01.05.2025 A newly arrived Whinchat at Grosnez this morning. MD
May was ushered in with another very warm day and just some high cloud. Winds were fresh from the east-southeast.
On the East of the Island today, a Black Kite was seen in flight over St Catherine and a Hoopoe was in a garden in Grouville. At Le Saie were 2 Turnstones and 45 Oystercatchers and in St Catherine's Wood were a Firecrest, a Goldcrest a Short-toed Treecreeper, and 11 Blackcaps with an immature Grey Heron at the small reservoir and another 3 Grey Herons seen flying over.
An adult Purple Heron was on St Ouen's Pond, also a Snipe, 2 male Shovelers and a Sedge Warbler, while at the Scrape were a pair of Shelduck, a Greenshank, a Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, a Snipe, 6 Lapwings and 2 Wheatears. 2 Oystercatchers were on Les Mielles Golf Course. In the Sandpits were 2 Shelduck, 18 Tufted Duck, a Marsh Harrier, a Little Grebe, 45 Sand Martins and a singing Cetti's Warbler. At Le Pulec were yet another pair of Shelduck and in the Kempt Tower area were a male Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck, a Little Grebe, 5+ Reed Warblers and a flock of 7 overflying Jackdaws.
It was a slow day for migrants at Grosnez and through the first half of the morning, 2 Whinchats, a Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a White Wagtail, and 17 Swallows were seen, while offshore were 6 Manx Shearwaters, 15 Fulmars, 14 Gannets, 3 Cormorants, a Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 4 Grey Herons. Around the racecourse were 2 Stonechats, 50+ Meadow Pipits, 2 Ravens, 3 Choughs and 2 Marsh Harriers. One, possibly two Puffins were seen at Plemont, a small falcon, possibly a Hobby flew by, a Swallowtail butterfly was seen being hassled by a Red Admiral and c12 Bottle-nosed Dolphins headed west.
Around the south-west of the Island, visible migration watching at Noirmont saw 2 Swifts, 30 Swallows, a Sand Martin, 15 Tree Pipits, a Whitethroat, a White Wagtail, 4 Whimbrels, 13 Grey Herons, 12 Black-headed Gulls and 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, while at Petit Port were a Turnstone, 5 Little Egrets and 2 Whimbrels, and at Corbiere were 5 Purple Sandpipers and 3 Turnstones. Another 2 Grey Herons were at St Aubin, a Cetti's Warbler was heard in Clos Saut Falluet, near the Airport and a Swallowtail butterlfy was seen at Ouaisne.
30.04.2025 A Greenshank on the Scrape today MD A fine and very warm day at 26c in an easterly wind. Counts of birds passing Grosnez offshore included 3 Manx Shearwaters , a Guillemot , 14 Fulmars , 37 Gannets , 2 Redshanks , a Ringed Plover, 7 Little Egrets in a flock heading northeast, 2 Black-headed Gulls , 20 Sandwich Terns , 56 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 3 Cormorants . At Les Landes or flying over were a Hoopoe , 16 Swifts , 50 Swallows , 10 House Martins, a Sand Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtails , 3 Wheatears , a male Whinchat , 2 White Wagtails , 19 Goldfinches , 11 Linnets , 2 Chaffinches and 2 Stonechats . On St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were 2 Teal , a male Wigeon , a pair of Shelduck , a Little Egret , a Greenshank , a Redshank , 6 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Wheatears , a Sedge Warbler , and 25 Linnets . At Le Pulec were 4 Little Egrets , a Wheatear and 2 Stonechats . A Breeding Bird Survey walk around the St Ouen's Village are found, a Wheatear , a female Stonechat , 2 Whitethroats , also a Cetti's Warbler at Ville au Bas and a Garden Warbler at Les Vaux Cuissin. A Whitethroat was on Les Blanches Banques. A Cuckoo was near Causie Lane in St Clement and 7 Swifts flew over Victoria Tower. 2 Hobbies were seen passing the Zoo this morning, a Redshanks was at Icho Tower, a Wheatear was at Corbiere and a Whimbrel plus 2 Common Sandpiper were at Pointe le Fret.
29.04.2025 Wheatears are passing through the Island in good numbers at the moment. This one was on Les Blanches Banques two days ago MD A warm (24c) and sunny day in a moderate easterly wind. Another mixed passage of birds past Grosnez this morning included 5 Common Scoter , 16 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Guillemots , 42 Gannets , 21 Fulmars , 3 Redshanks , two distant waders- probably Avocets , 7 Kittiwakes , a Black-headed Gull, 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Sandwich Terns , 2 Grey Herons , and a Little Egret offshore. On Les Landes, of flying over were 12 Wheatears , a Whinchat , a Stonechat , 29 Swifts , 57 Swallows , 13 House Martins , a Sand Martin , 7 Yellow Wagtails , 15 White Wagtails , 2 Peregrines , 2 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk , also 2 Painted Lady butterflies. At Plemont were more Wheatears , 3 Whinchats and a trickle of Swifts , Swallows and House Martins overhead, also 5 Choughs heading East. At Le Pulec was a pair of Shelduck with another pair of Shelduck at Petit Port and a Common Sandpiper was on the Scrape. In Grouville Bay were 3 Brent Geese and a Curlew , with 4 Little Egrets at La Sente and 6 Reed Warblers plus a Sedge Warbler at Grouville Marsh. 8 Wheatears were at Noirmont and 5 Swifts were flying around St Helier Harbour. 3 House Martins were visiting nest boxes at Beaumont.
28.04.2025 A distant view of one of today's Whinchats, this one was at Kempt Tower MD A fine day and becoming warm at 20c in a moderate easterly wind. A selection of species passing Grosnez this morning included 18 Manx Shearwaters, 9 Guillemots , 21 Fulmars , 39 Gannets , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 12 Kittiwakes , 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 13 Sandwich Terns at sea and 8 Yellow Wagtails, 3 White Wagtails, 2 Swifts , 65 Swallows and 11 House Martins passing overhead. Scattered around Les Landes were 2 Whinchats , 6 Wheatears , 6 Stonechats , 2 Whitethroats , and a Chiffchaff . Local birds seen there included 4 Marsh Harriers , 2 Buzzards , 2 Kestrels , a Sparrowhawk , 2 Choughs and 2 Ravens . At Kempt Tower were 2 Shovelers , 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebes, a Whinchat , a Wheatear , 3 Whitethroats , a Blackcap , 5 Reed Warblers , 2 Cetti's Warblers , a Chiffchaff, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard and a Water Rail , with another Wheatear in the Scrape field and 5 Swifts over the Pond. At Le Pulec were a Shelduck , 11 Little Egrets, a Black-headed Gull and 50 Oystercatchers and at Les Laveurs were a Wheatear , 3 Little Egrets and 40 Crows . In Les Ormes Valley today were 2 Stonechats , a Garden Warbler , 2 Ravens and several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps . Elsewhere, a single Brent Goose and 7 Dunlin were in Grouville Bay while at Bouley Bay were 4 Buzzards , 2 Ravens , a Wheatear , 8 Linnets , 2 Swallows and a Great Spotted Woodpecker . In Vallee des Vaux were a Firecrest , a Goldcrest , a pair of Bullfinches and a Blackcap . A late record for yesterday evening was of 16 Ravens including a flock of 13, at Les Platons.
27.04.2025 Shelduck passing Corbiere this morning MD A fine day, feeling warmer in a light northeasterly wind. There were good numbers of raptors in the air on the ridge behind St Ouen's Bay and seen from Mont Matthieu were a Black Kite, 21 Buzzards including one pale bird, 12 Marsh Harriers, 6 Sparrowhawks , 2 Kestrels and a Peregrine . Seen at the Scrape were 10 Swifts , a Whimbrel , 5 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Teal and 2 Wheatears and in the Sandpits were 14 Tufted Duck , 8 Oystercatchers , 8 Sand Martins , 2 Swallows , a White Wagtail and a Cetti's Warbler . In Les Ormes Valley were a Wheatear , 2 Whitethroats , 3 Garden Warblers , 3 Dartford Warblers , 9 Blackcaps , 15 Chiffchaffs , a Marsh Harrier and 2 Buzzards . A Skylark was in song over the Blanche Banques. At Le Pulec were a Whimbrel , a pair of Shelduck , a Grey Seal and 90 Swallows heading North. A Cuckoo was seen above Bonne Nuit and the was a late report of another in St John on Friday (25th). At Sorel Point were a Wheatear, 3 Dartford Warblers and a trickle of Swallows heading north. Passing Corbiere early on today were 3 Shelduck , 12 Guillemots , 14 Fulmars , 50 Gannets , 4 Cormorants , 6 Kittiwakes , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 5 Whimbrels , 25 Crows , 5 Swallows and on the headland, a Wheatear , with 2 Peregrines hunting in the area. Roosting at Corbiere were 14 Purple Sandpipers and 4 Turnstones . In Grouville Marsh this morning were 14 Sedge Warblers , 20 Reed Warblers , a Willow Warbler , 2 Blackcaps , 15 Chiffchaffs , 6 Cetti's Warblers and overhead there, 2 House Martins , a Sand Martin , 20 Swallows , 5 Buzzards and 3 Marsh Harriers . At Grands Vaux were 8 Tufted Duck, a male Bullfinch and a Blackcap nest building and at Mont Neron were a Firecrest and a Greenfinch .
26.04.2025 A recently arrived Common Whitethroat , singing away in St Ouens Bay RdC A cloudy day with a light northerly wind. Seen around the north side of St Ouens Pond this morning were a Hobby , 13 Swift , 45 Sand Martin , 40 Swallow , 6 House Martin , 7 Reed Warbler , 6 Sedge Warbler , a Willow Warbler , 4 Cetti's Warbler , 2 Whitethroat , a Reed Bunting , a Water Rail , 2 Shoveler , 2 Tufted Duck and a Wheatear while on the Scrape were 6 Lapwing , 2 Oystercatcher , 2 Teal , 5 Swallow , 3 Wheatear , a Yellow Wagtail and a Reed Warbler . Up at Grosnez and Les Landes were a Dotterel which flew across the racecourse, a Swift , 191 Swallow , 114 House Martin , 3 Sand Martin , 2 Yellow Wagtail , 4 Wheatear , 4 Stonechat , 3 Whitethroat , 3 Marsh Harrier and 25 Bottle-nosed Dolphin offshore.
25.04.2025 This pretty pair were the only 2 Teal seen at the Scrape today MD A fair day with high cloud, but still feeling cool in a fresh easterly wind. Offshore at Grosnez this morning were 3 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Guillemots , 18 Sandwich Terns, 2 Kittiwakes , 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 29 Fulmars and 17 Gannets while passing overhead were 2 Swifts , 130 Swallows , 3 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins, 8 Yellow Wagtails and 12 Linnets . On the ground were 3 Choughs , 7 Wheatears and 2 Stonechats . Seen at Plemont were 9 Razorbills , 3 Wheatears , 6 Swallows and 50+ Linnets . A Cuckoo was calling at Greve de Lecq. On St Ouen's Pond were 2 male Shoveler , with at least 8 Swifts and 20 Swallows overhead, also a Whitethroat was by the Wetland Centre again. On the Scrape were the 2 Teal , another male Shoveler , 6 Lapwings , a singing Willow Warbler and several Reed Warblers . In the Sandpits were 12 Tufted Duck , a Shelduck , 4 Oystercatchers and 50 Sand Martins . In Les Ormes Valley were 5 Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler and a female Marsh Harrier. Seen yesterday in Les Ormes Valley were a Reed Warbler , a Garden Warbler and a Raven . Another 5 Wheatears were on Les Blanches Banques. In Grouville Bay were a Brent Goose , 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 74 Oystercatchers and at Grouville Marsh were 5 Reed Warblers and a Swallowtail butterfly. At Beaumont Marsh were 2 Grey Herons , a Wheatear and 2 House Martins and at Noirmont were 2 Wheatears , a singing Whitethroat and 10 Swallows . In Vallee des Vaux were singing Firecrest and Goldcrest and 3 House Martins were back on their breeding site at La Ferme.
24.04.2025 An adult Cormorant passing Grosnez this morning MD A dry but cloudy day in a fresh northeast wind. A varied selection of birds passing Grosnez and Les Landes this morning included 2 Manx Shearwaters , a Guillemot , 11 Fulmars , 19 Gannets , 4 Cormorants , 9 Kittiwakes , 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Swifts , 745 Swallows , 30 House Martins , 3 Sand Martins , 6 Yellow Wagtails , a Tree Pipit and 3 Goldfinches , while on the ground were 8 Wheatears , 2 Stonechats , 2 Whitethroats , 40 Linnets , and overhead, 4 Marsh Harriers , 2 Ravens and a Kestrel . On Les Ecrehous were 5 Common Terns , 2 Blackbirds , a Swallow and offshore, 10 Gannets . In St Ouen's Bay, at the Scrape, were the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose , 7 Lapwings , a Shoveler and 3 Reed Warblers , while at the Wetland Centre were a Shoveler , 4 Reed Warblers and a Whitethroat . To the north of the Pond were 2 Wheatears , a Sedge Warbler , 5 Reed Warblers , 4 Skylarks and 15 Swallows and at Kempt Tower and pools were 3 Little Grebes and another Wheatear . On Les Mielles de Morville were 3 Whitethroats and 2 Greenfinches . Another Wheatear was at Corbiere and in Petit Port Bay were a Whimbrel , a Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Shelduck and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls . 11 pale-bellied Brent Geese were still at St Aubin and a Grey Heron plus two newly fledged Blackbirds were in Beaumont Marsh. Back to yesterday evening, when 6 Wheatears , 30 Linnets , 2 Snipe , 2 Water Rails, a Sedge Warbler , 6 Reed Warblers and a Whitethroat were on the north side of St Ouen's Pond, 40 Sand Martins and 15 Swallows were over the Pond and a pair of Shelduck plus a Dunlin were at La Rocque.
