Jersey Birds

28.01.2025 A female Stonechat at the Wetland Centre this morning MD The stormy times continue, with heavy showers for good measure and a strong and gusty west-southwest wind. On St Ouen's Pond this morning were 15 Wigeon , 27 Shoveler , 4 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 2 Shelduck , a Jack Snipe , 8 Snipe , a Stonechat and a Water Pipit . Gulls roosting on the Pond included 32 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull and 5 Black-headed Gulls . 2 Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard were hunting over the backfields. Littkle was moving past Grosnez in the wild conditions there, with 27 Gannets , 13 Fulmars , 2 Kittiwakes , a Razorbill and 20 Great Black-backed Gulls seen in one hour, and a Black Redstart was at the Castle. At La Sente were 540 Brent Geese , a good count of 139 Curlews , c60 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , 22 Black-headed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , a Common Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull . A very young Grey Seal was at La Rocque and being closely monitored. Yesterday evening at Grouville Marsh were 17 Teal , 6 Snipe , 2 Woodcock and 49 Curlews .

27.01.2025 Few birds were flying today, in the stormy conditions, but Great Black-backed Gulls continued as usual, one here seen passing Corbiere this morning MD It was back to stormy conditions today with near-gale South-southwest winds and heavy, squally showers. In Grouville Marsh this morning were a Yellow-legged Gull and a Mistle Thrush and on Rue a Don were 8 Cattle Egrets . At La Sente were a Shelduck , 63 Redshanks and 4 Greenshanks . 6 Cattle Egrets were seen in Maufant. Waders in Grouville Bay, as viewed from Seymour, included 164 Grey Plovers , 270 Dunlin , 75 Sanderlings , 66 Turnstones and 5 Ringed Plovers . At St Ouen's Pond were a Bittern , 30 Shovelers , 8 Wigeon and 5 Snipe while on Mont Matthieu was a Grey Wagtail . Passing Corbiere this morning were 205 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 49 Shags , 2 Cormorants , 58 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Curlews and a Grey Seal was seen grappling with a large Eel. At Petit Port were 36 Curlew , 2 Shelduck , 180 Oystercatchers and 40 Great Black-backed Gulls plus 25 Black-headed Gulls were roosting between there and Le Braye. On Rue de Chasses in St John were 125 Chaffinches and 25 Redwings . Alderney are looking for a new Warden at the Observatory - just in case you are interested . https://www.birdguides.com/news/alderney-bird-observatory-seeks-new-warden/ Below : St Ouen's Bay as viewed from Corbiere, as a squall approached from the West this morning.

26.01.2025 Curlews at Petit Port MD A stormy day with a blasting south-southeasterly wind and rain through most of it. At La Sente today were 3 Shovelers , 94 Mallard , 2 Snipe , 6 Lapwings , 35 Brent Geese , 64 Redshanks and 5 Greenshanks . In Grouville Marsh were 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Yellow-legged Gull , 2 Common Gulls and a Mistle Thrush . A Rose-coloured Starling was seen again in a garden at Fauvic. Birds at La Rocque included 38 Ringed Plovers , 87 Grey Plovers , 365 Dunlin , 233 Sanderling , 148 Turnstones , 16 Curlews , 97 Oystercatchers , a Yellow-legged Gull and a Peregrine . At Causie in St Clement were a Shelduck and 100 Brent Geese . On and around St Ouen's Pond were 162 Brent Geese , 13 Wigeon , 27 Shoveler , 9 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 19 Coot , 2 Cormorants , a Mediterranean Gull , 5 Snipe , 26 Stock Doves and a Chiffchaff . At La Saline were 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 14 Great Black-backed Gulls . Over 50 Gannets were feeding close in at Grosnez, over 2 Harbour Porpoises with 14 Fulmars also there. Some late records from yesterday included a Merlin by the Milano Bars and 250 Oystercatchers , 15 Curlews , and 4 Cormorants at Le Pulec. Seen from the GaP Hide at the Sandpits were 6 Pochard , a Little Grebe and 12 Tufted Duck .

25.01.2025 Herring Gulls on the move past Corbiere this morning ( with a possible Yellow-legged Gull bottom centre ) MD A day of high cloud and good visibility in light and variable winds Passing Corbiere were a good number of birds, possibly relocating after yesterday's storms. Morning-long counts there saw a Red-throated Diver , 763 Razorbills , 101 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 30 Gannets , a Grey Heron , 2 Little Egrets , 5 Cormorants , 48 Shags , a Curlew and 3 Turnstones . Gulls were to the fore with counts of 604 Herring Gulls ( nearly all immatures), 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , a Caspian Gull , 73 Great Black-backed Gulls , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 54 Kittiwakes , 39 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Common Gulls . 2 Porpoises and c10 Common Dolphins were also active offshore. Many of the Razorbills were seen rafting off L'Etacq later. In Petit Port Bay were 2 Shelduck , 40 Brent Geese, a male Red - breasted Merganser , 29 Curlews , 5 Little Egrets , 14 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 21 Herring Gulls , plus the usual Oystercatchers . On Mont Les Vaux were 300 Chaffinches and a Brambling , with another 100 Chaffinches at Plemont. At La Sente were a Shelduck , 3 Shovelers , 240 Brent Geese , a Lapwing , 6 Little Egrets , 6 Grey Herons , 38 Redshanks , 2 Greenshanks and 30 Chaffinches . 22 Lapwings were at East Riding and 2 Brent Geese were in Rozel Harbour.

24.01.2025 A Snipe roosting in the usual spot by the Wetland Centre MD The cold front from storm Eowyn crossed the Island this morning, without much impact and was followed by a showery airflow in a fresh southwest wind Little to report today, unsurprisingly considering the adverse conditions. On St Ouen's Pond were 21 Shoveler , 6 Wigeon , 2 Teal , 2 Tufted Duck , a Little Grebe , 92 Lapwings , 7 Snipe , a Grey Heron , 3 Marsh Harriers , a Buzzard , 12 Skylarks , a Water Pipit , 3 Meadow Pipits and a Chiffchaff . 10 Cattle Egrets were in a field by Grouville School Nothing of note was passing the headlands at Corbiere and Grosnez this morning. Below : Lapwings over St Ouen's Pond this morning. MD

22.01.2025 This Ringed Plover , colour-ringed in Germany, is a regular Winter visitor to St Ouen's Bay. image with thanks to Romano. RDC A day of overcast skies and some light rain, milder at 8c in a light easterly wind Roosting at Sand's Slip this morning were 44 Ringed Plovers , 17 Dunlin and 4 Sanderlings , while on St Ouen's Pond were a Bittern , 12 Wigeon , 16 Shoveler , 2 Pochard , 9 Teal , 5 Snipe and a Lesser Black-backed Gull and on the Scrape were 28 Teal , a Grey Heron and a Chiffchaff . Passage past Corbiere first thing included a Great Northern Diver , a Bla ck-throated Diver , 2 Red-breasted Mergansers , 86 Razorbills , 6 Guillemots , 6 Fulmars , 15 Gannets , 7 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes , 2 Mediterranean Gulls, a Peregrine and two pods totalling 20 Common Dolphins . Waders at La Rocque included 125 Oystercatchers - two of them ringed in Iceland, 240 Sanderlings, 130 Dunlin , 45 Grey Plovers , and 61 Curlews . At La Sente were a Shelduck , a Teal , 49 Redshanks , 4 Lapwings , 3 Snipe and 12 Cattle Egrets , with 8 Common Gulls at Grouville Marsh. In Rozel Harbour were 4 Brent Geese and in Rozel Valley was a Grey Wagtail. At Cowley Farm were at least 650 Herring Gulls and 30 Black-headed Gulls . Another Grey Wagtail was seen by the Amaizin Maze in St Peter and a pale-bellied Brent Goose was at West Park in St Helier. 2 Woodcock flew over Vallee des Vaux at first light. This afternoon, passing Grosnez were 4 Gannets , 20 Fulmar , 2 Ravens , a Peregrine , 10+ Common Dolphins and 2 Porpoises . Yesterday evening, at La Haule, were a Ringed Plover , 120 Dunlin and 100 Sanderlings .

21.01.2025 A Little Egret on the Pont Marquet pools today MD It was a foggy start to the day, improving after ten o'clock, but still cold at 4c in a southeast wind. As the fog started to lift, birds seen on St Ouen's Pond included 215 Brent Geese , 14 Wigeon , 23 Teal , 2 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 15 Shoveler , a Little Grebe , 95 Lapwings , 9 Snipe , a Grey Heron , a Sparrowhawk , 21 Mediterranean Gulls and a Reed Bunting . Roosting on Sand's Slip were 44 Ringed Plovers , 45 Sanderlings and 31 Dunlin . 34 Curlews were roosting at Petit Port with 2 Brent Geese also there. Today's birds at La Sente included 187 Brent Geese, 2 Teal , 53 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , 9 Lapwings , 6 Grey Herons and 9 Little Egrets . On Route de Maufant were 45 Redwings , a Fieldfare and a Grey Wagtail . At West Park were 46 Dunlin , 4 Curlews , 58 Ringed Plovers , 17 Turnstones , 58 Oystercatchers , 16 Brent Geese , 19 Black-headed Gulls , a Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets while in the Marina were 2 vocal Kingfishers flying together. Another Kingfisher was seen at Havre des Pas and 160 Sanderlings were at First Tower. In a field on Hydrangea Avenue, St Ouen, was a (the) male Hen Harrier , and back to yesterday when 2 different ring-tailed Hen Harriers were active at Crabbe, 2 Peregrines also being seen nearby, as was a Dartford Warbler . A shearwater sp was seen passing Plemont along with 8 Gannets and a Fulmar. At Cowley Farm were a Cattle Egret and 50 Starlings, and At Pont Marquet in St Brelade were a Little Egret , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Short - toed Treecreeper , 2 Redwings and at least 7 Robins . Below : One of yesterday's Hen Harriers at Crabbe, image courtesy of Chris Eve.

