Jersey Birds
Blog Layout
28.01.2025 A female Stonechat at the Wetland Centre this morning MD
The stormy times continue, with heavy showers for good measure and a strong and gusty west-southwest wind.
On St Ouen's Pond this morning were 15 Wigeon, 27 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, a Jack Snipe, 8 Snipe, a Stonechat and a Water Pipit. Gulls roosting on the Pond included 32 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull and 5 Black-headed Gulls. 2 Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard were hunting over the backfields.
Little was moving past Grosnez in the wild conditions there, with 27 Gannets, 13 Fulmars, 2 Kittiwakes, a Razorbill and 20 Great Black-backed Gulls seen in one hour, and a Black Redstart was at the Castle.
At La Sente were 540 Brent Geese, a good count of 139 Curlews, c60 Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, 22 Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, a Common Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. A very young Grey Seal was at La Rocque and being closely monitored.
Yesterday evening at Grouville Marsh were 17 Teal, 6 Snipe, 2 Woodcock and 49 Curlews.
29.01.2025 Wigeon on a bumpy St Ouen's Pond yesterday MD Windy and very wet was the forecast for this morning, and so it proved, drying out for a while this afternoon, ahead of the rain returning later. Viewed from the refuge of the Wetland Centre this morning were 245 Brent Geese , the Pink-footed Goose with it's Barnacle Goose friend, 18 Shoveler, 12 Wigeon , 20 Teal , a Pochard , a Tufted Duck , 3 Cormorants , a Little Grebe , 4 Coot , 18 Lapwings , 11 Snipe , a Curlew , 17 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 24 Black-headed Gulls , 43 Starlings , a Chiffchaff and 2 singing Cetti's Warblers . A Raven and 2 Marsh Harriers were also seen. In the Sandpits at Le Braye, were 9 Pochard , 10 Tufted Duck , 5 Little Grebes and 4 Oystercatchers, and at Beaumont Marsh were 6 Shoveler. Below: Mediterranean Gulls are already getting their hoods for the breeding season. This birds was seen leaving St Ouen's Pond yesterday. MD
27.01.2025 Few birds were flying today, in the stormy conditions, but Great Black-backed Gulls continued as usual, one here seen passing Corbiere this morning MD It was back to stormy conditions today with near-gale South-southwest winds and heavy, squally showers. In Grouville Marsh this morning were a Yellow-legged Gull and a Mistle Thrush and on Rue a Don were 8 Cattle Egrets . At La Sente were a Shelduck , 63 Redshanks and 4 Greenshanks . 6 Cattle Egrets were seen in Maufant. Waders in Grouville Bay, as viewed from Seymour, included 164 Grey Plovers , 270 Dunlin , 75 Sanderlings , 66 Turnstones and 5 Ringed Plovers . At St Ouen's Pond were a Bittern , 30 Shovelers , 8 Wigeon and 5 Snipe while on Mont Matthieu was a Grey Wagtail . Passing Corbiere this morning were 205 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 49 Shags , 2 Cormorants , 58 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Curlews and a Grey Seal was seen grappling with a large Eel. At Petit Port were 36 Curlew , 2 Shelduck , 180 Oystercatchers and 40 Great Black-backed Gulls plus 25 Black-headed Gulls were roosting between there and Le Braye. On Rue de Chasses in St John were 125 Chaffinches and 25 Redwings . Alderney are looking for a new Warden at the Observatory - just in case you are interested . https://www.birdguides.com/news/alderney-bird-observatory-seeks-new-warden/ Below : St Ouen's Bay as viewed from Corbiere, as a squall approached from the West this morning.
26.01.2025 Curlews at Petit Port MD A stormy day with a blasting south-southeasterly wind and rain through most of it. At La Sente today were 3 Shovelers , 94 Mallard , 2 Snipe , 6 Lapwings , 35 Brent Geese , 64 Redshanks and 5 Greenshanks . In Grouville Marsh were 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Yellow-legged Gull , 2 Common Gulls and a Mistle Thrush . A Rose-coloured Starling was seen again in a garden at Fauvic. Birds at La Rocque included 38 Ringed Plovers , 87 Grey Plovers , 365 Dunlin , 233 Sanderling , 148 Turnstones , 16 Curlews , 97 Oystercatchers , a Yellow-legged Gull and a Peregrine . At Causie in St Clement were a Shelduck and 100 Brent Geese . On and around St Ouen's Pond were 162 Brent Geese , 13 Wigeon , 27 Shoveler , 9 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 19 Coot , 2 Cormorants , a Mediterranean Gull , 5 Snipe , 26 Stock Doves and a Chiffchaff . At La Saline were 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 14 Great Black-backed Gulls . Over 50 Gannets were feeding close in at Grosnez, over 2 Harbour Porpoises with 14 Fulmars also there. Some late records from yesterday included a Merlin by the Milano Bars and 250 Oystercatchers , 15 Curlews , and 4 Cormorants at Le Pulec. Seen from the GaP Hide at the Sandpits were 6 Pochard , a Little Grebe and 12 Tufted Duck .
25.01.2025 Herring Gulls on the move past Corbiere this morning ( with a possible Yellow-legged Gull bottom centre ) MD A day of high cloud and good visibility in light and variable winds Passing Corbiere were a good number of birds, possibly relocating after yesterday's storms. Morning-long counts there saw a Red-throated Diver , 763 Razorbills , 101 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 30 Gannets , a Grey Heron , 2 Little Egrets , 5 Cormorants , 48 Shags , a Curlew and 3 Turnstones . Gulls were to the fore with counts of 604 Herring Gulls ( nearly all immatures), 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , a Caspian Gull , 73 Great Black-backed Gulls , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 54 Kittiwakes , 39 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Common Gulls . 2 Porpoises and c10 Common Dolphins were also active offshore. Many of the Razorbills were seen rafting off L'Etacq later. In Petit Port Bay were 2 Shelduck , 40 Brent Geese, a male Red - breasted Merganser , 29 Curlews , 5 Little Egrets , 14 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 21 Herring Gulls , plus the usual Oystercatchers . On Mont Les Vaux were 300 Chaffinches and a Brambling , with another 100 Chaffinches at Plemont. At La Sente were a Shelduck , 3 Shovelers , 240 Brent Geese , a Lapwing , 6 Little Egrets , 6 Grey Herons , 38 Redshanks , 2 Greenshanks and 30 Chaffinches . 22 Lapwings were at East Riding and 2 Brent Geese were in Rozel Harbour.
24.01.2025 A Snipe roosting in the usual spot by the Wetland Centre MD The cold front from storm Eowyn crossed the Island this morning, without much impact and was followed by a showery airflow in a fresh southwest wind Little to report today, unsurprisingly considering the adverse conditions. On St Ouen's Pond were 21 Shoveler , 6 Wigeon , 2 Teal , 2 Tufted Duck , a Little Grebe , 92 Lapwings , 7 Snipe , a Grey Heron , 3 Marsh Harriers , a Buzzard , 12 Skylarks , a Water Pipit , 3 Meadow Pipits and a Chiffchaff . 10 Cattle Egrets were in a field by Grouville School Nothing of note was passing the headlands at Corbiere and Grosnez this morning. Below : Lapwings over St Ouen's Pond this morning. MD
23.01.2025 Chiffchaff at Kempt Tower MD The weather is changing to the West now, ahead of ahead of Storm Eowyn, which is due tomorrow, but should pass well to the North of Jersey. Today's winds were from the southwest and strong. This morning, La Sente hosted 34 Redshanks , 10 Lapwings , 4 Greenshanks , 4 Curlews , a Shelduck , 500 Brent Geese , 17 Grey Herons , 2 Ravens , 13 Little Egrets and a Pied Wagtail . Behind St Clement's Church were 12 Little Egrets and a Cattle Egret , and at Fauvic were 2 Cattle Egrets and 8 Little Egrets . Seawatched at a blustery Grosnez this morning produced a Sandwich Tern , a Mediterranean Gull , 9 Kittiwakes , 50 Gannets , 42 Fulmars , 22 Razorbills , 7 Cormorants , 36 Shags , 21 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Ravens and by the racecourse, a pair of Stonechat . At St Ouen's Pond later today were 10 Wigeon , a Pochard , 95 Lapwings , 12 Snipe and 9 Marsh Harriers and roosting on the high tide at Petit Port were 12 Brent Geese, 28 Curlews , 125 Oystercatchers , 4 Little Egrets and a Cormorant in all his breeding finery. At Beaumont Marsh were 254 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Curlew and at St Aubin were 7 Mediterranean Gulls and 16 Oystercatchers .
22.01.2025 This Ringed Plover , colour-ringed in Germany, is a regular Winter visitor to St Ouen's Bay. image with thanks to Romano. RDC A day of overcast skies and some light rain, milder at 8c in a light easterly wind Roosting at Sand's Slip this morning were 44 Ringed Plovers , 17 Dunlin and 4 Sanderlings , while on St Ouen's Pond were a Bittern , 12 Wigeon , 16 Shoveler , 2 Pochard , 9 Teal , 5 Snipe and a Lesser Black-backed Gull and on the Scrape were 28 Teal , a Grey Heron and a Chiffchaff . Passage past Corbiere first thing included a Great Northern Diver , a Bla ck-throated Diver , 2 Red-breasted Mergansers , 86 Razorbills , 6 Guillemots , 6 Fulmars , 15 Gannets , 7 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes , 2 Mediterranean Gulls, a Peregrine and two pods totalling 20 Common Dolphins . Waders at La Rocque included 125 Oystercatchers - two of them ringed in Iceland, 240 Sanderlings, 130 Dunlin , 45 Grey Plovers , and 61 Curlews . At La Sente were a Shelduck , a Teal , 49 Redshanks , 4 Lapwings , 3 Snipe and 12 Cattle Egrets , with 8 Common Gulls at Grouville Marsh. In Rozel Harbour were 4 Brent Geese and in Rozel Valley was a Grey Wagtail. At Cowley Farm were at least 650 Herring Gulls and 30 Black-headed Gulls . Another Grey Wagtail was seen by the Amaizin Maze in St Peter and a pale-bellied Brent Goose was at West Park in St Helier. 2 Woodcock flew over Vallee des Vaux at first light. This afternoon, passing Grosnez were 4 Gannets , 20 Fulmar , 2 Ravens , a Peregrine , 10+ Common Dolphins and 2 Porpoises . Yesterday evening, at La Haule, were a Ringed Plover , 120 Dunlin and 100 Sanderlings .
21.01.2025 A Little Egret on the Pont Marquet pools today MD It was a foggy start to the day, improving after ten o'clock, but still cold at 4c in a southeast wind. As the fog started to lift, birds seen on St Ouen's Pond included 215 Brent Geese , 14 Wigeon , 23 Teal , 2 Pochard , 2 Tufted Duck , 15 Shoveler , a Little Grebe , 95 Lapwings , 9 Snipe , a Grey Heron , a Sparrowhawk , 21 Mediterranean Gulls and a Reed Bunting . Roosting on Sand's Slip were 44 Ringed Plovers , 45 Sanderlings and 31 Dunlin . 34 Curlews were roosting at Petit Port with 2 Brent Geese also there. Today's birds at La Sente included 187 Brent Geese, 2 Teal , 53 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , 9 Lapwings , 6 Grey Herons and 9 Little Egrets . On Route de Maufant were 45 Redwings , a Fieldfare and a Grey Wagtail . At West Park were 46 Dunlin , 4 Curlews , 58 Ringed Plovers , 17 Turnstones , 58 Oystercatchers , 16 Brent Geese , 19 Black-headed Gulls , a Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets while in the Marina were 2 vocal Kingfishers flying together. Another Kingfisher was seen at Havre des Pas and 160 Sanderlings were at First Tower. In a field on Hydrangea Avenue, St Ouen, was a (the) male Hen Harrier , and back to yesterday when 2 different ring-tailed Hen Harriers were active at Crabbe, 2 Peregrines also being seen nearby, as was a Dartford Warbler . A shearwater sp was seen passing Plemont along with 8 Gannets and a Fulmar. At Cowley Farm were a Cattle Egret and 50 Starlings, and At Pont Marquet in St Brelade were a Little Egret , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Short - toed Treecreeper , 2 Redwings and at least 7 Robins . Below : One of yesterday's Hen Harriers at Crabbe, image courtesy of Chris Eve.
20.01.2025 Part of a flock of 23 Golden Plovers at St Ouen's Pond this morning MD A grey and cold start to the day cleared to clear skies in a southeast wind 23 Golden Plovers were on the common north of St Ouen's Pond late this morning. On St Ouen's Pond were 13 Wigeon , 25 Teal , 3 Pochard , a Tufted Duck , 14 Shoveler , 194 Brent Geese , 57 Mediterranean Gulls , 50+ Black-headed Gulls , 95 Lapwings , 12 Snipe , a Little Grebe, a Reed Bunting , a Chiffchaff and a Sparrowhawk . This evening, 18 Marsh Harriers flew in to roost there and a male Hen Harrier was in the backfields. Around the Kempt Tower pools were 4 Shoveler , a Teal , 3 Tufted Duck , a Chiffchaff and a singing Cetti's Warbler and at Sands Slip were 15 Ringed Plovers and 17 Dunlin . A Great White Egret was seen near to St Ouen's Manor. Off Corbiere at first light were 106 Razorbills , 4 Guillemots , 17 Gannets , 2 Brent Geese , 64 Shags , 9 Cormorants , 11 Kittiwakes , 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 9 Great Black-backed Gulls . A Purple Sandpiper and 2 Turnstones were on rocks there. On Beaumont Marsh were 450 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Shoveler and a Stonechat and at St Aubin were 31 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 126 Black-headed Gulls . 12 Ravens flew over St Brelade's Bay. On the East of the Island, 22 Cattle Egrets were at Fauvic and 4 Lapwings plus 4 Snipe were at La Sente. 6 Cattle Egrets were at Le Roncier while at Surville were 42 Redwings , 4 Song Thrushes , 23 Goldfinches , a Stonechat and 2 Jackdaws . Below : Another view of some of the Golden Plover flock MD
19.01.2025 Another superb image of a Bittern at the Wetland Centre, courtesy of Romano RDC Another cold (4c) day, with overcast conditions in a fresh south-southeasterly wind. Numbers of birds on St Ouen's Pond this morning, made it look a little like Swan Lake without the Swans ! Counts there included a Bittern , 215 Brent Geese , 280 feral Greylags ( including one Swan Goose ), 96 Lapwings , 5 Golden Plovers , 9 Snipe , 54 Mediterranean Gulls , 18 Black-headed Gulls , 13 Wigeon , 25 Teal , 19 Shoveler , 40 Mallard , 5 Pochard , a Tufted Duck , 2 Little Grebes , a Grey Heron, a Cormorant , a Chiffchaff , 4 Reed Buntings and a Water Pipit ! Things were quieter at Corbiere, birds seen there including a Red-throated Diver , 2 Red-breasted Mergansers , a Fulmar , 17 Gannets , 2 Razorbills , 5 Guillemots , 4 Cormorants , 49 Shags , a Grey Heron, 16 Kittiwakes , 3 Common Gulls, 19 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Raven . At La Rocque were a Great Northern Diver , a Slavonian Grebe , a Black-necked Grebe , 140 Dunlin and 90 Grey Plovers , while in Grouville Marsh were 32 Coot . In La Sente were 69 Redshanks , 4 Greenshanks , 5 Lapwings , 26 Grey Herons , 24 Little Egrets and 3 Bullfinches . 7 Cattle Egrets were near Grouville Church and a further 17 Cattle Egrets were in St Clement, near the Church. On Grouville Common were 8 Song Thrushes and 4 Redwings . 10 more Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm. Bramblings are very scarce this winter, so sightings of singles in a garden on Mont Cochon and at the Trinity Orchard were welcome, with a Fieldfare also at the latter. In Beaumont Marsh were 380 dark-bellied Brent Geese , 2 Shoveler and a Teal and at St Aubin were 28 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 33 Redshanks . In Vallee des Vaux today were garden visitors, 4 Bullfinches , 2 Goldcrests , 2 Firecrests , 6 Redwings , and a Blackcap with 22 Ravens and 6 Woodcock in flight and 300 Chaffinches across the valley. Another 150 Chaffinches were in Rue des Touettes in St Mary.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin
