Jersey Birds

27.02.2025 Something a little different today - images of Bottle-nosed Dolphins including young ones, close in at Grosnez this morning. MD Showers early one gave way to an eventually fine day in a cool north-west wind. There was some steady gull passage over Grosnez heading North, this morning with counts of 305 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 245 Herring Gulls , 28 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull . Passing offshore were 71 Gannets , a Common Scoter , 3 Razorbills , 35 Fulmars , 3 Cormorants . a Porpoise and a loose pod of 15+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins . Also seen were 2 Buzzards including a pale bird, 2 Marsh Harriers , 2 Ravens and a Pied Wagtail , with a Stonechat at the Castle. In St Brelade's Bay were 5 Brent Geese , a Great Crested Grebe and a Gannet , and 150 Brent Geese were seen in flight over St Ouen's Pond and a Buzzard was at Rozel Harbour. Yesterday evening, 5 Snipe were seen at Noirmont. Below: Further images of today's Bottle-nosed Dolphins . The animal with the pale fin is very distinctive! MD

25.02.2025 A drake Teal at the Wetland Centre, image courtesy of Susan Renouf SR There was more overnight rain this morning, which cleared around sunrise, leaving a mostly fair day in a blustery north wind. Things are still slow although Brent Geese looked to be getting fidgety. 15 dark-bellied Brent Geese and a single pale-bellied Brent passed Corbiere early on, 15 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Ouaisne, as well as a Great Crested Grebe, 8 dark-bellied Brent flew out of St Helier Harbour and c 500 Brent Geese were at La Sente. Another 400 Brent Geese were in Beaumont Marsh along with a Grey Heron and a Stonechat . St Ouen's Pond held 113 Brent Geese as well as the regular 15 Wigeon , 26 Shovelers , a Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 4 Little Grebes , 5 Snipe , 3 Grey Herons , a Mediterranean Gull , 3 Black-headed Gulls and a Water Pipit . On the Scrape this afternoon were 280 Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck , a Grey Heron , 4 Lapwings , 2 Snipe and 3 Cormorants . Passing Corbiere, as well as the geese , were a Razorbill , 3 Fulmars , 23 Gannets , 34 Shags , 10 Cormorants , 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 38 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Peregrines , a Raven and a Marsh Harrier . At Petit Port this afternoon were 23 Curlews , 7 Brent Geese , 200+ Oystercatchers and 2 Turnstones . Seen at La Sente were a pair of Shelduck , 5 Grey Herons , 22 Little Egrets , 8 Cattle Egrets , 38 Redshanks , 3 Greenshanks , a Raven , a Buzzard , a Marsh Harrier , 11 Pied Wagtails and a singing Blackcap . Across the way, at the Happy Hens were 19 Chaffinches and 15 overflying Cattle Egrets . A male and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier , a Merlin , 2 Kestrels , 2 Ravens and 6 Chough were at Crabbe.

24.02.2025 A Fulmar cruising past Grosnez this morning MD Heavy rain cleared early morning leaving a fair to cloudy day in a fresh southwest wind. A wide scatter of reports from around the Island today, starts with La Sente where 320 Brent Geese, including one pale-bellied Brent, a Pintail , 2 Shelduck , 5 Grey Herons , 8 Cattle Egrets , 63 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks and 13 Pied Wagtails were present. Over St Saviour's Church was a Peregrine heading for St Helier, at Rue a la Dame were 7 Choughs , at Mont a L'Abbe were 300 Crows and 18 Jackdaws and on Woodlands Farm were another 220 Crows and 75 Chaffinches . On the north coast, a male and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier were in flight together at Crabbe, where 28 Meadow Pipits , 2 Ravens , 6 Choughs and 2 Jackdaws were also see and at Sorel Point , on a good day for corvids, were a flock of 12 Ravens , 6 more Choughs and also a male Stonechat . Odds and ends passing Grosnez included 28 Gannets , 18 Fulmars , 3 Cormorants , 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Ravens , 2 Marsh Harriers and 3 Buzzards . 4 more Choughs were near the Maison des Landes. At Les Niemes in St Peter were 25 Redwings and a Sparrowhawk . At and around St Ouen's Pond were 15 Wigeon , 6 Shovelers , a Tufted Duck , a Pochard , 4 Little Grebes , 6 Snipe and a Lapwing and at Le Pulec were a Grey Wagtail and 8 Little Egrets . At Petit Port were 25 Curlews , 6 Turnstones , 5 Brent Geese and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . On the southwest of the Island, 500 Chaffinches were in a field on Route de Noirmont and 5 alba Wagtails , a Raven and 3 Rock Pipits were at Ouaisne. In Beaumont Marsh were 340 Brent Geese , 2 Teal and 2 Pied Wagtails . Extras for yesterday evening include a Snipe , a Barn Owl and Redwings flying overhead Le Catillon and another Snipe at Mont au Pretre.

23.02.2025 Thanks go to Susan Renouf for this beautiful image of Wigeon on St Ouen's Pond SR A cloudy day in a fresh southerly wind, mild at 11c On St Ouen's Pond or in the backfields which were being ploughed and planted today were 75 Mediterranean Gulls , 90 Black-headed Gulls , a Common Gull , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 150 Brent Geese , 8 Teal , 15 Wigeon , a Pochard , 9 Shovelers , 3 Little Grebes , 8 Lapwings , 8 Snipe , a Water Pipit and 25 Pied Wagtails . Passing Corbiere early on were 14 Brent Geese , 27 Razorbills , 3 Fulmars , 15 Gannets , 21 Shags , 8 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes and a Peregrine , while in Petit Port Bay were 92 Brent Geese and 3 Curlews . A Common Scoter was found deadon the beach at La Pulente, presumably the same bird seen days earlier in Petit Port Bay. A male and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier were at Crabbe while seen from the car park at Hamptonne in St Lawrence were 4 Bullfinches along with Chaffinches and Goldfinches . On Route des Hetres in St Peter were a Mistle Thrush , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 30 Stock Doves . Another 2 Mistle Thrushes were at Grouville Marsh and at Le Catillon were 24 Common Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls aand 200 Black-headed Gulls . This afternoon, in a Vallee des Vaux garden were 2 Bullfinches , 2 Blackcaps , a Grey Wagtail, 2 Firecrests and a Woodcock , also 450 Chaffinches and a Brambling in a field nearby.

22.20.2025 Peregrine Falcon passing Grosnez this morning MD A misty and overcast start to the day cleared by mid-morning to fine but hazy conditions in a moderate westerly wind. There was a good movement of the larger gulls at Grosnez this morning with counts of 59 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 342 Herring Gulls and 32 Great Black-backed Gulls . Also passing were 128 Gannets , 33 Fulmars , a Guillemot , 70 Shags and 7 Cormorants . Also seen there were 2 Peregrines , 2 Ravens and 2 Choughs . At Petit Port were 28 Curlews , 4 Turnstones , 112 Oystercatchers , 2 Shelduck , 10 Brent Geese , a Grey Heron and 4 little Egrets . Counts at La Sente included 140 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 112 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 68 Redshanks , 3 Greenshanks and 8 Pied Wagtails . At Maufant were 6 Cattle Egrets and at Rozel Harbour, a single Little Egret . 11 Fulmars were in Bouley Bay. Elsewhere, 65 Stock Doves were at Rue du Clos Fallu and a Firecrest was in song in Vallee des Vaux.