23.04.2025 An adult Raven with the remains of a Rabbit, off the North coast this week MD A morning of heavy, squally showers in a strong westerly wind, clearing to fine conditions this afternoon. Sightings were at a premium in todays conditions, the pick of which was a Spoonbill seen over St Ouen's Pond Scrape this afternoon. Also seen at the Scrape, mostly from the shelter of the Hide were 4 Teal , 2 Tufted Duck , the male Shelduck trying to fend off all-comers, 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings , a passage of at least 60 Swallows , 2 Sand Martins , 7 Yellow Wagtails , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 3 Reed Warblers on the South Canal. 10 pale-bellied Brent Geese remained at St Aubin and a Wheatear plus 2 Chough were seen at Corbiere, with another 2 Chough at Grosnez. Around the southeast and east coasts, a Ringed Plover , a Grey Plover , 3 Curlews , 81 Oystercatchers , 2 Little Egrets and 5 Gannets were at La rocque, a Wheatear was on Grouville Common and a Grey Heron was at Fauvic.
22.04.2025 A Gannet passing Grosnez. MD A fair to fine day in a cool west-northwest wind On the Blanches Banques in St Ouen's Bay today were a Cuckoo , 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Wheatears and a singing Skylark and at the Scrape were a male Gadwall and a male Shelduck , A Whimbrel was at Petit Port and another Whimbrel was in Robin Bay at La Rocque. A trickle of birds passing Grosnez this morning included 7 Sandwich Terns , 39 Gannets , 3 Cormorants , a Kittiwake , a Serin , 128 Swallows , 3 Sand Martins , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 12 Linnets , a Tree Pipit and 6 Woodpigeons . Also seen there were 3 Wheatears , 5 Stonechats ,3 Whitethroats , 3 Dartford Warblers , 3 Marsh Harriers , a Sparrowhawk , 2 Choughs and 2 Ravens . A Peregrine was seen over Les Landes and another Peregrine was at Archirondel. At the North Canal in St Ouen's Bay were a Sedge Warbler , a Whitethroat , 5 Reed Warblers and a Water Rail . 6 pale-bellied Brent Geese remained at St Aubin. Below : This Oystercatcher was seen sleeping at Petit Port two days ago, no doubt recovering from it's epic flight to Jersey from Chausey, where it was ringed MD
21.04.2025 This Ruff was a new arrival on the Scrape this morning MD Another cool day with a band of rain crossing the Island mid-morning before clear conditions arrived this afternoon in a westerly wind. The mid-morning rain did bring a few birds down, especially in St Ouen's Bay. Seen at the Pond and Scrape were a Ruff , a Common Sandpiper , the first 2 Swifts of the year, 5 overflying Whimbrel ( with another 4 Whimbrel over Le Braye earlier in the day), 7 Teal , a male Wigeon , at least 7 Shoveler , 2 Tufted Duck , 2 Brent Geese , the male Shelduck , 4 Snipe , 6 Lapwings , 50+ Swallows , 6 House Martins , 11 Yellow Wagtails , a White Wagtail , a Whitethroat , a Sedge Warbler , 2 Reed Warblers, and 55 Linnets . To the north of St Ouen's Pond were 7 Reed Warblers , and at Kempt Tower were 10 more overflying Whimbrels , a Golden Plover and Wheatear . In the Sandpits were another 2 Common Sandpipers and at Milano Bars near L'Etacq was a singing Reed Warbler . Seen at Kempt Tower and north to the Frances le Sueur Centre were 5 Whitethroats , 8 Reed Warblers , a Dartford Warbler, 2 pairs of Little Grebes , 2 pairs of Shovelers , 8 Tufted Ducks, 3 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail . Along the North coast east from Grosnez were a Wheatear and 4 Puffins and a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting in St Peter's Valley around lunchtime. At Les Landes 3 Whitethroats , a Wheatear , 2 Willow Warblers and 8 Swallows . Off Corbiere first thing were 6 Guillemots , 7 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , also 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . 25 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin and at Beaumont Marsh were a Grey Heron , a White Wagtail , 3 Swallows and 5 Long-tailed Tits . At Grouville Marsh this morning were 2 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers , a Whitethroat , 15 Chiffchaffs , 6 Cetti's Warblers , a Tree Pipit . 5 Water Rails, a Green Sandpiper and 7 overflying Swallows .
