Jersey Birds

23.04.2025 An adult Raven with the remains of a Rabbit, off the North coast this week MD A morning of heavy, squally showers in a strong westerly wind, clearing to fine conditions this afternoon. Sightings were at a premium in todays conditions, the pick of which was a Spoonbill seen over St Ouen's Pond Scrape this afternoon. Also seen at the Scrape, mostly from the shelter of the Hide were 4 Teal , 2 Tufted Duck , the male Shelduck trying to fend off all-comers, 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings , a passage of at least 60 Swallows , 2 Sand Martins , 7 Yellow Wagtails , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 3 Reed Warblers on the South Canal. 10 pale-bellied Brent Geese remained at St Aubin and a Wheatear plus 2 Chough were seen at Corbiere, with another 2 Chough at Grosnez. Around the southeast and east coasts, a Ringed Plover , a Grey Plover , 3 Curlews , 81 Oystercatchers , 2 Little Egrets and 5 Gannets were at La rocque, a Wheatear was on Grouville Common and a Grey Heron was at Fauvic.

22.04.2025 A Gannet passing Grosnez. MD A fair to fine day in a cool west-northwest wind On the Blanches Banques in St Ouen's Bay today were a Cuckoo , 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Wheatears and a singing Skylark and at the Scrape were a male Gadwall and a male Shelduck , A Whimbrel was at Petit Port and another Whimbrel was in Robin Bay at La Rocque. A trickle of birds passing Grosnez this morning included 7 Sandwich Terns , 39 Gannets , 3 Cormorants , a Kittiwake , a Serin , 128 Swallows , 3 Sand Martins , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 12 Linnets , a Tree Pipit and 6 Woodpigeons . Also seen there were 3 Wheatears , 5 Stonechats ,3 Whitethroats , 3 Dartford Warblers , 3 Marsh Harriers , a Sparrowhawk , 2 Choughs and 2 Ravens . A Peregrine was seen over Les Landes and another Peregrine was at Archirondel. At the North Canal in St Ouen's Bay were a Sedge Warbler , a Whitethroat , 5 Reed Warblers and a Water Rail . 6 pale-bellied Brent Geese remained at St Aubin. Below : This Oystercatcher was seen sleeping at Petit Port two days ago, no doubt recovering from it's epic flight to Jersey from Chausey, where it was ringed MD

21.04.2025 This Ruff was a new arrival on the Scrape this morning MD Another cool day with a band of rain crossing the Island mid-morning before clear conditions arrived this afternoon in a westerly wind. The mid-morning rain did bring a few birds down, especially in St Ouen's Bay. Seen at the Pond and Scrape were a Ruff , a Common Sandpiper , the first 2 Swifts of the year, 5 overflying Whimbrel ( with another 4 Whimbrel over Le Braye earlier in the day), 7 Teal , a male Wigeon , at least 7 Shoveler , 2 Tufted Duck , 2 Brent Geese , the male Shelduck , 4 Snipe , 6 Lapwings , 50+ Swallows , 6 House Martins , 11 Yellow Wagtails , a White Wagtail , a Whitethroat , a Sedge Warbler , 2 Reed Warblers, and 55 Linnets . To the north of St Ouen's Pond were 7 Reed Warblers , and at Kempt Tower were 10 more overflying Whimbrels , a Golden Plover and Wheatear . In the Sandpits were another 2 Common Sandpipers and at Milano Bars near L'Etacq was a singing Reed Warbler . Seen at Kempt Tower and north to the Frances le Sueur Centre were 5 Whitethroats , 8 Reed Warblers , a Dartford Warbler, 2 pairs of Little Grebes , 2 pairs of Shovelers , 8 Tufted Ducks, 3 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail . Along the North coast east from Grosnez were a Wheatear and 4 Puffins and a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting in St Peter's Valley around lunchtime. At Les Landes 3 Whitethroats , a Wheatear , 2 Willow Warblers and 8 Swallows . Off Corbiere first thing were 6 Guillemots , 7 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , also 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . 25 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin and at Beaumont Marsh were a Grey Heron , a White Wagtail , 3 Swallows and 5 Long-tailed Tits . At Grouville Marsh this morning were 2 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers , a Whitethroat , 15 Chiffchaffs , 6 Cetti's Warblers , a Tree Pipit . 5 Water Rails, a Green Sandpiper and 7 overflying Swallows .

