Jersey Birds

07.08.2025 Last weekend's Melodious Warbler at Le Pulec , image courtesy of John Ovenden. JO. A fair to cloudy day, feeling muggy at 23c in light winds. The Purple Heron was seen again, in flight and dropping into the fields behind St Ouen's Pond mid-morning. At the Pond from first light were 100 Swallows , 10 Sand Martins , 2 Green Sandpipers , 3 Grey Herons , a Swift , 8 Willow Warblers , just 3 Sedge Warblers , 20 Reed Warblers including fledged young, 10 Chiffchaffs , 5 Cetti's Warblers , 15 House Martins , 2 Ravens , 5 Marsh Harriers , 2 Shovelers and 2 Clouded Yellow butterflies. Seen from the Scrape Hide were were a Swift , 20+ House Martins , 40+ Swallows , a Kingfisher , a Snipe , a juvenile Marsh Harrier , a Grey Heron , 5 Chiffchaffs and a male Reed Bunting , and in the backfields were, 24 Great Black-backed Gulls and 115 Herring Gulls . In St Ouen's Bay were 4 Yellow-legged Gulls , 107 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 68 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Common Gull, 8 Mediterranean Gulls , 44 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns . In Rue a Don, Grouville, was a Cattle Egret and at St Catherine's were 5 Turnstones and 2 Sandwich Terns . A Swift was seen at La Blinerie A short seawatch from Corbiere, saw 65 Balearic Shearwaters , 9 Manx Shearwaters , 33 Gannets , 22 Shags , 4 Cormorants , 5 Sandwich Terns , 10 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Swallows , while in Petit Port Bay were 26 Curlews , 2 Whimbrels, 23 Great Black-backed Gulls , 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull , a Grey Heron and 18 Mediterranean Gulls . There were visits to the offshore reefs yesterday and high hundreds of Balearic Shearwaters were seen en route to Les Minquiers, but only a few Willow Warblers on the reef. Les Ecrehous fared better and seen there, were 358 Sandwich Terns , 90 Common Terns , 2 Whimbrels , 5 Redshanks , a Sanderling , a Dunlin , a Ringed Plover , 220 Turnstones , a juvenile Mediterranean Gull , 70 Great Black-backed Gulls , 7 Little Egrets , a Shelduck , 2 Willow Warblers and 15 Rock Pipits . Below ; Another view of the Melodious Warbler at Le Pulec. Image: JO

06.08.2025 Today's Purple Heron flying over the Scrape Hide this morning - a great image from John Ovenden. A fair day, feeling warm at 23c in light winds. Last night's Purple Heron was still at St Ouen's Pond this morning, being seen variously on both north and south sides of the Pond. Other birds around included 3 Green Sandpipers , 2 Swifts , a male Reed Bunting , a Hobby which took a Swallow , 120 Swallows , 8 Sand Martins , 15 House Martins , 30 Sedge Warblers , 40 Reed Warblers , 4 Willow Warblers , 10 Chiffchaffs , a Blackcap , a Whitethroat , 2 Stonechats , 4 Marsh Harriers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker . On the Scrape were 3 Green Sandpipers , presumably the same as above, a Teal , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 6 Chiffchaffs and a Clouded Yellow butterfly. A busy early morning at Corbiere saw a Great Shearwater , 185 Balearic Shearwaters , 42 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Fulmars , 53 Gannets , a flock of 14 Common Scoters , an adult Roseate Tern , 52 Mediterranean Gulls , 7 Black-headed Gulls , 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Grey Heron and 2 overflying Tree Pipits . 71 Black-headed Gulls were at La Pulente, and another 2 Common Scoters were seen from the newspaper boat off St Brelade's Bay as well as a raft of hundreds of shearwaters sp west of Grosnez. At La Rosiere was a Dartford Warbler feeding three young and at St Aubin were 6 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Little Egrets .

