06.06.2026 The female Shelduck of the Le Pulec pair, seen here with her two surviving chicks, as of yesterday, image courtesy of Romano RDC
Showery rain and a violent southwest wind (F6 gusting F8 ) restricted the number of reports available here, but the seabirds were still going about their business past Corbiere this morning!
Through the morning, at Corbiere, counts included 195 Manx Shearwaters, 191 Balearic Shearwaters, 114 Gannets, 6 Fulmars, 10 Guillemots, 46 Shags, 2 Cormorants, 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 33 Great Black-backed Gulls, 5 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull, several hundreds of Herring Gulls, also a single House Martin, a Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine.
A Grey Heron was seen in flight over Rozel.
21.07.2026 After weeks of concern (by Us) the Lapwing chick is airborne, although some feathers are yet to open fully by the looks of it! So that is six young raised by two pairs, the best for some while. Image: MD Another dry day, with clear skies and a cooler northeast wind. A good ringing session on the north side of St Ouen's Pond this morning recorded 200 Swallows , 120 Sand Martins out of a roost, a Grasshopper Warbler , a Willow Warbler , 25 Reed Warblers including some fledged young, 4 Sedge Warblers with one fledged young, a Stonechat , a juvenile Marsh Harrier , and overhead, a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Heron , 15 House Martins and 8 Swifts . Later morning, 15 Swifts were feeding over St Ouen's Pond. On the Scrape were 2 Green Sandpipers , 2 Snipe , 2 Oystercatchers , 3 Lapwings including the now fledged juvenile, and overhead, a Peregrine , a Sparrowhawk , a Mediterranean Gull , 4 Black-headed Gulls . In the backfields were 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . Seen from Le Pulec were 536 Balearic Shearwaters moving north, another 600+ Balearic Shearwaters rafting offshore, 2 Manx Shearwaters , a Guillemot , 3 Common Scoters , 52 Gannets, 9 Fulmars , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 8 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Grey Herons , a Peregrine , 4 Curlews , a Whimbrel , 2 White Wagtails , a Sand Martin , 20+ Swallows and 5 House Martins . At La Saline, in St Ouen's Bay were a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff , 3 Redshanks , 10 Little Egrets , 2 House Martins and a Peregrine sitting on a rock offshore. 4 Swifts and a Swallowtail butterfly were at Les Landes and a juvenile Cuckoo was pictured near to Val de la Mare. At St Aubin were 105 Black-headed Gulls , 27 Mediterranean Gulls and 10 Redshanks and at Petit Port were another 10 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Black - headed Gulls , a Whimbrel and 25 Curlews . Below : A view of the upper wing of the young Lapwing at the Scrape. MD
20.07.2026 A beautiful image of a Gannet , taken off the west coast recently by John Ovenden JO A fair to fine day in a moderate east-northeast wind. 452 Balearic Shearwaters passed L'Etacq in twenty minutes this morning, heading north-east, while seen from Corbiere were 578 Balearic Shearwaters (different birds, based on timing). Also seen passing Corbiere were 2 Roseate Terns , 15 Manx Shearwaters , 36 Gannets , 14 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 5 Cormorants , 3 Grey Herons from the West, 3 Kittiwakes , 28 Mediterranean Gulls , 27 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Whimbrel , a Curlew , a Redshank , a Dunlin , 9 distant waders , probably also Dunlin, a female Marsh Harrier and a Grey Seal tackling a large fish. At Petit Port were 23 Curlews , a Redshank , 96 Oystercatchers , 5 Little Egrets , 10 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Black-headed Gulls . Around the Scrape at St Ouen's Pond were 3 Green Sandpipers , the pair of Oystercatchers , no longer sitting, and 4 adult with one juvenile Lapwings . On St Ouen's Pond were 5 Grey Herons , 11 Tufted Ducks , 2 Teal , 2 Reed Warblers , c20 Starlings , 20 House Martins , 8 Sand Martins and 2 Swifts . Another 2 Swifts were seen at St Catherine's.
19.07.2026 A Balearic Shearwater off Jersey's West coast, with thanks to John Ovenden for the fine image. JO A clear day with some high cloud and a moderate east-northeast wind. A massive feeding party to the West of Le Pulec this morning included 3,500 Balearic Shearwaters and 60 Manx Shearwaters . Also seen there were 36 Curlews , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Cormorants , a Peregrine , 2 Buzzards and 3 Grey Seals . Counts from Corbiere involved 362 Balearic Shearwaters , 7 Manx Shearwaters , 73 Gannets , a Guillemot , 16 Cormorants , 18 Shags , a Kittiwake , 62 Mediterranean Gulls, 46 Black-headed Gulls , 54 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 70 Great Black-backed Gulls , 19 Sandwich Terns and 6 Swallows . At Petit Port were 53 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 13 Curlews and a Whimbrel . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were 2 Teal , 2 Lapwings with a juvenile, a pair of Oystercatcher and 3 Swifts and at Gorselands were 4 Dartford Warblers and a Peregrine . There were early signs of autumn migration at Grouville Marsh and seen from Dawn onwards were 3 Sedge Warblers caught and ringed among 50 Other birds of 13 species. These included fledged Reed Warblers , a Blackcap , Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler. Also there were 11 Swallows , 2 Bullfinches , 2 Marsh Harriers , a Greenshank and 2 Grey Herons flying over and a Water Rail calling. In Rue du Pont in Grouville were 84 Mediterranean Gulls , 147 Black-headed Gulls and 9 Great Black-backed Gulls . At La Rocque were 60 Sandwich Terns and 9 Little Egrets . Yesterday , 4 Swifts were seen over the War Tunnels. Below : and thanks again to John, for this distant image of a Great Skua , seen harassing gulls following a trawler yesterday.
18.07.2026 Mediterranean Gulls are returning to the Island in ever increasing numbers. This beautiful adult bird was at Petit Port yesterday MD A warm day with mainly sunny skies in a light west-northwest wind At St Ouen's Pond and mainly at the Scrape were 3 Teal , 3 adult Lapwings and one juvenile, 2 Oystercatchers , a Snipe , a Grey Heron , a Swift , 10+ Sand Martins and 10 Swallows . 2 Common Sandpipers were at Le Pulec. Morning passage past Corbiere was subdued today, but did include 516 Balearic Shearwaters, 8 Manx Shearwaters , a Fulmar , 37 Gannets , 7 Guillemots , a Common Scoter , 11 Cormorants , 6 Mediterranean Gulls , 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 26 Great Black-backed Gulls , also 2 Bottle - nosed Dolphins heading East close in. At Petit Port were 26 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Black-headed Gulls , a Common Sandpiper , 19 Curlews , and 2 Whimbrels . Swallows are being seen sitting on wires around the Island as they start to contemplate their next moves.14 Swallows were at La Rocque today, also 4 Sandwich Terns .
17.07.2026 Oystercatchers at play over Petit Port MD A warm and mainly clear day in a light northeast wind. At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape this morning were 3 Green Sandpipers , a Common Sandpiper , 2 Oystercatchers still sitting and 3 Lapwings plus the juvenile bird. In Le Braye Sandpits were 5 Common Sandpipers , 3 White Wagtails , a Yellow-legged Gull, 40 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , a Gadwall , and 5 Grey Herons . On St Ouen's Beach were 20 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 51 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 36 Great Black-backed Gulls . Seabirds passing Corbiere included 2,235 Balearic Shearwaters , 31 Manx Shearwaters , a Guillemot , 28 Gannets , 28 Shags , 4 Cormorants , 34 Mediterranean Gulls , 14 Black-head Gulls , 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 23 Great Black-backed Gulls , 7 Sandwich Terns and a Common Sandpiper , while in Petit Port were a Whimbrel , 18 Curlews , 44 Mediterranean Gull s, 3 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns . On the ground at Beauport were a Whitethroat , 2 Dartford Warblers with a juvenile, a male Stonechat with onr juvenile and overhead, 10 Swifts . This afternoon, over Red Houses were a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard being hassled by a Lesser Black-backed Gull .e On Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Teal , a Grey Heron , a Bullfinch and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and in Vallee des Vaux was a singing Firecrest . 9 Swifts were seen over Gorey Castle and at Icho Tower were a Curlew , a Whimbrel , a Redshank , a Turnstone and 4 Little Egrets . Evening update: In Grouville Bay this evening were 260 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Sandwich Terns and 12 Swifts . Yesterday evening, a Barn Owl was seen near Cowley Farm.