20.01.2025 Part of a flock of 23 Golden Plovers at St Ouen's Pond this morning MD A grey and cold start to the day cleared to clear skies in a southeast wind 23 Golden Plovers were on the common north of St Ouen's Pond late this morning. On St Ouen's Pond were 13 Wigeon , 25 Teal , 3 Pochard , a Tufted Duck , 14 Shoveler , 194 Brent Geese , 57 Mediterranean Gulls , 50+ Black-headed Gulls , 95 Lapwings , 12 Snipe , a Little Grebe, a Reed Bunting , a Chiffchaff and a Sparrowhawk . This evening, 18 Marsh Harriers flew in to roost there and a male Hen Harrier was in the backfields. Around the Kempt Tower pools were 4 Shoveler , a Teal , 3 Tufted Duck , a Chiffchaff and a singing Cetti's Warbler and at Sands Slip were 15 Ringed Plovers and 17 Dunlin . A Great White Egret was seen near to St Ouen's Manor. Off Corbiere at first light were 106 Razorbills , 4 Guillemots , 17 Gannets , 2 Brent Geese , 64 Shags , 9 Cormorants , 11 Kittiwakes , 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 9 Great Black-backed Gulls . A Purple Sandpiper and 2 Turnstones were on rocks there. On Beaumont Marsh were 450 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Shoveler and a Stonechat and at St Aubin were 31 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 126 Black-headed Gulls . 12 Ravens flew over St Brelade's Bay. On the East of the Island, 22 Cattle Egrets were at Fauvic and 4 Lapwings plus 4 Snipe were at La Sente. 6 Cattle Egrets were at Le Roncier while at Surville were 42 Redwings , 4 Song Thrushes , 23 Goldfinches , a Stonechat and 2 Jackdaws . Below : Another view of some of the Golden Plover flock MD

19.01.2025 Another superb image of a Bittern at the Wetland Centre, courtesy of Romano RDC Another cold (4c) day, with overcast conditions in a fresh south-southeasterly wind. Numbers of birds on St Ouen's Pond this morning, made it look a little like Swan Lake without the Swans ! Counts there included a Bittern , 215 Brent Geese , 280 feral Greylags ( including one Swan Goose ), 96 Lapwings , 5 Golden Plovers , 9 Snipe , 54 Mediterranean Gulls , 18 Black-headed Gulls , 13 Wigeon , 25 Teal , 19 Shoveler , 40 Mallard , 5 Pochard , a Tufted Duck , 2 Little Grebes , a Grey Heron, a Cormorant , a Chiffchaff , 4 Reed Buntings and a Water Pipit ! Things were quieter at Corbiere, birds seen there including a Red-throated Diver , 2 Red-breasted Mergansers , a Fulmar , 17 Gannets , 2 Razorbills , 5 Guillemots , 4 Cormorants , 49 Shags , a Grey Heron, 16 Kittiwakes , 3 Common Gulls, 19 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Raven . At La Rocque were a Great Northern Diver , a Slavonian Grebe , a Black-necked Grebe , 140 Dunlin and 90 Grey Plovers , while in Grouville Marsh were 32 Coot . In La Sente were 69 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , 5 Lapwings , 26 Grey Herons , 24 Little Egrets and 3 Bullfinches . 7 Cattle Egrets were near Grouville Church and a further 17 Cattle Egrets were in St Clement, near the Church. On Grouville Common were 8 Song Thrushes and 4 Redwings . 10 more Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm. Bramblings are very scarce this winter, so sightings of singles in a garden on Mont Cochon and at the Trinity Orchard were welcome, with a Fieldfare also at the latter. In Beaumont Marsh were 380 dark-bellied Brent Geese , 2 Shoveler and a Teal and at St Aubin were 28 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 33 Redshanks . In Vallee des Vaux today were garden visitors, 4 Bullfinches , 2 Goldcrests , 2 Firecrests , 6 Redwings , and a Blackcap with 22 Ravens and 6 Woodcock in flight and 300 Chaffinches across the valley. Another 150 Chaffinches were in Rue des Touettes in St Mary.