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05.07.2025 Grey Heron over the Scrape. Image: MD
A cloudy day with some rain this afternoon, winds from the west.
There were no signs of yesterday's Marsh Warbler by the Scrape today, with just the family of 5 Shelduck, a Lapwing, 6 Great Black-backed Gulls, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Black-headed Gull and 10 Sand Martins on note there. In St Ouen's Bay were a Sandwich Tern, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 54 Black-headed Gulls including 2 juveniles and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls.
Passing Corbiere in the first three hours of daylight were 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 9 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Guillemots, 77 Gannets, 5 Cormorants, 26 Shags, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 24 Great Black-backed Gulls, also 4 Ravens, a Marsh Harrier and 2 Peregrines were in the area. At Petit Port were 5 Great Black-backed Gulls and a single Black-headed Gull.
At Grouville Marsh today were a Cetti's Warbler, a Blackcap, and Chiffchaffs with fledged young, also 3 fledged Marsh Harriers. At Archirondel were a Cetti's Warbler in song and 2 Buzzards and over Gorey were 2 Swifts. Another 4 Swifts were seen over Vallee des Vaux.
Below: Thanks to Jo Bramley for this video, showing some of yesterdays many juvenile Mediterranean Gulls in St Aubin's Bay.
04.07.2025 Today's Marsh Warbler , by the Scrape Hide. Image: MD A fine day with light winds settling in the west-northwest. A surprising but welcome new arrival by the Scrape Hide this morning was a Marsh Warbler which was singing strongly and behaving territorially. Given the date, where has that been until now? Also around the Scrape were the family of Shelduck , a Grey Heron , 2 Lapwings , an Oystercatcher , a young Stonechat and 10+ Sand Martins . Gulls continue to arrive on the Island and this afternoon, near the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay, was an exceptional flock of 82 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls , certainly the largest such flock ever recorded here. Also present were 13 adult Mediterranean Gulls which were not associating with the young birds, also 94 Black-headed Gulls with 7 juveniles involved and 8 Great Black-backed Gulls . At Le Hurel in Grouville Bay were 40 adult and 16 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls , 46 Black-headed Gulls including 6 juveniles and 12 Swifts . A Cetti's Warbler was singing at Archirondel. A quiet morning as seen from Corbiere, included a Manx Shearwater , 46 Gannets , a Fulmar , 3 Cormorants , 3 Sandwich Terns , 10 Mediterranean Gulls , 6 Black-headed Gulls , 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 22 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Peregrines , a Little Egret and a White Wagtail . Below : Thanks go to Tony Paintin for his excellent image of the Marsh Warbler . TP
03.07.2025 A Gannet feeding off of Corbiere early this morning. Image: MD A fine day with a fresh northerly wind At Les Ecrehous today were 20 Sandwich Terns , 100+ Common Terns , 2 Grey Herons and 8 Curlews . Passing Corbiere were 34 Manx Shearwaters , 26 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 87 Gannets , 2 Cormorants , a Grey Heron , 28 Mediterranean Gulls , 15 Black - headed Gulls , 46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 32 Great Black-backed Gulls , 245 Herring Gulls, 2 Peregrines , 5 Swifts and a single Swallow . In Petit Port Bay were 27 Curlews , a Whimbrel and a Little Egret . Seen from Grosnez were 12 Guillemots , 2 Gannets and a noisy flock of 12 Ravens . Gull numbers continue to increase in St Aubins Bay and between La Haule and the Gunsite today were 180 Black-headed Gulls including 5 juveniles, 17 Mediterranean Gulls , 230 Herring Gulls and 9 Great Black-backed Gulls . Seen at Noirmont were a male Dartford Warbler , a pair of Greenfinch , a Linnet and several Chiffchaffs.
