Jersey Birds
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23.10.2024 A different view of a Skylark, taken at Noirmont this morning MD
A cloudy start to the day was replaced by fine conditions, at 18c in a southeasterly wind and clearly to the liking of birds wanted to migrate!'
The early morning watch at Victoria Tower saw 667 Redwings, 27 Song Thrushes, 270 Starlings, 11 Skylarks, 151 Woodpigeons, 682 Chaffinches, 16 Goldfinches, 5 Siskins, 6 Bullfinches, a Brambling, 10 Pied Wagtails, 6 Meadow Pipits, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Cattle Egrets, 2 Firecrests and a Peregrine.
A morning-long watch from Noirmont was well rewarded, with Woodpigeons to the fore again, with 13,510 passing southwards by 2pm. Other species featuring included the firs Woodlark of the Autumn, a Serin, 2 Reed Buntings, 8 Swallows, 142 Redwings, 21 Song Thrushes, 8 Blackbirds, 23 Stock Doves, 375 Starlings, 46 Skylarks, 1,756 Chaffinches, a single Brambling, 30 Siskins, 114 Linnets, 43 Goldfinches, 8 Greenfinches, 545 Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 19 Pied Wagtails, 6 Stonechats, 6 Robins, 14 Choughs, 2 Ravens, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks - one of them a definite migrant, 3 Buzzards including the usual pale bird and 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
At Beauport Common were 3 Stonechats with a Skylark flying over and at Gorselands were 2 Stonechats and 2 Skylarks. 14 Choughs were seen over St Brelade's Bay, presumably those also seen at Noirmont and also there were 2 Sparrowhawks, a Peregrine, 6 Buzzards inclding a pale bird, 4 Ravens and a Grey Heron. At St Aubin were 25 Redshanks. In Petit Port Bay were 9 Mediterranean Gulls, 31 Curlews, 37 Turnstones, 239 Oystercatchers and 9 Little Egrets. North of St Ouen's Pond were 2 Reed Buntings, a Chiffchaff, 24 Chaffinches, 20 Meadow Pipits, 6 Skylarks and a Siskin flying over. Some of the extensive passage of Woodpigeons today was viewed from Mont Matthieu where 4000 passed in 25 minutes!
A visit to Les Ecrehous today saw 5+ Siskins and 2 Skylarks flying over, while on the rocks were 6 Little Egrets, 7 Grey Herons, 50+ Oystercatchers, a Redshanks, 2 Curlews, 2 alba Wagtails, a Goldfinch, 14 Linnets, a Chaffinch, 10+ Rock Pipits, 2 Blackbirds, 25+ Song Thrushes, 4 Robins, a Wren, a Chiffchaff and last, but not least, a Yellow-browed Warbler. 5 Buzzards were at Rozel.
Around Grouville Marsh were 3 Cattle Egrets near Les Pres Manor, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Chiffchaffs, 8 Siskins, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Water Rails, a Firecrest, a Bullfinch, a Little Grebe and a flock of Long-tailed Tits. At Le Cattilon were a further 33 Cattle Egrets.
Yesterday evening, Redwings were heard in flight over King Street in St Helier.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin
