Jersey Birds

25.09.2026 Today's Short-eared Owl over Noirmont MD Hill fog spoiled the visibility this morning, slowly clearing to fair by the afternoon, winds moving to the north-west. Fog delayed today's visible migration until late morning. Seen around the north side of St Ouen's Pond from Dawn were 300 Swallows , 4 Sand Martins , 30 Goldfinches , 15 Linnets , 25 Meadow Pipits , 2 Sedge Warblers , 2 Reed Warblers , a Willow Warbler , 12 Chiffchaffs , 15 Cetti's Warblers , 3 Water Rails , 2 Stonechats , a Wheatear , 3 Teal , 6 Shovelers , 2 Grey Herons , a pale-phased Buzzard , 8 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk , while passing overhead there were 8 Yellow Wagtails , 5 alba Wagtails and 5 Snipe . On Mont Matthieu were a Tree Pipit , 70 Meadow Pipit s, 80 Linnets and 2 Marsh Harriers . In St Ouen's Bay were 24 Ringed Plovers , 347 Great Black-backed Gulls , 125 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , c 350 Black-headed Gulls , 12 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns . A Barn Owl was seen at St John's Maor. Seen at Noirmont were a Short-eared Owl, a Snipe , 2 Whinchats , 2 Wheatears , 4 Stonechats , 4 Robins , a party of birds which included 21 Long-tailed Tits , 10 Blue Tits , 3 Great Tits and 2 Chiffchaffs , also 4 Dartford Warblers , a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard . Flying over as conditions improved were 70 Swallows , a House Martin , 153 Meadow Pipits , an alba Wagtail and 2 Goldfinches , while offshore were a Great Skua , 19 Gannets , 21 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 12 Black-headed Gulls and 14 Sandwich Terns . At Beauport were 3 Stonechats , a Whinchat , a Common Redstart , 2 Yellow Wagtails and a passage of Swallows passing over post 11:00. At St Aubin's Harbour were 14 Redshanks and 2 Little Egrets , while at St Aubin's Fort were 2 Grey Herons , 2 Little Egrets , 6 Linnets , 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Sandwich Tern . At Seymour Slip on the rising tide were 2 Bar-tailed Godwits , a Curlew and 13 Little Egrets .  Evening update: At Petit Port were 2 Common Sandpipers and in St Helier Marina were a Kingfisher and another Common Sandpiper .

24.09.2026 Yellow Wagtail at Noirmont this morning MD A mainly fine day, becoming warm at 23c in a south-east wind. Pick of the migrants seen at Noirmont this morning was a fine male Ring Ouzel , the first of this Autumn. Others seen there included 535+ Swallows ( with passage continuing strongly after the end of the count), 5 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, a Skylark, 3 alba Wagtails, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 561 Meadow Pipits , 91 Linnets , 6 Greenfinches , a Chaffinch , a Goldfinch , a Willow Warbler , 4 Chiffchaffs , 4 Wheatears , 5 Robins , 5 Stonechats , 3 Grey Herons and offshore, 82 Balearic Shearwaters , 23 Gannets , 30 Sandwich Terns , 11 Mediterranean Gulls , 13 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . Also seen were 6 Dartford Warblers , a Marsh Harrier , a pale-phased Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk . 22 Brent Geese were in St Aubin's Bay and an earlier report of 20 Brent Geese was from Les Pres in Grouville last Sunday. In St Ouen's Bay today were 3 Yellow-legged Gulls , 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 211 Great Black-backed Gulls , 44 Mediterranean Gulls , 384 Black - headed Gulls and 11 Sandwich Terns . On Beauport Common this morning were 40+ Linnets , 3 Stonechats , a Whinchat , 2 Blackcaps , a Yellow Wagtail and 4 Dartford Warblers . A Caspian Gull was at Petit Port this afternoon and at St Aubin were 16 Redshanks and a Turnstone . On Queen's Valley reservoir were a Kingfisher , a Grey Wagtail and a Cetti's Warbler and in or over Vallee des Vaux were 56 Swallows and 6 Meadow Pipits . Yesterday evening, a trip to Les Ecrehous saw 6 Grey Herons , 8 Little Egrets , c100 Oystercatchers , 57 Turnstones , 30 Grey Plovers , 33 Ringed Plovers , a Wheatear , a Chiffchaff , a Whitethroat , a Wren and 10 Swallows flying at sea after sunset. A Barn Owl was on Rozel Hill. Also yesterday evening, there was a steady stream of Swallows moving over Grantez, with c 700 an hour counted there late in the day.

23.09.2026 Willow Warbler at Noirmont this morning MD Another fine day with some high cloud and warm at 22c in a light west-northwest. The first Brent Geese of the Autumn were seen this morning with a single in Grouville Bay and a flock of 8 passing Noirmont. Good passage at Noirmont this morning also included a juvenile Hen Harrier , 2,314 Swallows , 123 House Martins , a Yellow Wagtail , 3 Tree Pipits , 131 Meadow Pipits , 123 Linnets , 2 Goldfinches , 4 Greenfinches , while offshore were 336 Balearic Shearwaters , 2 Common Scoters , 5 Grey Herons , 35 Sandwich Terns , a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 26 Gannets and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On the ground there, were 6 Robins, a Stonechat, a Willow Warbler , a Blackcap , 3 Dartford Warblers , and 2 Chiffchaffs . Local birds there included 6 Buzzards , 2 Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk , 2 Kestrels and 2 Ravens . At Beauport were 40+ Linnets , 2 Whinchats , 4 Stonechats and 3 Yellow Wagtails . A Grey Wagtail was in Winston Churchill Park in St Brelade. Seen at St Ouen's Pond this morning were 2 Reed Warblers, a Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 15 Cetti's Warblers, a Firecrest, 3 Wheatears, 4 Water Rails, a Snipe, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Teal , 3 Little Grebes , a Peregrine , 6 Marsh Harriers and, flying over, 2 Grey Wagtails , a Yellow Wagtail , 6 Chaffinches , 25 Meadow Pipits and 10 Swallows . 18 Sandwich Terns were near to Sands. A stream of Swallows was passing over Mont Matthieu this morning, also 10 House Martins and 2 Yellow Wagtails . Later today, at Petit Port, were a juvenile Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 47 Sandwich Terns , 23 Mediterranean Gulls , 21 Curlews and a Common Sandpiper . At Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Teal , 8 Swallows and 6 Meadow Pipits . Swallows were also passing over St Helier in good numbers, with 200 seen in 40 minutes. Early on in the day, a Barn Owl was at the top of Mont Matthieu.

22.09.2026 One of the recent Bar-tailed Godwit in Grouville Bay, thanks to Mike Holt for the photo. Passing Noirmont this morning were 10 Grey Heron , 18 Raven , 20 Swallow , 3 House Martin , 9 Meadow Pipit , 6 Chaffinch , 54 Linnet , a Skylark , a Yellow Wagtail , a Whinchat , 2 Wheatear , 2 Chiffchaff and the resident 6 Dartford Warbler . Roosting at Petit Port were 98 Sandwich Tern , 31 Mediterranean Gull , 11 Great Black-backed Gull and 26 Curlew . Seen at Grouville Marsh were 40 Blackcap , 35 Chiffchaff , 10 Cetti's Warbler , 15 Robin , 3 Bullfinch , a Song Thrush , 2 Water Rail , 3 Cattle Egret , 2 Grey Wagtail , a Sparrowhawk and 2 Marsh Harrier while at Grands Vaux were a Kingfisher and a Common Sandpiper . In La Blinerie were a Grasshopper Warbler , 2 Cetti's Warbler , 4 Chiffchaff , 3 Reed Warbler , 2 Stonechat , 2 Water Rail and 3 Jay . A White Wagtail was seen in Garden Lane and a Little Egret was in the old Harbour.

21.09.2026 A second year Caspian Gull taking flight from St Ouen's Bay RdC Seen at Noirmont this morning were 105 Swallow , 62 Meadow Pipit , a Tree Pipit , 53 Linnet , 11 Chaffinch , a Skylark , 2 Yellow Wagtail , 5 Wheatear , 2 Stonechat , a Peregrine and 2 Buzzard . A Wheatear was at Beauport. Around St Ouen's Pond were 135 Swallow , 2 Sand Martin , a House Martin , 4 Reed Warbler , a Whitethroat , 3 Blackcap , 6 Chiffchaff , a Willow Warbler , 15 Cetti's Warbler , 2 Stonechat , 5 Water Rail , 2 Grey Heron , a Snipe , a pale Buzzard , 5 Shoveler , 6 Teal , a Little Grebe , 30 Goldfinch , 2 Chough , 3 Jackdaw , 8 Yellow Wagtail , a Grey Wagtail , 6 Chaffinch , 5 Linnet , 3 Skylark and 70 Meadow Pipit . In St Ouen's Bay this evening were 2 Yellow-legged Gull , 28 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 116 Great Black-backed Gull , 56 Mediterranean Gull , 64 Black-headed Gull , 26 Sandwich Tern , 7 Ringed Plover and 2 Sanderling . Up at Les Landes were 10 Stonechat and 2 Wheatear. At La Rocque were 32 Sandwich Tern , 7 Grey Plover , 5 Redshank , 6 Greenshank , 10 Turnstone , 124 Oystercatcher , 6 Little Egret , 100 Swallow and 40 House Martin while at Seymour were 4 Bar-tailed Godwit , a Redshank , a Mediterranean Gull and 67 Black-headed Gull . 3 Wheatear were at La Hocq. A Kingfisher was at Queen's Valley, 11 Cattle Egret were at Cowley Farm and up at Les Platons were 26 Raven and a Dartford Warbler.

20.09.2026 This juvenile Yellow-legged Gull , seen in St Ouen's Bay in early August was ringed as a chick in the Camargue in May RdC Passing Corbiere this morning were an Arctic Skua , 482 Balearic Shearwater , 2 Manx Shearwater , 2 Guillemot , 220 Sandwich Tern , 55 Mediterranean Gull , 70 Black-headed Gull and 30 Gannet while roosting at Petit Port were a Yellow-legged Gull , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 28 Great Black-backed Gull , 9 Mediterranean Gull , 19 Sandwich Tern and 35 Curlew . In St Ouen's Bay were a Yellow-legged Gull , 38 Great Black-backed Gull , 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 28 Mediterranean Gull , 17 Sandwich Tern and 9 Ringed Plover . At Noirmont were 6 Swallow , 2 Meadow Pipit , 2 Dartford Warbler , 5 Stonechat and offshore, 27 Balearic Shearwater , a Sandwich Tern and 6 Gannet . Seen at La Rocque were 4 Greenshank , 4 Redshank , 200 Oystercatcher , 11 Turnstone , 17 Little Egret , 12 Sandwich Tern and 9 Swallow . At Grands Vaux were 3 Teal and at Farmers Cricket field were a Yellow Wagtail and 13 White Wagtail . Up at Sorel were a Wheatear , 45 Meadow Pipit , 2 Stonechat , 20 Linnet , a Swallow , a Peregrine and 2 Raven with another 26 Raven at Les Platons.

19.09.2026 Two Yellow-legged Gulls at Petit Port this morning. MD A cool feeling cloudy morning, clearing this afternoon but remaining cool in a fresh west-southwest wind Off Noirmont this morning, were 124 Balearic Shearwaters , a Manx Shearwater, 55 Gannets , 85 Sandwich Terns , 7 Mediterranean Gulls , a Black - headed Gull, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , and 13 Great Black-backed Gulls. Very little was moving overhead at Noirmont, with 26 Swallows and 14 Meadow Pipits the most of it. At Petit Port on the neap tide were 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls , 11 Mediterranean Gulls , 6 Great Black-backed Gulls , 11 Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper , 2 Turnstones and 2 Curlews . 8 Choughs flew overhead there too. At St Aubin were 13 Sandwich Terns and 22 Black-headed Gulls and elsewhere, 8 Cattle Egrets were at Fauvic, a single Wheatear was at Sorel. On and over Beauport Common were 30 Swallows , 3 House Martins , 19 Yellow Wagtails , 5 Stonechats , a Dartford Warbler and a singing Chiffchaff . Also seen at Beauport two days ago, was a newly fledged Collared Dove . In St Ouen's Bay late this afternoon were 13 Sandwich Terns, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 60 Great Black-backed Gulls , 6 Mediterranean Gulls and 9 Ringed Plovers.