02.07.2025 Reed Warbler near the Scrape Hide yesterday. Image: MD A slow moving cold front brought rain to the Island this morning, before clearing to fine conditions this afternoon, winds were from the West- northwest. Before the morning rain arrived from the West this morning, counts at Corbiere included 5 Manx Shearwaters , a Balearic Shearwater , 9 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 55 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 16 Mediterranean Gulls , 11 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Kittiwakes , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 38 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Swift , 3 Little Egrets, 6 Ravens and a Marsh Harrier . In Grouville Bay were 147 Black-headed Gulls , 24 Mediterranean Gulls , a Common Gull, 8 Curlews and a Redshank and at St Aubin were 100 Black - headed Gulls , 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Sandwich Terns and a little Egret . 5 Swifts were seen over Queen's Road this Morning. On the Scrape at St Ouen's Pond were 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Lapwings , 5 Shelducks , a Grey Heron and overhead, 12 Swifts , while over the Pond this afternoon were 20 Sand Martins and a Little Egret plus the usual Marsh Harriers , and 3 Buzzards on the ridge. 3 Little Grebes were at Kempt Tower 31 Curlews were at L'Etacq
01.07.2025 A juvenile Moorhen at Pont Marquet Country Park this morning. Image: MD Thick fog, especially on the windward coasts, spoiled the first morning in July, finally clearing this afternoon, feeling fresh after yesterday's excesses, with winds in the west-northwest. Most of yesterday's waders were absent from the Scrape this morning, with just 3 Lapwings seen. Other birds visible ( just at times) included 2 Grey Herons , the family of 5 Shelduck , 2 Barnacle Geese , 12 Sand Martins , 2 Swallows and good numbers of Reed Warblers in song. On The Pond were 9 Tufted Ducks , a male Pochard , 20 Sand Martins and 5 Swallows . Gull numbers at St Aubin are increasing daily now with 162 Black-headed Gulls including 3 juveniles, and 20 Mediterranean Gulls there today, also seen were 22 Oystercatchers , 7 Swifts and a Little Egret . In Grouville Bay were 125 Black-headed Gulls with just one juvenile, 2 Curlews and 19 Great Black-backed Gulls . A walk round at Pont Marquet located 5 singing Firecrests , a Bullfinch , a Blackcap , 20+ Chiffchaffs , a Jackdaw and a Moorhen with 2 juveniles, with a young Buzzard heard calling nearby, at Tabor Park. Also in St Brelade, a Kingfisher was taken into care at the JSPCA, having hit a window - this our first reported returning one of the Autumn. Counts from the Sandpits this evening included 65 Tufted Ducks , 3 Pochard , 4 Little Grebes , 120 Coot , 6 Little Egrets , a Common Sandpiper, a Mediterranean Gull , a Black-headed Gull, a White Wagtail, 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers being fed by a male, 8 Oystercatchers and 70 Sand Martins , many of them young birds.
30.06.2025 One of today's Black-tailed Godwits landing on the Scrape this morning. Image: MD June went out with a bang today, with temperatures reaching 33c in clear skies in a moderate Easterly wind. There was a definite hint of migration in the air today, starting early at Corbiere, where 6 Crossbills flew over as well as 24 Swifts and 9 Swallows , while at sea were 5 Guillemots , 62 Gannets , 21 Mediterranean Gulls, 47 Black-headed Gulls , an adult Common Gull , 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern , 2 Whimbrels , 3 Curlews , 7 Cormorants and 2 Peregrines . In Petit Port Bay Curlew numbers had risen to 29 as well as another Whimbrel . 3 Honey Buzzards were circling over Mont Les Vaux at St Aubin around lunchtime and another Honey Buzzard was seen earlier, dropping into the trees at Bel Croute. At St Aubin were 125 Black-headed Gulls including 2 juveniles and 2 Mediterranean Gulls . Waders were to the fore at the Scrape where the semi-resident Green Sandpiper was joined by 3 Black-tailed Godwits , 3 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper, also 3 Grey Herons and the family of 5 Shelduck . . A male Reed Bunting was seen there this afternoon. At St Ouen's Pond were 5 Grey Herons including 2 juveniles, 4 Swallows , 2 Sand Martins , 3 Swifts and 3 House Martins . A further 12 Swifts were seen at Grosnez this afternoon, 2 young Kestrels and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . At Grands Vaux were a Grey Heron , a Sand Martin and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and in Vallee des Vaux, Buzzards were feeding a juvenile. Thanks go to Chris Eve for this nice image of today's Black-tailed Godwits
29.06.2025 A Curlew roosting at Petit Port. Image: MD Fog obscured the West coast first thing this morning, but cleared to become fine by this afternoon, in a light northerly breeze. Seen passing Corbiere as the visibility improved were a Great Crested Grebe , 6 Manx Shearwaters , 4 Balearic Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , a Fulmar , 18 Gannets , 31 Shags , 6 Cormorants , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 34 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Kittiwake , 2 Black - headed Gulls , 15 Curlews , a Whimbrel , a Peregrine , 4 Little Egrets and 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . 32 Swifts moved north over the headland. Off Plemont were 3 Puffins , 6 Fulmars , 8 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12+ Swifts and a pod of 50+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins . At St Aubin were 105 Black-headed Gulls including the first 2 juveniles seen this year, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 13 Swifts , while near Fort William in Grouville Bay were 5 Curlews .
28.06.2025 The juvenile Lapwing in front of the Scrape Hide this morning. Image: MD It was deja vu all over again (to quote Delboy) with an overcast and drizzly start to the day, clearing to fine by this afternoon, in a moderate southwest wind, temperatures around 20c Passing in the misty conditions offshore at Corbiere were 17 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Balearic Shearwaters , 7 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 96 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 2 Curlews , a Black-headed Gull and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with 8 Swifts flying in from the West. 45 Crows were on the Petit Port headland and 22 Curlews plus a Shelduck were in Petit Port Bay. Oystercatchers were seen with young at Le Pulec where a large male Grey Seal was also present. On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were the Green Sandpiper again, 2 Oystercatchers , 3 Lapwings , and 6 Shelduck , while feeding overhead there and the Pond were 10 Swifts , 20 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows . At Kempt Tower pools, Little Grebes were nest building, with no juveniles seen there so far this Summer, also a female Tufted Duck and 7 Coot were there. 18 Black-headed Gulls were at La Haule and at La Rocque were 2 Little Egrets , 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Swallows , with another 3 Great Black-backed Gulls seen at Seymour. 30+ Swifts were over Mont Orgueil at Gorey Evening update : Overnight tonight, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 6 Storm Petrels were ringed and released at Plemont, a Barn Owl was seen near St John's Manor and another Barn Owl was near El Tico in St Ouen's Bay
27.06.2025 Another view of the Green Sandpiper at the Scrape, this image taken this morning by MD There was a poor start to the day with a low overcast and poor visibility in some heavy drizzle, with winds from the southwest. The weather cleared to fair conditions by this afternoon. Seen through the murk at Corbiere early on were 38 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Balearic Shearwaters , 4 Guillemots , 58 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , a Kittiwake and 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls Seen at the Scrape later morning were the family of 5 Shelduck , a Barnacle Goose, the Green Sandpiper , a Redshank , 3 Lapwings including the juvenile bird, 2 Oystercatchers , a juvenile Grey Heron , and flying overhead were a Black-headed Gull , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Marsh Harriers , a White Wagtail, 12 Sand Martins , 2 House Martins , 5 Swallows and a Buzzard . At Plemont were 4 Razorbills , a Puffin and 8 Swifts . In St Aubin's Bay were 85 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Mediterranean Gulls and over Elizabeth Castle were 20+ Swifts .
26.06.2025 The Green Sandpiper on the Scrape this morning. Image: MD A humid day with varying amounts of cloud, warm at 21c with a moderate west-southwest wind. A generally quiet day all round. Only odds and ends were passing Corbiere this morning, these including 3 Manx Shearwaters, a single Balearic Shearwater, 32 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 4 Guillemots , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Curlew , a Grey Heron and 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . In Petit Port were 2 Shelduck and 12 Curlews which included a regular yellow flagged bird ( X05) from Poland. On the Scrape were the family of 5 Shelduck , 3 Lapwings including the now fledged juvenile, 2 young Shovelers , 2 Oystercatchers , the Green Sandpiper again and overhead, 3 Swifts , 10 Sand Martins , 2 Swallows , a Tufted Duck and a singing Skylark . On the East coast, 9 Mediterranean Gulls and 59 Black-headed Gulls were in Grouville Bay and a further 6 Mediterranean Gulls were at La Rocque. A roost of 26 Oystercatchers was at Pontac and another 141 Oystercatchers were roosting at Elizabeth Castle. Also in St Aubin's Bay, a further Mediterranean Gull , 65 Black-headed Gulls , a Little Egret and 11 Swifts were at St Aubin. Below : Thanks go to Jo Bramley for this nice clip of the Green Sandpiper on the Scrape
25.06.2025 A juvenile Lapwing on the Scrape yesterday, believed to be the only one to survive from all breeding attempts there this year. MD Another day with an overcast start, clearing to sunny conditions this afternoon, feeling warm with temperatures around 26c in light northerly wind. A visit to Les Ecrehous this morning found Common Terns there still in good numbers there, as well as a Sandwich Tern , 35 Turnstones and c 50 Oystercatchers . On Les Minquiers were 6 Common Terns , a Sandwich Tern , a Chiffchaff and a Rock Pipit Seabirds passing Corbiere early this morning included 87 Manx Shearwaters, 31 Balearic Shearwaters , a Razorbill , 16 Guillemots , 47 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 7 Cormorants , 13 Shags , 6 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Lesser Back-backed Gulls , a Kittiwake and 21 Curlews flying off to roost. Also seen were 14 Swifts and 4 Ravens . In St Aubin's Bay, 7 Swifts were at St Aubin, 20+ Swifts and a Little Egret were at the Albert Quay and a pair of Oystercatchers with 2 juveniles were near the Elizabeth Terminal. Kestrels with fledged young were seen at Beauport, and a brief visit to Noirmont saw 3 Swifts , 11 Swallows , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , 5 Linnets , a Chiffchaff , a singing Dartford Warbler and a Buzzard . Evening update : At Petit Port were 20 Curlews , 2 Shelduck and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and on the Scrape was the Green Sandpiper again, a Grey Heron and 3 Lapwings . In the Sandpits this evening were 90 Sand Martins including many fledged young, 3 White Wagtails , 4 Swifts , 4 Grey Herons , 3 Little Grebes , 47 Tufted Ducks , 2 Pochard , 2 Shelduck , 100 Coot , 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers , 9 Oystercatchers and 4 Little Egrets .