20.04.2025 Lapwing over the Scrape MD A morning of squally showers with a strong and gusty northeast wind, clearing to a fine afternoon Seen at Les Landes were a Tree Pipit , 3 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Wheatears , a Willow Warbler , 6 Swallows and a House Martin , while offshore were 129 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 85 Fulmars , 29 Gannets and 4 Cormorants while heading off from there, were 10 Swallows , 3 House Martins and 5 Linnets . At Plemont were 24 Razorbills , 3 Black-headed Gulls , a Swallow and 30 Linnets. At the Scrape at St Ouen's Pond were 5 Teal , a male Wigeon heading for the Pond, a male Shoveler , 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings , a Redshank , a Snipe and 2 Reed Warblers and overhead were 12 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and 6 Swallows . A male Shelduck and 2 Swallows were at Petit Port and a Purple Sandpiper was seen at Noirmont Point. A Great Crested Grebe was in St Aubin's Bay, at West Park. 8 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm and 7 Tufted Ducks were at Grands Vaux.

19.04.2025 A female Pied Flycatcher , ringed and released at Grouville Marsh this morning, image thanks to David Buxton DB Overnight rain had cleared before Dawn leaving a fair day with a fresh east-southeast wind. The overnight rain brought some new birds to the Island and seen at Grouville Marsh this morning were a Pied Flycatcher, 7 Reed Warblers , 6 Sedge Warblers , 2 Willow Warblers , a Whitethroat , 15 Chiffchaffs , a Tree Pipit, 4 Blackcaps , 6 Cetti's Warblers , 2 Bullfinches , 3 Swallows , a White Wagtail , 2 Green Sandpipers , 4 Water Rails , a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk . At La Rocque were 2 Whimbrels , a Curlew and a Wheatear Passing Grosnez and at Les Landes were an Arctic Skua , 13 Common Scoters , 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Guillemots , 10 Fulmars , 32 Gannets , a flock of 18 Common Terns , 15 Sandwich Terns , 3 Kittiwakes , 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 12 Wheatears , 3 Whitethroats , a Willow Warbler , 3 Tree Pipits , 3 Yellow Wagtails , a White Wagtail, 12 Meadow Pipits , 14 Linnets , 4 Goldfinches, a Peregrine and a Raven . Between Grosnez and Plemont were a Whinchat and 2 Wheatears and at Plemont were 9 Wheatears , 30 Linnets , 10 Swallows and a Puffin . A Cuckoo was at Portinfer. On the Scrape were 3 Shovelers , 4 Teal , 7 Lapwings , a Redshank and a Dunlin and north of St Ouen's Pond were 5 Wheatears . 6 Reed Warblers were at Kempt Tower pools and 2 Stonechats were at La Pulente. In Beaumont Marsh were 3 Grey Herons and a Yellow Wagtail , at St Aubin were 28 pale-bellied Brent Geese and at Grands Vaux were 5 Tufted Ducks .

18.04.2025 A spectacular male Marsh Harrier at St Ouen's Pond this week MD A poor day for weather, with heavy showers on and off throughout the daylight hours, cold at 11c in a strong and gusty southeast wind A trickle of birds passed Corbiere, before the rain set in, which included a Common Scoter , 3 Guillemots , 28 Gannets , a Fulmar , 12 Shags , a Curlew , 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 23 Great Black-backed Gulls . 2 Shelduck were at Petit Port again. Sitting off at Plemont were a Puffin and a Razorbill . On the Scrape were 7 Teal , a pair of Shoveler , a pair Shelduck which included the manic male which was seeing off all-comers, 6 Lapwings , a Snipe , a pair of Oystercatcher , 8 Swallows , 4 House Martins and a Reed Warbler in song on the South Canal. Seen at the Wetland Centre later morning were 50+ Swallows , 30+ Sand Martins and 2 Oystercatchers , possibly the birds from the Scrape. At Grouville Marsh were 2 Green Sandpipers , an adult Grey Heron and a singing Reed Warbler and a single Brent Goose was at Gorey. 5 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm. Extras for yesterday include 2 Shovelers , 3 Snipe and 4 Reed Warblers while at Kempt Tower were 2 Wheatears . Below : A ghostly Corbiere Lighthouse this morning, collecting the only available rays of the Sun, just after it had risen. MD