21.02.2025 A Caspian Gull passing Corbiere this morning MD A mild (12c) day but mainly cloudy in a fresh to strong southerly wind. This morning, La Sente hosted 80 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 76 Redshanks , 5 Greenshanks , 2 Snipe , 11 Cattle Egrets , 10 Little Egrets , 4 Grey Herons and 8 Pied Wagtails and i n St Catherine's Bay was a raft of at least 27 Great Crested Grebes . Among the birds passing Corbiere this morning were a first winter Caspian Gull, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 47 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Great Northern Diver , 17 Razorbills , 4 Guillemots , 7 Fulmars , 46 Gannets , 52 Shags , 4 Cormorants , a Pied Wagtail and 2 Chaffinches off the sea. 2 Peregrines were hunting in the area. In a sheltered Petit Port Bay were 2 Shelduck , a single Brent Goose , the male Red-breasted Merganser again, 23 Curlews , a Turnstone and the usual Oystercatchers . In Route des Hetres, St Peter were 50 Stock Doves and a Mistle Thrush , a Sparrowhawk was at the Wetland Centre and a Mediterranean Gull in full summer plumage flew over the Watersplash. 7 Brent Geese were in St Brelade's Bay and 5 Great Crested Grebes plus a Grey Seal were at Ouaisne. At Beaumont Marsh were 120 Brent Geese , a Shoveler , 2 Teal and a Peregrine . Around Trinity Manor were 300 Starlings and 54 Redwings with another 15 Redwings in Vallee des Vaux. Yesterday evening, at Mont Mado in St John were 5 Snipe and at Grantez were 2 Snipe and a Barn Owl. On the north side of St Ouen's Pond were 25 Snipe and 6 Woodcock . Below : Another view of this morning's Caspian Gull MD.

20.02.2025 Not all of the Oystercatchers around our coast at the moment are local birds. This image, taken by Romano, shows an Icelandic ringed bird at La Rocque recently- the second one seen here this Winter. A milder day at 11c, with rain clearing before Dawn, leaving an overcast day in a southerly wind. Good numbers of birds were at La Rocque this morning with counts there of 3 Black-necked Grebes , 650 Dunlin, 390 Sanderlings , 165 Turnstones , 268 Grey Plovers , 58 Curlews , 105 Oystercatchers , 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Black Redstart . La Sente was also busy, with a Merlin , 500 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 5 Greenshanks , 66 Redshanks , 12 Cattle Egrets , 24 Little Egrets , 11 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 200 Black - headed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 2 Ravens , 30 Pied Wagtails and a Chiffchaff seen . 2 Mistle Thrushes were at Grouville Marsh, also 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and another Mistle Thrush was in Route des Hetres in St Peter, where 10 Redwings , 36 Pied Wagtails and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also present. 3 Cattle Egrets were at Les Charrieres. Another 3 Cattle Egrets were near Rozel Manor, also 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , and 22 Brent Geese were at Rozel Harbour. Fieldfares have been very scarce this winter, but 8 have been seen at Sorel in the last few days. 100 Chaffinches were at Rue de Douaire in St John. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at Augres. Just a few birds to note passing Corbiere this morning, which included 32 Brent Geese - 29 of which were in a flock heading north offshore, presumably already heading back, also 21 Razorbills , 2 Guillemots , a Fulmar , 63 Gannets , a Red-throated Diver , 16 Cormorants , 2 Kittiwakes , 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 46 Great Black-backed Gulls . At Petit Port were 34 Curlews , 4 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper . At and around St Ouen's Pond were 15 Wigeon , 22 Shovelers , 3 Little Grebes , 55 Lapwings , 9 Snipe , 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Water Pipit . Roosting near the Cutty Sark in St Ouen's Bay were 36 Ringed Plovers , 22 Dunlin and 5 Sanderlings . On Mont Matthieu, behind St Ouen's Bay, were 7 Redwings , a Song Thrush , a Chiffchaff , a pair of Chough , a Buzzard , a Marsh Harrier and a Red Squirrel and at La Rue du Clos Fallu Trinity, were 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Common Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 120 Black-headed Gulls .

19.02.2025 A stunning image from Tom Frazer of a ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Crabbe. TF A mainly dry day, cloudy in an east-southeasterly wind, but milder at 10c. On and around St Ouen's Pond this morning were 410 Brent Geese , 15 Wigeon , 2 Tufted Duck , 5 male Pochard , 10 Shovelers , 9 Snipe , 65 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , a Water Rail , 2 Little Grebes , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Sparrowhawk , 5 Marsh Harriers , a Buzzard , a Grey Heron , a Water Pipit and a Chiffchaff . In the Sandpits were 3 Little Grebes , 2 Shelduck , 12 Tufted Ducks , 8 Oystercatchers , a Mediterranean Gull and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . In St Ouen's Bay, 5 Sanderlings were at Sands Slip and further up the Bay, 25 Ringed Plovers and 18 Dunlin were roosting behind the seawall. 9 Little Egrets were at La Pulente and 6 Little Egrets were at Le Pulec. Little was passing Corbiere, ahead of a little patchy rain, with a Red-breasted Merganser , a Guillemot , 18 Gannets , 3 Fulmars , 4 Cormorants and a Common Gull seen in one hour. At Petit Port were 32 Curlews , 24 Turnstones , a Purple Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull . A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was at Crabbe again while in Rue des Hetres, St Peter, were 2 Mistle Thrushes and 10 Redwings . Birds at La Sente included 500 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 12 Grey Herons , 26 Little Egrets , 3 Cattle Egrets , 3 Lapwings , 58 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , a Marsh Harrier and 12 Pied Wagtails . Roosting at St Aubin were 31 Redshanks and 3 Turnstones , while at Beaumont Marsh were 180 Brent Geese , 2 Teal , a Shoveler , a Stonechat and a Pied Wagtail. Yesterday evening, 80 Sanderlings and 50 Dunlin were at La Haule. In St Brelade's Bay today were 3 pale-bellied Brent Geese and at Beauport, a Brambling again visited a garden feeder. At Mont a l'Abbe were 400 Crows , 20 Redwings , 25 alba Wagtails , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls while at Augrez were 500 Chaffinches , 2 Bramblings , and 15 Redwings . In Vallee des Vaux this evening were 4 Bullfinches , a Grey Wagtail, a Blackcap and overhead at least 12 Woodcocks with 3 birds calling, a Grey Heron and Redwings , also a small bat sp .

18.02.2025 A nice image of a Common Gull at Gorey, by Romano RDC A cold start to a dry day with plenty of high cloud in an Easterly wind, temperature on the rise to 9c as milder air approaches. There is still not much by way of changes on the bird front, although Lesser Black-backed Gulls continue to trickle back through the Island. Early on at Corbiere were 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Common Gulls , 2 Kittiwakes , 7 Mediterranean Gulls , 6 distant auk sp , 51 Gannets , 5 Fulmars , 13 Cormorants , 2 Peregrines and 4 Purple Sandpipers , with a Porpoise and up to 20 Bottle-nosed Dolphins offshore. A male Common Scoter was close inshore at Petit Port where 21 Brent Geese and 7 Curlews were also seen. A Peregrine and a Fulmar were seen near La Moye Point. On St Ouen's Pond were 190 Brent Geese, 15 Wigeon , 10 Shovelers , 4 Tufted Duck , 4 Pochard , the Pink-footed Goose with accompanying Barnacle Goose , 3 Little Grebes , 70 Lapwings , 2 Snipe , 2 Grey Herons , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , a pair of Stonechats , a Chiffchaff and a Water Pipit . At Crabbe were a male Hen Harrier , a Merlin , 3 Stonechats and a Song Thrush . In Rue des Hetres, St Peter were 2 Mistle Thrushes and a Pied Wagtail and at Grande Route des Augerez were 4 Cattle Egrets . Near St Saviour's Hospital were 22 Cattle Egrets and at Haut Croix were 22 Redwings and a Buzzard . 10 Stock Doves and a Marsh Harrier were at Les Landes. At La Sente were 2 Shelducks , 8 Grey Herons , 19 Little Egrets , 2 Cattle Egrets , 5 Greenshanks , 62 Redshanks , 5 Lapwings and c 500 Brent Geese . A Firecrest and 2 Bullfinches were at Grouville Marsh. and a small pond on Mont de Rozel held a Tufted Duck . On the South coast 170 Brent Geese , 2 Teal , a Shoveler , a Stonechat , a Pied Wagtail and 2 Linnets were at Beaumont Marsh, 33 Redshanks were at St Aubin and in St Brelade's Bay were 2 Brent Geese and a Grey Seal .