Jersey Birds

A cloudy day in a fresh southwest wind

It was generally a much quieter day for passage migrants today, probably due to weather on the south coast of England. A mass departure of Woodpigeons amounted to 33,680 birds, nearly all in the first half hour of daylight, over Noirmont! Otherwise, it was slow there, with counts of 7 Stock Doves ( plus, no doubt, others buried among the vast flocks of Woodpigeons), 12 Skylarks, 2 Pied Wagtails, 70 Starlings, 37 Redwings, a Song Thrush, 120 Chaffinches, 11 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, 5 Buzzards, 4 Stonechats, 2 Ravens, 2 Choughs and 7 Jackdaws.

Seen at the same time, passing Victoria Tower were a Woodlark, 2 Fieldfares, 274 Redwings, 9 Song Thrushes, 7 Swallows, 2,133 Woodpigeons, 57 Stock Doves, 44 Starlings, 444 Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings, 23 Siskins, 19 Goldfinches, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 8 Meadow Pipits, 3 Cormorants and 2 Goldcrests. A Stonechat was at Kempt Tower.

Passing Corbiere were 515 Starlings, 25 Chaffinches, 40 Woodpigeons, 2 Stonechats, a male Black Redstart and 2 Peregrines and at Petit Port were 32 Curlews, a Whimbrel, a Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 14 Mediterranean Gulls, 19 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.

A Snow Bunting was near to Fort Henry in Grouville Bay and 33 Cattle Egrets were at Grouville Arsenal with a further 5 at Grouville Marsh.

Evening update: Around the north side of St Ouen's Pond this evening were 3 Reed Buntings, 10 Robins, a Chiffchaff, 300 Starlings, 2 Swallows, 4 Water Rails, 12 Marsh Harriers, a Kingfisher and a Wigeon calling in the dark.

Below: Woodpigeons heading out of St Aubin's Bay at sunrise this morning  MD