07.03.2025  Lapwings displaying at the Scrape     MD


A more changeable day than of late, with some light showers early on, but sunshine later. Winds were southeast and strong at times.


A Black-tailed Godwit visited La Sente this afternoon, but not much was changing today generally. Also at La Sente were 2 Shelducks, 400 Brent Geese, 28 Cattle Egrets, 27 Little Egrets, 41 Redshanks and 28 alba Wagtails. Around La Rocque were 57 Oystercatchers including the two Iclandic ringed birds, 89 Grey Plovers, 230 Sanderlings, 145 Dunlin, 76 Turnstones and 48 Curlews. At Causie Lane were 5 White Wagtails and 4 Pied Wagtails, and at Havre des Pas were 12 Brent Geese and a Little Egret.


A male Black Redstart was new at Crabbe, but no reports so far today on the Hen Harriers there.


Seen off Corbiere early morning were a Black-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoters, a Shelduck, 7 Guillemots, 18 Razorbills, 10 Gannets, a Fulmar, 9 Cormorants, a Common Gull, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Peregrines and a pod of c12 Bottle-nosed Dolphins. In Petit Port Bay were 21 Brent Geese, 2 Shelducks and 4 Little Egrets.


Seen from the Wetlands Centre at St Ouen's Pond this morning were 31 Shovelers, a male Pochard, 3 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Grebes, just 2 Snipe and 13 Coot. On the Scrape were 120 Brent Geese, 31 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 6 very active Lapwings, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Snipe and a Water Rail.


At Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Teal, 9 Tufted Duck, a Grey Heron and 3 Chiffchaffs and in Queen's Valley were 2 Firecrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest. At Gorey were 8 Pied Wagtails, 5 White Wagtails, 5 Great Crested Grebes and 28 Black-headed Gulls.  8 Woodcock flew over Vallee des Vaux at Dusk.


Extras for yesterday evening were 50 Dunlin at La Haule and 2 more Redwings plus 11 Woodcock in Vallee des Vaux at Dusk.

by Michael Dryden 6 May 2026
06.05.2026 The Green Sandpiper at St Ouen's Pond Scrape this morning. MD A mainly cloudy to overcast day, dry but feeling cold in a moderate northeasterly wind. In Grouville Marsh this morning were a Cuckoo , 8 Sedge Warblers , 15 Reed Warblers , 10 Chiffchaffs , one wearing a Spanish ring, and a Grey Heron . The Hoopoe was still near la Route des Augerez and was heard singing at one point, and a Puffin was seen at Plemont. On the Scrape were a Green Sandpiper , 4 Lapwings , the pair of Oystercatcher , a pair of Shelduck , a male Shoveler , 2 Chough , and 2 singing Whitethroats plus good numbers of Reed Warblers , while flying over were a Black-headed Gull , 5 Yellow Wagtails , 50+ Swallows , 25 Sand Martins , 8 Swifts and a Peregrine with prey, probably a pigeon sp. At the Wetland Centre were a (the?) Green Sandpiper and 3 Stonechats . At the Kempt Tower pools were 2 Tufted Duck , 10+ Reed Warblers, 2 Swifts , and a Blackcap . At Noirmont were a Wheatear , 2 singing Whitethroats and 2 Dartford Warblers and a quiet morning at Corbiere saw just 4 Guillemots , a Fulmar , another pair of Shelduck , 16 Gannets , and 4 Cormorants plus 15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins , in one hour. A third pair of Shelduck , a Grey Heron and a Curlew were in Petit Port Bay. Extra reports from yesterday included a Hobby over Mont les Vaux, 3 Curlews at Lady's Rock, the Hoopoe at Route des Augerez, and a Blackcap , a Chiffchaff and a Greenfinch at Jardin d'Olivet. On Portelet Common were a Redstart , a Goldcrest , a Mistle Thrush and 40 Crows near to La Cotte.
by Michael Dryden 5 May 2026
05.05.2026 It's that time of year! A male Stonechat feeding a hungry mouth at the Wetland Centre this morning MD. Rain lurked South and East of the Island all day, but very little actually fell in Jersey. Cloudy conditions made it a cold-feeling day in a moderate northeast wind. Passing Grosnez in the early overcast were a Great Northern Diver , 5 Gannets , 18 Fulmars , 4 Cormorants , 65 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 35 Great Black-backed Gulls , 19 Swifts , 14 Swallows , 4 Linnets , 2 Peregrines , 3 Buzzards and a Raven . At Le Pulec were a Whimbrel a pair of Shelduck and 3 Little Egrets . In St Ouen's Bay, at Kempt Tower ponds, were a drake Shoveler , 2 pairs of Tufted Duck , 2 singing Little Grebes , and a singing Sedge Warbler . On Les Mielles de Morville were 2 singing Whitethroats and a Cetti's Warbler . At St Ouen's Pond were 5 Swifts , 100+ Swallows , 20 Sand Martins , 10 House Martins , 2 male Shovelers , 4 Tufted Ducks , several singing Reed Warblers and a family of 4 Stonechat . A Green Sandpiper , a pair of Shelduck , a male Shoveler , Oystercatchers on eggs, a Lapwing and 3 Choughs .
by Michael Dryden 4 May 2026
04.05.2025 . This fine Melodious Warbler was ringed and released at Grouville Marsh this morning, image courtesy of David Buxton A fair to cloudy day in a light northerly wind, Also at Grouville Marsh this morning was a Garden Warbler, and 2 Swifts were over Gorey Village and a further 3 Swifts were at Elizabeth Harbour with 110 Oystercatchers at Elizabeth Castle. Odds and ends seen passing Corbiere included 2 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 3 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , a flock of 10 Black-headed Gulls , 33 Shags , 43 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Marsh Harrier , a Curlew , 5 Swallows and a Grey Seal , with a Sedge Warbler in song there near the lower car park. In Petit Port Bay were two pairs of Shelduck at war with each other, 5 Whimbrels and a Grey Heron . On La Rosiere common were 42 Crows , 8 Jackdaws , a Raven , 2 Swallows and 2 Whitethroats , also a Painted Lady butterfly. Around St Ouen's Pond were a pair of Shelduck , 3 Grey Herons - one a possible juvenile bird, 4 Shoveler , 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Swifts , a Water Pipit , a Stonechat , and Reed Warblers and on the Scrape were a pair of Shelduck , 2 Whimbrels , 4 Lapwings and 2 Oystercatchers . At Kempt Tower pools were 2 Little Grebes, a Stonechat , a Greenfinch , a Reed Warble r and a Chiffchaff. Around Noirmont were a Whitethroat , a Dartford Warbler , and a Wheatear . 2 Swallowtail butterflies were on Portelet Common. At Plemont were 5 Razorbills , 13 Fulmars , 2 Ravens , 3 Swallows and c20 Linnets feeding. In St Catherine's Woods were a Redstart , a Song Thrush , a Blackcap , a Firecrest , a Greenfinch , a Swallow and a further 2 Painted Ladies .
3 May 2026
03.05.2026 A Purple Sandpiper roosting at Corbiere. RdC Mainly cloudy this morning, but sunny this afternoon, light westerly winds. A ringing session early this morning at St Ouen's Pond found 20 Sedge and 25 Reed Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears, 30 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins, 8 House Martins, 2 Grey Herons, a drake Wigeon, 2 drake Shovelers and 6 Tufted Ducks. Late morning 6 Buzzards were overhead and a Common Sandpiper was seen. At the Scrape, a Golden Plover, 5 Whimbrels, a pair of Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings and a pair of Shelduck. A Common Sandpiper was at Le Pulec. At Petit Port, 3 Whimbrels and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. Roosting at Corbiere were 8 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Turnstones. At Noirmont this morning, a Cuckoo, 2 male Whitethroats holding territory, and a Swallowtail Butterfly. On the north coast at Plemont, 3 Puffins, 6 Razorbills, 5 Swifts, 120 Swallows over and a Peregrine Falcon. A Cettis's Warbler was singing on Mont Matthieu and at Handois 4 Tufted Ducks and a singing Firecrest. Yesterday evening at St Ouen's Pond, 2 Water Rails, a Wheatear and a singing Reed Bunting.
by Romano da Costa 2 May 2026
02.05.2026 A handsome Lesser Black-backed Gull on the southwest coast RdC Seen on the Scrape this morning were a Golden Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 4 Swift, 11 Swallow, a Whinchat and 3 Reed Warbler. At Le Pulec were a Shelduck, 2 Little Egret and 28 Oystercatcher with 37 Swallow at L'Etacq and 15 Swallow near Grosnez. Up at Plemont were 2 Razorbill, a Peregrine, 5 Swift, 17 Swallow, 8 Fulmar and 2 Raven while at Sorel were 2 Whitethroat, 25 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin and 2 Marsh Harrier. Seen at Grouville Marsh were 6 Sedge Warbler, 9 Reed Warbler, 3 bullfinch, 4 House Martin and 8 Swallow.
by Michael Dryden 1 May 2026
01.05.2026 Garden Warblers are being seen moving through the Island now with the first having been seen and in song in Samares Manor grounds on the 27th April. Image: MD A Hoopoe was a welcome visitor to a garden off Route des Augerez in St Peter and 2 Yellow Wagtails were in a horsefield at Grantez. Reported from the north side of St Ouen's Pond from first light were 5 Sedge Warblers , 15 Reed Warblers , 2 Blackcaps , a singing Reed Bunting , a Wheatear , a Shoveler and a Peregrine , also 15 Painted Lady butterflies. On and around the Scrape were 3 Shelduck , a pair of Coot with 4 young, a Black-headed Gull , a Caspian Gull , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 6 Whimbrels , 2 Wheatears , 3 Swallows , a male Shoveler , a pair of Oystercatcher , a Sedge Warbler , several Reed Warblers , a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier which took a Lapwing chick. On the Sand dunes were 2 Garden Warblers and in the Sandpits were good numbers of Sand Martins , a Shelduck , 6 Oystercatchers and an alba Wagtail . At Le Pulec were 4 Little Egrets and 3 Cormorants . In Grouville Bay were 2 Shelduck and 3 Whitethroats were singing at Sorel. A further 2 Whitethroats were at Noirmont also a Chiffchaff and Greenfinch , plus another 16 Painted Ladies . 5 Buzzards were seen in flight over Mont Felard in St Lawrence. One extra for yesterday was a Greenland Wheatear on Grouville Common
30 April 2026
30.04.2026 female Shelduck at the Scrape today. A decreasing easterly wind and feeling warm this afternoon. Waders in St Ouen's Bay this morning included, 33 Ringed Plovers, 15 Sanderling and 5 Dunlin at Le Port. Nine Whimbrels flew into the Scrape, also seen there was a drake Shoveler, a Shelduck, 2 Lapwings with 2 chicks, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears. At Les Landes 5 Wheatears and a pair of Stonechats. North of the Airport a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Sparrowhawk and singing Skylarks. Up at Victoria Tower 5 Swifts and a Sparrowhawk. In Grouville Bay 6 Bar-tailed Godwits. Yesterday evening a Teal was still on the Scrape and 4 Common Sandpipers were at Sands Slip, St Ouen's Bay.
29 April 2026
29.04.2026. A nice image of a Rock Pipit at La Corbiere. RdC A strong easterly wind, cloudy with a few brighter spells. The weather kept passerine sightings to a minimum, but there were a few waders around today. In Grouville Bay a Whimbrel, 2 Sanderlings and a Common Sandpiper. In St Ouen's Bay at Sands Slip, 123 Bar-tailed Godwits flew in from the north, 20 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin and 2 Sanderlings. At Le Braye Sandpit, 2 Grey Herons, 10Swifts, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, c80 Sand Martins, and a Cetti's Warbler. Four Whimbrels landed on Les Mielles Golf Course. Over St Ouen's Pond at least 50 House Martins and 10 Swifts.
28 April 2026
28.04.2026 A Peregrine at Les Landes taken by Romano da Costa. Feeling cooler today, cloudy in a fresh north-east wind, sunny this afternoon. At Grouville Marsh and surrounding areas this morning, 7 singing Reed Warblers, a pair of Bullfinch, a grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 7 Buzzards and a few Swallows passing through. At Grands Vaux Reservoir, a Grey Heron and 40 Swallows. Up at Victoria Tower, a Peregrine and 3 Swifts. In the west of the Island, starting at La Corbiere. Little was offshore, but a local Shelduck flew past, plus a Wheatear. Near La Pulente a pair of Stonechats. In Le Braye Sandpit, 14 Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, 16 Coot, 26 Herring Gulls, 5 Swallows, c80 Sand Martins and a pair of Marsh Harriers. Opposite the GAP hide was a juvenile Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler. Four Swifts were over Le Braye Slip. A male Stonechat was on Beauport Common and at Gorselands, 2 Whitethroats and a Dartford Warbler. At St Ouen's Pond c100 mixed hirundines and 3 Swifts. On the Scrape a pair of Shelduck. A single Wheatear was at Les Laveurs. Up at Les Landes a pair of Marsh Harriers, 2 Wheatears and a Stonechat. An interesting report yesterday of a possible Crossbill at the Corbiere end of the Railway Walk, one to look out for! Also on Les Ecrehous a single Wheatear.
27 April 2026
27.04.2026 A Dartford Warbler, taken by Romano. Another sunny day with a light north-east wind. At Grouville Marsh early this morning, 12 Sedge Warblers, including a French ringed bird, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Firecrests, 8 Blackcaps, a Snipe, one Sparrowhawk, 8 Swallows, and at 6-30 a Cuckoo was calling in the direction Grouville Golf Course, but was not heard again. A few waders were noted in Grouville Bay, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrels, 4 Curlew, 8 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Brent Geese. A walk through St Catherine's Woods on a beautiful morning found a nice selection of birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Song Thrush, Garden Warbler (the first this spring), Firecrests, at least 6 Blackcaps and a Buzzard. At Gorselands this morning were 3 Dartford Warblers and 2 singing Whitethroats. At St Ouen's Pond 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Snipe, the usual Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard and on the Scrape 2 Whimbrels and a Peregrine.
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