16.07.2026 A Green Sandpiper about to take a bath at the Scrape this morning. MD A warm and sultry day with high cloud this morning and isolated heavy showers this afternoon, winds lighter but still from the east-northeast. Yesterday's heavy showers had partly refilled the Scrape and new to there were a Green Sandpiper , possibly two, and a Common Sandpiper. Also around were 4 adult Lapwings , with the fast growing juvenile still present and 2 Oystercatchers . Feeding overhead were 20+ Swifts , 10 Sand Martins , 4 Swallows , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 5 Black-headed Gulls , a singing Skylark and a Clouded Yellow butterfly. Some early morning passage past Corbiere included 620 Balearic Shearwaters , 21 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 19 Gannets , a Kittiwake , a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . In Petit Port Bay were 42 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 21 Curlews , a Whimbrel , a Common Sandpiper and a Redshank . In St Ouen's Bay were 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 25 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , 185 Black-headed Gulls and 5 Mediterranean Gulls . At La Rocque were 160 Sandwich Terns , 75 Mediterranean Gulls , 240 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls and 2 Whimbrels . Among birds in care at the JSPCA at the moment are a juvenile Cuckoo , found near Sandybrook with a damaged wing, also a Peregrine in a similar condition.
15.07.2026 A Bar-tailed Godwit in Summer plumage on St Ouen's Beach yesterday, image courtesy of Jo Bramley A mainly dry day, despite the Island being surrounded by hefty showers, winds still in the east-northeast but a little les windy than yesterday The shearwaters still haven't deserted us and seen passing Corbiere this morning were 2,652 Balearic Shearwaters and 19 Manx Shearwaters . Also seen were 4 Common Scoters , 7 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 55 Gannets , 5 Little Egrets arriving from the southwest, 2 Grey Herons doing likewise, 2 Whimbrels , a Kittiwake , 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 22 Black-headed Gulls , 40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 33 Great Black-backed Gulls, 11 Sandwich Terns , 3 Swifts and a White Wagtail . In Petit Port Bay were 32 Mediterranean Gulls , 16 Curlews , a Redshank and 3 Little Egrets . On St Ouen's Beach this afternoon were an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Common Gulls , 15 Great Black-backed Gulls , 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns , a Common Sandpiper , 2 Turnstones and 37 Mediterranean Gulls . 10 Shags and 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were offshore. In Le Braye Sandpits were 2 Common Sandpipers , a Teal , 3 Lapwings , 2 Grey Herons , 6 Little Egrets , 5 Little Grebes , 15 Black-headed Gulls , a Stonechat , a Cetti's Warbler , 15 Sand Martins and 4 juvenile Oystercatchers . At St Aubin were 8 Redshanks . Evening update : On Les Ecrehous today were a Purple Sandpiper , 70 Sandwich Terns and a Willow Warble r.
14.07.2026 A juvenile Marsh Harrier about to be "Lapwinged" at the Scrape today MD After yesterday's rain, it was back to dry conditions, but brighter in a strong east-northeast wind. This morning's seawatch from Corbiere recorded 1,190 Balearic Shearwaters , 21 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , a Fulmar , 88 Gannets , 6 Cormorants , a Kittiwake , 25 Mediterranean Gulls , 34 Black-headed Gulls , 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Curlews , 3 Little Egrets arriving, a Swallow and a Sand Martin . In Petit Port Bay on the falling tide were 36 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Whimbrels , 24 Curlews , and a Redshank . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were 2 Dunlin , 2 Lapwings with their chick, 2 Oystercatchers , a juvenile Marsh Harrier , 12 Swifts , 6 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows . In St Ouen's Bay this afternoon were 93 Great Black-backed Gulls , 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 69 Black-headed Gulls , 17 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Dunlin , a Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Sandwich Terns . At St Aubin were 68 Black-headed Gulls including 3 juveniles, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls . On the East coast, 20 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Sandwich Terns and 2 Grey Herons were seen from Seymour Slip. On the Ecrehous today were c100 Sandwich Terns , 12 Sanderlings and a Grey Plover Further counts this evening included 34 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Common Gulls at Petit Port and 2 Common Gulls, 9 Mediterranean Gulls , 100 Black-headed Gulls and a Whimbrel at La Pulente.
13.07.2026 Teal arriving on the Scrape yesterday MD Near gale force winds from the East-northeast made for challenging seawatching, this morning, before a band of showers passed to leave a cloudy later afternoon. An amazing 5,525 Balearic Shearwaters moved north past Le Pulec this morning, a significant proportion of the World population of this red listed species. Also defying the conditions were 20 Manx Shearwaters , 28 Fulmars , 145 Gannets , 3 Guillemots , 23 Shags , 10 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes , 23 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , a Common Tern , 51 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , and a Little Egret from the west. Also seen were 17 Curlews , 2 Peregrines , a Marsh Harrier , a Raven , a Swift and 2 Grey Seals . 20 Mediterranean Gulls were at Petit Port. At St Ouen's Pond Scrape were 5 Teal , the juvenile Shelduck , a Grey Heron , 2 Lapwings with their chick and a Little Ringed Plover . On or over St Ouen's Pond were 4 Tufted Ducks , 2 Grey Herons , a Snipe , 9 Swifts , 10+ Swallows , 15 House Martins and 20 Starlings . Among the odd collection on the Sandpits were a Little Grebe , several Black-headed Gulls and 3 Barnacle Geese , also of dubious heritage. Seen over St Mary were a Sparrowhawk and 2 Choughs . Evening update: In Grouville Bay this eveniing were c 85 Mediterranean Gulls , a Common Gull , 120 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Sandwich Terns , a Common Tern, 6 Swallows and a Sand Martin and at Petit Port were 31 Mediterranean Gulls, a Common Gull , 15 Black-headed Gulls and 6 Curlews . Below : Thanks again to Jo Bramley, this time for her video clip of the Lapwing chick / juvenile, still on the Scrape. JB
12.07.2026 Thanks go to Jo Bramley for this nice image of Common Terns , facing into wind on St Ouen's Beach this morning. JB An overcast start to the day was replaced by clear skies, then high level cloud this afternoon, with winds increasingly strong and gusty from the east northeast, still warm at 28c. The seabird counts continued off the West coast this morning, with 4,986 Balearic Shearwaters seen heading north past Le Pulec in 45 minutes, this a record day count for Jersey of this red-listed species. Also seen from Le Pulec were 40+ Manx Shearwaters , 15 Fulmars , 20 Gannets , 12 Mediterranean Gulls and 1000+ mostly Herring Gulls . Counts from Corbiere were more sedate and included 557 Balearic Shearwaters ( some, but not all, liable to be in the Le Pulec count) Others passing Corbiere included 14 Manx Shearwaters , 4 Fulmars , 79 Gannets , 4 Guillemots, a Kittiwake , 21 Mediterranean Gulls, 19 Black-backed Gulls , a first winter Yellow-legged Gull, 92 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 50 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Curlew , 16 Swifts , 3 Linnets and a Raven . On St Ouen's Beach were 48 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 67 Black-headed Gulls . By Sands slip were 2 Common Terns (above), 57 Black-headed Gulls and a single Mediterranean Gull . On and around the Scrape were a Juvenile Shelduck , 6 Teal , a Little ringed Plover , 4 adult Lapwings and a single chick, 2 Oystercatchers , 4 Snipe , 10 Sand Martins , 7 Swifts , a House Martin and 3 Swallows, with a few Black - headed Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing overhead. Later this afternoon, a Honey Buzzard followed by a male Marsh Harrier flew over Red Houses heading East at low level, the former likely to be looking for an overnight roost somewhere close by. At Petit Port were 6 Mediterranean Gulls. In Grouville Bay this morning were 44 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Sandwich Terns , 28 Curlews and 2 Whimbrels , while at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay were 4 Curlews . At St Catherine's Woods and reservoir were 20 Swallows and House Martins . A good selection of local birds seen in St Mary included 2 Red-billed Choughs , a Buzzard , a Peregirne , a Blackcap , 5 Long-tailed Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker near the church. Evening update: Additional counts of Mediterranean Gulls today Included 83 at Seymour and another 97 at La Rocque.