18.09.2026 Linnets are starting to migrate through the Island now, this one being pictured near Kempt Tower recently. Image: MD A mainly cloudy day, feeling much cooler in a fresh Westerly wind. Large numbers of seabirds were feeding close in off of Corbiere Lighthouse this morning, including 640 Balearic Shearwaters , 16 Manx Shearwaters , an Arctic Skua , 120 Mediterranean Gulls and hundreds of large gulls, with a Purple Sandpiper and 5 Turnstones also seen. At Petit Port were 29 Sandwich Terns , 32 Curlews , 8 Mediterranean Gulls and 10 Little Egrets . At St Ouen's Pond through the day were 15 Sedge Warblers , 6 Reed Warblers , 20 Cetti's Warblers , a Willow Warbler , 15 Chiffchaffs , a Blackcap , a Water Rail , 11 Teal , 16 Shovelers , a Pochard , a Little Grebe , a Sparrowhawk , a Hobby hunting over the reedbed, a pale-phased Buzzard , 6 Marsh Harriers and a Kingfisher . Flying over were 3 Yellow Wagtails , an alba Wagtail , 16 Meadow Pipits , 8 Linnets , 2 House Martins and 15 Swallows . In St Ouen's Bay were 62 Great Black-backed Gulls , 18 Sandwich Terns , 53 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , with 43 Ringed Plovers near the Cutty Sark and at Le Pulec were 12 Curlew , 130 Oystercatchers , 12 Little Egrets , 28 Shags , 6 Cormorants and 10 Rock Pipits . On Mont Matthieu were 220 Linnets , 25 Swallows and 30 Meadow Pipits . At Noirmont this morning were a Spotted Flycatcher ( probably the same bird which has been present for a week), a Wheatear , 4 Stonechats , a Whitethroat , a Chiffchaff , 104 Swallows , 19 House Martins, a Sand Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtails , 4 alba Wagtails , 130 Meadow Pipits , 65 Linnets , 4 Chaffinches , a Jay, 2 Ravens , a Grey Heron , 2 Ravens , 8 Black-headed Gulls , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 7 Great Black-backed Gulls and 7 Gannets . At Les Landes were 2 Kestrels , a Buzzard , a Marsh Harrier , a Peregrine , 12 Meadow Pipits , a Chiffchaff and a Wheatear . A Cattle Egret was in a field with horses nearby. At the Windmill in St Mary were 20 House Martins and at Grands Vaux were 2 Teal , a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Heron . Around La Rocque were 23 Sandwich Terns, 6 Curlews , 10 Turnstones , 3 Grey Plovers , a Wheatear and a Grey Seal . A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen in Millennium Park

17.09.2026 A beautiful view of an Arctic Skua , taken this week by John Ovenden A morning of overcast conditions with some heavy rain as a cold front passed through, becoming fair in a strong west-northwest wind. It was seabirds to the fore at Noirmont this morning. Birds seen included 276 Balearic Shearwaters , 5 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Arctic Skuas , 59 Sandwich Terns , 54 Black-headed Gulls , 16 Mediterranean Gulls , 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , 58 Gannets , and 2 Cormorants . A few birds seen on or over the headland included 15 Swallows , 15 Meadow Pipits , a Peregrine , 2 Buzzards , a Sparrowhawk , a Blackcap , a Dartford Warbler and a Chiffchaff . In the more sheltered Sandpits at Le Braye were 4 Grey Herons , 50 Swallows , 32 Great Black-backed Gulls , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 18 Little Grebes , a Great Crested Grebe , 56 Tufted Ducks , a male Pochard , c 350 Coot , a Common Sandpiper and a White Wagtail . At Petit Port were 21 Curlews, 2 Sandwich Terns , 13 Great Black-backed Gulls , c 200 Oystercatchers , 28 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Common Sandpipers , while at St Aubin were 16 Redshanks , a Turnstone , 5 Grey Herons and 4 Little Egrets roosting in trees behind the Yacht Club. At La Rocque were 22 Sandwich Terns , 16 Sanderlings , a Grey Plover , 27 Turnstones , and at Le Hurel were 2 Great Crested Grebes , 3 Sandwich Terns , 13 Sanderlings , 8 Turnstones , 11 Ringed Plovers and at La Sente were a Common Gull , 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 17 Grey Herons . Yesterday evening, at St Ouen's Pond were 9 Shovelers , 5 Teal , a Water Rail, a Common Sandpiper , a Sedge Warbler , 8 Marsh Harriers and just 2 Swallows .