31.01.2025 Sanderlings with a Polish colour-ringed Dunlin at La Rocque recently. Image courtesy of Romano RdC.
Another frontal system with plenty of rain in a southwest wind, saw the last morning of the month out, with the forecast of drier and more settled conditions in the coming days.
Few will regret the passing of January, with very little by way of new birds arriving, and far too much rain! At La Sente this morning, as conditions improved, were 24 Redshanks, 9 Curlews, 6 Grey Herons and a Bullfinch, while at Grouville Marsh were 9 Common Gulls, 42 Redwings, a Mistle Thrush and a Shoveler.
Seen from the Wetland Centre were a Bittern, 130 Brent Geese, 5 Pochard, a Tufted Duck, 5 Teal, 13 Coot and 10 Snipe. In the Sandpits were 84 Lapwings, 27 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 5 Little Grebes, a Buzzard, 24 Great Black-backed Gulls and one Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
A brief flurry of seabirds past Corbiere late morning, as the rain dried up, included 31 Gannets, 7 Fulmars, 8 Razorbills, 25 Shags, just 2 Cormorants, 66 Great Black-backed Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Kittiwakes and a Common Gull. One Peregrine was operating in the area. In Petit Port were 19 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, also a Grey Heron.
A Merlin was seen in Clos des Sables, at Red Houses this afternoon.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin