26.08.2024 One and a half of today's Whimbrels at Petit Port, image courtesy of Jo Bramley
A fair and dry day in a moderate south-southwest wind.
Seabirds are featuring strongly at the moment, with visible migration of passerines yet to begin in earnest - maybe tomorrow?. Seen from Corbiere was a good passage of 252 Manx Shearwaters, 28 Balearic Shearwaters, a Fulmar, 42 Gannets, 12 Cormorants, 108 Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Black-headed Gulls, 38 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 11 Sandwich Terns, a Whimbrel, a Curlew, 5 Turnstones, 2 Peregrines, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Ravens and 7 Chough, while a Storm Petrel and 10 Sandwich Terns were seen from a boat off of Corbiere. Passing Grosnez during the same period were 2 Arctic Terns, 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 8 Sandwich Terns, 4 Fulmars, 9 Lesser Black-backed plus a Wheatear on the headland. 5 adult Fulmars were flying at Plemont with young still in the "nest" there.
At Petit Port were 13 Whimbrels which departed as a flock, 34 Curlews, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstones, 42 Mediterranean Gulls and 8 Little Egrets.
On the north side of St Ouen's Pond this morning were 5 Sedge Warblers, 20 Reed Warblers, 60 Swallows, 35 House Martins, 2 Wheatears, a Water Rail, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine. 2 Little Grebes with one small young, were on Kempt Tower poolsand on Mont Matthieu were the family of Little Grebes again and 2 Willow Warblers.
At a still quiet Noirmont were a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whitethroats, a Dartford Warbler and another Peregrine, and a Pied Flycatcher was on Mont Pinel.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin