittiwakes , 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Whimbrel . At St Ouen's Pond were 15 Swifts , 8 House Martins , 20+ Sand Martins, a few Swallows , 2 male Shovelers and 5 Tufted Ducks . On the Scrape were the pair of Shelduck and the Barnacle Goose / Pink-footed Goose combo. A few waders at La Rocque included 5 Curlews and 6 Whimbrels . Evening update: At Seymour this evening were 45 Ringed Plovers , 12 Sanderlings , 23 Dunlin , 7 Little Egrets and a Lesser Black-backed Gull , while at Francheville Farm was a Cetti's Warbler singing in Little Valley and at Grouville Marsh were 12 Swifts , 20 Swallows , 25 House Martins and a Sparrowhawk .

13.05.2026 Jackdaws over La Rosiere. MD An unsettled day, with blustery showers and brighter periods and a strong westerly wind, cold for May at 14c. A Turtle Dove was seen walking along Rue des Maltieres in Grouville this afternoon, before flying off towards the allotments there. In the shelter of the Sandpits at La Braye this morning, were 35 Swifts , 40 Sand Martins , 35 Swallows , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 16 Tufted Ducks , 54 Coot , 3 Ravens , and 2 Choughs checking out the Sand Martin colony. At St Ouen's Pond were an immature Mediterranean Gull , up to 90 Sand Martins , 80 Swallows , 20 House Martins , 4 Swifts , a Sparrowhawk , 2 male Shovelers and 7 Tufted Ducks . Passing Corbiere first thing were 3 Manx Shearwaters , 14 Guillemots , 17 Gannets , a Fulmar , 3 Kittiwakes , 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 74 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Cormorants and 3 Ravens . At Seymour this afternoon were 43 Sanderlings , 13 Dunlin , 28 Ringed Plovers, a Turnstone , and 2 Swifts , while in Grouville Marsh were30 Swallows and 8 House Martins and at Grands Vaux reservoir were 30 House Martins , a Sand Martin and 15 Swallows . Below : Today's out of season Mediterranean Gull over St Ouen's Pond against a grey sky.

12.05.2026 Great Black-backed Gulls , part of a group of nine birds, up and at it in today's beautiful conditions, at Grosnez. Image: MD A mostly fine day, with pristine visibility but a chilly northwest wind. On a relatively quiet day for the date, a Cuckoo heard calling near St John's Village was very welcome. At or passing Grosnez this morning were 55 Gannets , 3 Guillemots , 6 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes , 40+ Great Black-backed Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a flock of 22 Sanderlings , a Whimbrel , 82 Swallows , 13 House Martins , a migrant Kestrel heading North, a Peregrine , 2 Buzzards , 2 Marsh Harriers , 2 Wheatears , 5 Choughs and 2 Ravens . At Gorselands were 2 Dartford Warblers , a Whitethroat , 6 Painted Lady butterflies and one Swallowtail . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were the Shelduck pair, an Oystercatcher on eggs, and 4 Lapwings . A Whitethroat was near the GaP Hide at the Sandpits. At Grouville Marsh early on were 2 Sedge Warblers , 20 Reed Warblers , 5 pairs of Cetti's Warblers , a pair of Bullfinches and a Sparrowhawk . On La Rue du Moulin de Bas was a singing Garden Warbler and a pair of Bullfinches . In St Catherine's Woods were another Bullfinch , 3 Firecrests , 2 Short-toed Treecreepers , good numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs , and a Long-tailed Tit .

11.05.2026 The Osprey over Corbiere this morning. Image: MD A mostly fine day, but feeling cool in a fresh northeast wind. A quiet morning at Corbiere was brightened up by the arrival of an Osprey from the southwest, with usual entourage of gulls and an ambitious Oystercatcher . Also seen at Corbiere were 10 Manx Shearwaters , 13 Guillemots , 6 Fulmars , 28 Gannets , 3 Cormorants , 7 Kittiwakes , 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 44 Great Black-backed Gulls , 4 Curlews , 3 Sanderlings , a Swallow and 2 Swifts . In Petit Port Bay were a Shelduck , a Curlew , 2 Marsh Harriers and the usual Oystercatchers . Seen at St Ouen's Pond were 2 Shovelers , 2 Tufted Ducks , 11 Swifts , 4 House Martins, 3 Swallows and a Grey Heron . An Osprey seen briefly, high over the ridge behind the Pond was, presumably, the same bird seen at Corbiere earlier. On the Scrape was the pair of Shelduck , with 20+ Swifts , 10 Swallows , 20 Sand Martins , 4 House Martins, a Whitethroat and 2 Blackcaps also reported. A White Wagtail was at Charing Cross in St Helier. Over Vallee des Vaux were 13 Swifts and at Grouville Marsh were 6 Swifts , 8 House Martins , 15 Swallows , 2 Sedge Warblers and 15 Reed Warblers . At Dusk, 120+ House Martins , 40 Swallows and 4 Sedge Warblers were at Grouville Marsh.

10.05.2026 A Jay flying over La Rosiere, at Corbiere. Image: MD Yet another day of dodging rain, mainly dry with high cloud and a strong and gusty east-northeast wind. There was a better selection of birds to be seen from Corbiere than of late, and these included 28 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Common Scoters , 5 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 40 Gannets , 5 Cormorants , 4 Kittiwakes , 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 56 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Dunlin , 8 Swifts and 18 Swallows in four hours. A Dartford Warbler was seen on the headland between Petit Port and La Pulente. On and around the Scrape were the pair of Shelduck , the male Shoveler , a pair of Oystercatchers , a Lapwing , a Common Sandpiper , 20 Swallows , 2 Reed Warblers , a pair of Stonechat , and 2 Swifts , while on St Ouen's Pond were hundreds of Swallows and Sand Martins, a Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls . At Le Hurel were 123 Sanderlings , 16 Dunlin , a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Curlew . 17 Jackdaws were in a ploughed field at Rue de la Genestiere in St Martin. Thanks as always go to Jo Bramley for this video clip of the Common Sandpiper on the Scrape.

09.05.2026 This Barn Owl, which was ringed as an owlet at Greve de Lecq in 2023, was retrapped and released at St Ouen's Pond yesterday. Image courtesy of David Buxton. Rain to the south of the Island never quite reached Jersey, leaving a dry day of high cloud and sunnier periods in a fresh southeast wind. Beauport Common was a popular spot today with birds seen there including a Cuckoo , a Wheatear , 2 Stonechats , 2 Firecrests , a Goldcrest , a Blackcap and 9 Jackdaws , as well as at least 24 Painted Lady butterflies. 6 Whitethroats were seen an Noirmont. Seen at, or passing Grosnez this morning were a Yellow-legged Gull , 27 Lesser black-backed Gulls , a Guillemot , 14 Gannets , 2 Little Egrets far offshore, 9 Swifts , 17 Swallows , a Tree Pipit , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Wheatears , a male Stonechat , and also 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . At St Ouen's Pond Scrape were a Redshank , a Dunlin , a Common Sandpiper, the Shelduck pair, the Oystercatcher pair and 3 Swifts . Waders at La Rocque included 3 Whimbrels , 2 Greenshanks and 12 Dunlin .  Evening update : In Grouville Bay this evening were 22 Sanderlings , 6 Dunlin , a Bar-tailed Godwit , 2 Curlews , 46 Oystercatchers and 2 Shelduck . Yesterday evening, at Noirmont, were 3 Whitethroats , 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers , 2 Greenfinches , 11 Swallows and a Jackdaw .

08.05.2026 Reed Warbler at Kempt Tower pools MD A fair to fine day and becoming warm in a fresh southeast wind. Seen during a ringing session at the north end of St Ouen's Pond this morning were a male Whinchat , a Greenland Wheatear , 25 Sedge Warblers , 20 Reed Warblers , a singing Whitethroat , a Water Rail , a pair of Shelduck , a Grey Heron , 12 Swifts , 2 Ravens , a Barn Owl and a trickle of Swallows passing through. At the Sandpits were 12 Tufted Duck , a Shelduck , a Reed Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, 60 Sand Martins and 6 Lesser Black-backe d Gulls. In Les Ormes Valley were 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Dartford Warblers , 2 Whitethroats and 2 Cetti's Warblers . A visit to Les Ecrehous saw 12 Common Terns , a Gannet , 80 Oystercatchers , 2 Grey Plovers , a Whimbrel and 2 Rock Pipits . Early on, passing Corbiere were a pair of Shelduck , 11 Gannets , 7 Swallows and 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and in Petit Port Bay were 2 Curlews , another pair of Shelduck and 78 Oystercatchers. Near the Desalination Plant at La Rosiere were 3 Tree Pipits which landed hear the Railway Walk, a Whitethroat , 5 Dartford Warblers including a family feeding young, a female Stonechat , a Blackcap and a Jay . A further 2 Whitethroats , a singing Dartford Warbler , 5 Swallows and a Blackcap were at Noirmont.

07.05.2026 Whitethroats are on the Island in good numbers at the moment. This male is holding territory very vocally, near the Scrape MD A dry but cold-feeling day in a fresh easterly wind. 2 Spoonbills flew over the Pond and Scrape mid-morning, but have not been relocated since. In the Scrape area were 4 Whimbrels , the Shelduck pair, a male Shoveler , 3 Swift , 20 Swallows , 25 Sand Martins , 3 Lapwings , a pair of Oystercatchers , a Whitethroat and plenty of Reed Warblers . The Green Sandpiper of recent days has not be reported today. A Sedge Warbler was singing on the East side of the Pond. Seen early morning at Sorel were 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Whitethroats , 12 Linnets , a male Stonechat , a Dartford Warbler in song and 2 Peregrines hunting together. At Plemont were 6 Razorbills , 3 Swifts , 8 Swallows , a Dartford Warbler , a Swallowtail butterfy and good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies too. At La Rosiere were a singing Whitethroat , 2 Choughs and another Swallowtail plus 20 Painted Ladies . 3 Tufted Duck were at the millpond in St Peter, while at the Jersey Cider Orchard in trinity were a singing Garden Warbler and 2 Bullfinches . Another Garden Warbler was in song along Route d'Ebenezer and Long-tailed Tits were being fed by adults on Rue du Moulin de Bas in Grouville. A Pied Wagtail was seen in New Street, St Helier.