by Michael Dryden
•
23 September 2026
23.09.2026 Willow Warbler at Noirmont this morning MD Another fine day with some high cloud and warm at 22c in a light west-northwest. The first Brent Geese of the Autumn were seen this morning with a single in Grouville Bay and a flock of 8 passing Noirmont. Good passage at Noirmont this morning also included a juvenile Hen Harrier , 2,314 Swallows , 123 House Martins , a Yellow Wagtail , 3 Tree Pipits , 131 Meadow Pipits , 123 Linnets , 2 Goldfinches , 4 Greenfinches , while offshore were 336 Balearic Shearwaters , 2 Common Scoters , 5 Grey Herons , 35 Sandwich Terns , a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 26 Gannets and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On the ground there, were 6 Robins, a Stonechat, a Willow Warbler , a Blackcap , 3 Dartford Warblers , and 2 Chiffchaffs . Local birds there included 6 Buzzards , 2 Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk , 2 Kestrels and 2 Ravens . At Beauport were 40+ Linnets , 2 Whinchats , 4 Stonechats and 3 Yellow Wagtails . A Grey Wagtail was in Winston Churchill Park in St Brelade. Seen at St Ouen's Pond this morning were 2 Reed Warblers, a Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 15 Cetti's Warblers, a Firecrest, 3 Wheatears, 4 Water Rails, a Snipe, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Teal , 3 Little Grebes , a Peregrine , 6 Marsh Harriers and, flying over, 2 Grey Wagtails , a Yellow Wagtail , 6 Chaffinches , 25 Meadow Pipits and 10 Swallows . 18 Sandwich Terns were near to Sands. A stream of Swallows was passing over Mont Matthieu this morning, also 10 House Martins and 2 Yellow Wagtails . Later today, at Petit Port, were a juvenile Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 47 Sandwich Terns , 23 Mediterranean Gulls , 21 Curlews and a Common Sandpiper . At Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Teal , 8 Swallows and 6 Meadow Pipits . Swallows were also passing over St Helier in good numbers, with 200 seen in 40 minutes. Early on in the day, a Barn Owl was at the top of Mont Matthieu.