17.04.2025 A fine drake Teal on the Scrape, one of only a few left now as they head off to their breeding areas. MD A clear and almost Spring-like day apart from the cool temperatures still with us. Winds were moderate from the south-southeast. Yesterday's Hoopoe was not been seen, so far, today and may well have left us during last night's very clear conditions. 4 Cattle Egrets remain at La Sente with a White Wagtail also there and 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese plus 68 Oystercatchers were in Grouville Bay. Roosting on the high tide at La Rocque this morning were a Whimbrel , 5 Curlews , 6 Grey Plovers , 26 Turnstones and a Dunlin , with a Wheatear also on the rocks there. Another Curlew and 4 Turnstones were off Webber's Lane Slip. In St Aubin's Bay, 24 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin and at Beaumont Marsh were a Grey Heron , a Willow Warbler , 3 Swallows and 2 Long-tailed Tits . On the Scrape were 4 Teal , 6 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , a Yellow Wagtail, a Reed Warbler , 4 Swallows and a Sand Martin and in the fields behind St Ouen's Pond were 3 singing Reed Warblers , 2 singing Cetti's Warblers and 2 Stonechats . Seen at Les Landes were a Wheatear and 21 Swallows while at Petit Port were a Whimbrel and 2 Shelduck . Extra for yesterday were 17 White Wagtails at the Farmer's Cricket Ground in St Martin, 2 Cirl Buntings on Grouville Common and a Grey Heron at Hydrangea Avenue in St Ouen.

16.04.2025 Hoopoe on Grouville Common, image courtesy of Romano RDC A cold but mainly bright day in a fresh southwest wind. Yesterday's Hoopoe was still present this morning, near the ice cream van at the north end of Grouville Common and 2 Cattle Egrets were by Grouville Church. a Wheatear was at La Sente. Passing Grosnez this morning were 3 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , a Red-throated Diver , 42 Fulmars , 40 Gannets , 5 Cormorants , 18 Kittiwakes , 2 Sandwich Terns and 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . Heading off over Grosnez were 23 Swallows and a White Wagtail, while at Les Landes were 2 Wheatears , 4 Stonechats , 3 Dartford Warblers , 20+ Linnets , 30 Meadow Pipits , 2 Choughs , a Sparrowhawk and 2 Marsh Harriers . In St Ouen's Bay, 45 Oystercatchers and 14 Little Egrets were at La Pulec and a Snipe was at the Wetland Centre. On the Scrape were 9 Teal , 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings , 3 Wheatears, a Reed Warbler and 3 Yellow Wagtails while feeding overhead were 10 Sand Martins , a House Martin and 2 Swallows . 80 Linnets and a White Wagtail were on the seaside of the Wetland Centre too. On Kempt Tower pools were 7 Tufted Ducks , a pair of Shoveler and 4 Little Grebes . Also singing there were a Reed Warbler , a Blackcap and a Skylark . 80 pale-belled Brent Geese were at La Haule.

15.04.2025 Fulmar at Grosnez MD An increasingly stormy day, but with most rain missing the Island to the West. Winds veered from southeast to southwest with force 6 in gusts. Some visible migration via Les Landes and Grosnez before the winds increased too much, included the first Hobby of the year, 166 Swallows , 40 Sand Martins , 3 Yellow Wagtail , 9 White Wagtails , 122 Linnets , 5 Goldfinches , a Greenfinch , a Chaffinch , 87 Meadow Pipits and 45 Woodpigeons . A few birds passing offshore included 12 Common Scoters , a Manx Shearwater , a Guillemot , 20 Fulmars , 23 Gannets , 9 Sandwich Terns and 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . 2 Wheatears and a pair of Stonechats were on the ground there and also seen were 2 Peregrines , a Kestrel , 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Ravens . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were 6 Teal , Lapwings mating and a Wheatear and in the Sandpits were 30 Sand Martins , 14 Tufted Ducks , a pair of Shelduck , 5 Great Black-backed Gulls and 17 Herring Gulls , and a Stonechat , with Oystercatchers seen mating there, with a second female close by! What was presumably the resident Whooper Swan there was seen heading high to the East shortly after Sunrise. 32 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay, with another 11 pale-bellied Brent and 3 Curlews seen at St Aubin. A Hoopoe was seen this afternoon at the north end of Grouville Golf Course, near to the ice cream van parking area. Also there, was a Whitethroat and on the very windy beach were 61 Oystercatchers and 5 Brent Geese.