Jersey Birds
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24.10.2024 Among all the thousands of birds on the move today, were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. This first winter bird is seen passing Noirmont MD
A clear start to the morning was replaced with a low overcast, before clearing again by lunchtime. Winds were fresh from the southeast.
Victoria Tower was showered with copious numbers of migrant birds, making accurate counts somewhat difficult, so well done to Romano for returning counts of 45,343 Redwings, 728 Song Thrushes, 13,071 Starlings, 1,114 Woodpigeons, 22 Stock Doves, 84 Skylarks, a Swallow, 6 Hawfinches, 1,177 Chaffinches, 6 Bramblings, 37 Siskins, 92 Goldfinches, 2 Linnets, a Corn Bunting, a Reed Bunting, 9 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, a Water Pipit, 10 Meadow Pipits, a Spoonbill, 2 Great White Egrets, a Cormorant, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Firecrest, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Peregrines, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, and 2 Buzzards. 61,767 were counted in total, plus some local birds not included, but even this total is almost certainly an undercount!!
Many of the birds above were likely to have been pushed off of the Normandy coast by the wind and probably did not reach the West side of the Island in any numbers, and the comparison in species between Victoria Tower and Noirmont is very interesting.
Seen from Noirmont where Woodpigeons were to the fore again with 15,305 leaving southwards. Also seen were 13 Swallows, 213 Skylarks, 143 Redwings, 28 Song Thrushes, 6 Blackbirds, 2 Ring Ouzels, 1,276 Starlings, 2,189 Chaffinches, a Brambling, a Reed Bunting, 29 Linnets, 14 Goldfinches, 6 Greenfinches, a Grey Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtails, 99 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Chiffchaff, a Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Choughs and 2 Ravens.
Uncounted numbers of birds were also seen over the Northern parishes early on.
At La Rocque over the high tide were 47 Curlews, 32 Turnstones, 2 Redshanks, 16 Sanderlings, 37 Dunlin, 250 Oystercatchers, 20 Grey Plovers and 72 Brent Geese. In St Aubin's Bay were 230 Brent Geese and 2 Great Crested Grebes
At Grosnez were 220 Linnets, 2 Stonechats, 15 Meadow Pipits and 13 Gannets and in St Ouen's Bay, at Kempt Tower, were 38 Ringed Plovers, 2 Stonechats and 2 Pied Wagtails, while at Le Braye were 6 Pied Wagtails and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
A Barn Owl was seen in flight at Le Huquet in St Martin.
Evening update: At Grouville Marsh were 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Redwings and 4 Water Rails and further Redwings were heard over First Tower, Vallee des Vaux and Mont Matthieu.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin
