Jersey Birds

A poor morning for weather with a low overcast, hill fog and some rain and drizzle as a cold front crept slowly across the Island in a southwest wind. The weather did improve somewhat, this afternoon as the wind went to the northwest, but light.

Day migrants struggled to trouble the scorers this morning. Passing Victoria Tower were 48 Redwings, 6 Song Thrushes, 3 Blackbirds, 175 Woodpigeons, 39 Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, 72 Chaffinches and 54 Goldfinches. A similar story at Noirmont recorded 1,236 Woodpigeons ( mainly after the weather improved), 194 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, 9 Blackbirds, 20 Starlings, 5 Stock Doves, 160 Chaffinches, 12 Siskins, 8 Goldfinches, 5 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 85 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats, 5 Robins, a Chiffchaff, 2 Dartford Warblers - one of them displaying!, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzards including the pale individual, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 4 Black-headed Gulls. Redwings were heard in flight at  low level over Green Island at 5 am too.

At St Ouen's Pond were 15 Shovelers, a Teal, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Reed Buntings and a Meadow Pipit and in the Sandpits were 19 Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe, a Grey Heron, 7 Pochard, 10 Tufted Ducks and 2 Stonechats and on the beach by Kempt Tower were 32 Ringed Plovers and 3 Sanderlings. 40 Black-headed Gulls and 7 Mediterranean Gulls were at Petit Port.

A Balearic Shearwater and 50 Sanderlings were seen outside the Elizabeth Marina by a survey boat, also 4 Razorbills were seen to the West of St Ouen's Bay. 

500 finches, mainly Chaffinches and Goldfinches were feeding in a field by Beauport Common while 20 Meadow Pipits, 2 Stonechats and a Dartford Warbler were also in the area.



Late update: 250 alba Wagtails roosted at the St Helier Marina this evening and a Barn Owl was seen at Rue du Huquet in St Martin.