05.08.2025 Young Ravens at Noirmont. Image MD A fine day, becoming warm despite a fresh northwest wind. Migrants continue to appear around the Island. Today, at Noirmont, were a very early Mistle Thrush, a Redstart , a Whitethroat , 3 Willow Warblers , 2 Chiffchaffs and 40 Swallows , while at Beauport were a Wheatear , a Stonechat and 27 House Sparrows ! A further 2 Wheatears were seen near Kempt Tower. On the Scrape were a Grey Heron , the first returning Snipe , 2 Teal and overhead, a Swift . On Mont Matthieu were 3 Buzzards , a male Marsh Harrie r, a Firecrest , a Chiffchaff , 7 Goldfinches , 5 Choughs , 3 Swallows , a Blackcap , a Stock Dove , a Great Tit and a juvenile Blue Tit . There were good numbers of gulls passing Corbiere again today, with counts of 228 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 48 Great Black-backed Gulls, 622 Herring Gulls, 50 Mediterranean Gulls and 15 Black-headed Gulls . Also in good numbers were shearwaters, with 213 Balearic Shearwaters and 9 Manx Shearwaters seen. Other birds passing included 42 Shags , 9 Cormorants , 5 Fulmars and 66 Gannets . At Petit Port were 25 Mediterranean Gulls , 15 Curlews , 17 Black-headed Gulls , 72 Herring Gulls , 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, a single Lesser Black-backed Gull and 3 Little Egrets . 2 Grey Herons were at Rue de la Garenne in Trinity and in Vallee des Vaux were 2 Bullfinches , a Firecrest , a family of 4 Buzzards and 4 overflying Swifts . Evening update: late on, a Purple Heron was seen in flight over the Wetland Centre at St Ouen's Pond and 8 Sand Martins, just a single Swallow , 15 Reed Warblers plus a Sedge Warbler also seen. Back to Sunday ( 3rd August) when the Melodious Warbler was seen again, and photographed at Le Pulec.

04.08.2025 A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on St Ouen's Bay beach, with thanks to Jo Bramley for this nice image. JB A cloudy day with the threat of rain this evening, winds from the southwest. More early autumn migrants today, with a Cuckoo and a Hobby seen at St Ouen's Pond and Scrape. Also there, were a Teal , a juvenile Marsh Harrier , a Little Gull, a Grey Heron , 3 Sand Martins , 6 House Martins and 4 Swallows . At the Cutty Sark in St Ouen's Bay were a Wheatear , 6 Swallows and 3 Skylarks . On St Ouen's Beach were a Yellow-legged Gull , 49 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 5 Great Black-backed Gulls , 104 Herring Gulls , 35 Mediterranean Gulls and 120 Black-headed Gulls . Gulls were also moving over Corbiere this morning with 277 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 292 Herring Gulls , 67 Great Black-backed Gulls , 48 Mediterranean Gulls , and 15 Black-headed Gulls counted in four hours. Also passing Corbiere were 15 Balearic Shearwaters , 11 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Common Scoters , a Grey Heron and 95 Gannets . On the headland was a flock of 18 Choughs , 2 Ravens and a female Marsh Harrier . At Petit Port were 26 Mediterranean Gulls, and 4 Swifts were seen over Beauport. At Grouville Marsh this morning were 3 Garden Warblers , 15 Reed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers , 15 Chiffchaffs , 5 Blackcaps , 6 Cetti's Warblers , 3 Bullfinches , a Swift , a Kingfisher , a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 Cattle Egrets . Seen from Seymour were 47 Sandwich Terns , 8 Mediterranean Gulls , a Dunlin and a Peregrine . 3 Firecrests were seen near Le Couperon, with 2 Long-tailed Tits also there. Back to yesterday and 12 Swallows , 3 Sand Martins and 10 Linnets were at Sorel.

03.08.2025 Reed Warbler carrying food for young at the Scrape. Image: MD A cloudy day with a westerly wind. A few migrants at Noirmont this morning included a Redstart , 8 Willow Warblers , a Whitethroat , 6 Chiffchaffs and 120 Swallows . Gulls featured strongly again, with4 Yellow-legged Gulls , 146 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 94 Great Black-backed Gulls , 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 124 Black-backed Gulls and also 3 Sandwich Terns on St Ouen's Beach, while on Jubilee Hill were 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 12 Great Black-backed Gulls . In the Sandpits were 45 Tufted Ducks , 14 Little Egrets , 2 Grey Herons , 10 Little Egrets , a Mediterranean Gull , a Common Sandpiper and 2 Sand Martins . On the Scrape was a Willow Warbler and in the backfields at the Pond were 72 Great Black-backed Gulls and at Le Pulec was a pair of Stonechats . Counts from Corbiere early on included 3 Common Scoters , a Balearic Shearwater, a Fulmar , 143 Gannets , 54 Shags , 8 Cormorants , 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 10 Black-headed Gulls , 93 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 39 Great Black-backed Gulls , 6 Ravens and a female Marsh Harrier . At Petit Port were 27 Curlews , 2 Whimbrels , 2 Sandwich Terns, 20 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 7 Great Black-backed Gulls and 4 Little Egrets . At Le Hurel were 220 Black-headed Gulls , 7 Sandwich Terns and a Great Crested Grebe . In Oaklands Lane were 6 Swallows and at Le Marais Farm were 4 Swifts , 2 Willow Warblers and 3 very young Swallows .

02.08.2025 Shags appear to have had a very good breeding season this year, with good numbers of juveniles showing. This image shows most of a flock of 49, feeding at Corbiere today, nearly all of them young birds. Image: MD A fair to fine day in a fresh Northerly wind. Seen at Noirmont this morning were a Wheatear , 3 Willow Warblers , a Whitethroat , 35 Swallows , 2 Sand Martins, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls , a Grey Heron and 4 Little Egrets . On Les Ecrehous yesterday and today were a Roseate Tern , c 300 Sandwich Terns , still numbers of Common Terns, 2 Curlews ( just one today), 9 Little Egrets and 3 Sanderlings in flight. A busier day for birds moving offshore at Corbiere, saw counts of 75 Balearic Shearwaters , 91 Manx Shearwaters , 7 Fulmars , 53 Gannets , 123 Shags , 18 Cormorants , a Sandwich Tern , 36 Mediterranean Gulls , 30 Black-headed Gulls , 53 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 179 Herring Gulls including good numbers juveniles moving offshore with adults, 41 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Grey Heron , 2 Little Egrets , 2 Peregrines and a White Wagtail . 15 Curlews were at Petit Port. 230 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls , 113 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 146 Great Black-backed Gulls , 9 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Sanderlings were on the beach in St Ouen's Bay this afternoon. From Dawn this morning at St Ouen's Pond birds seen included a Green Sandpiper , 4 Swifts , 20 Sand Martins, 15 House Martins , 50 Swallows , 40 Reed Warblers, 25 Sedge Warblers, 10 Willow Warblers, 8 Cetti's Warblers , a male Reed Bunting in moult, a Stonechat , 4 Marsh Harriers , a Peregrine and a Raven . On Mont Matthieu were a Whitethroat , 2 Willow Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler , a Sand Martin , 20 House Martins , 30 Swallows and a Marsh Harrier . Evening update : A Melodious Warbler was at Le Pulec this afternoon. Back to yesterday evening at St Ouen's Pond when 2 Swifts , 100 Sand Martins , 25 Swallows , 15 House Martins, were present.

01.08.2025 Marsh Harrier at St Ouen's Pond. Image: MD A fine day with a cool northerly wind A Great White Egret was seen flying North over Mont les Vaux this morning, but not seen again (so far). Gulls are featuring strongly at the moment and on St Ouen's Beach were a juvenile and an immature Caspian Gull , 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 250 Black-headed Gulls , 93 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 113 Great Black-backed Gulls, also 3 Sanderlings and a Ringed Plove r, and on Jubilee Hill were another immature Caspian Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull , 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 51 Great Black-backed Gulls . At Petit Port were a Whimbrel , 18 Curlews , 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Little Egrets . Seen from Corbiere early on were 4 Balearic Shearwaters , 3 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Fulmars , 34 Gannets , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 26 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Peregrines and a pod of at least 15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . Around Kempt Tower and pools were a juvenile and a female Marsh Harrier together, a Whitethroat , 2 Reed Warblers , 4 Swallows , a Little Grebe and 15 Goldfinches . A single Willow Warbler was seen at Beaumont Marsh.

31.07.2025 One of yesterday's fall of Willow Warblers , a juvenile bird at Corbiere. Image: MD A fairly miserable day with some light rain this morning in generally overcast conditions, in a moderate west-northwest wind, but at least it was mild! On Les Ecrehous today, a Roseate Tern was still present, along with 90 Sandwich Terns , Common Terns still breeding and yesterday evening, 2 Willow Warblers . Today's counts at St Ouen's Pond included a Barn Owl, a juvenile Marsh Harrier with 3 adults, 35 Sedge Warblers , 20 Reed Warblers , 6 Willow Warblers , 15 House Martins , 20 Sand Martins, 30 Swallows , a Grey Heron , a Ringed Plover and a singing Skylark . At the Scrape were a Redshank , 15 Sand Martins , 6 Swallows and a juvenile Chaffinch while on Mont Matthieu were 3 juvenile White Wagtails . In the Sandpits as well as the usual plethora of Coots, were 3 Barnacle Geese , 10 Little Grebes , 30 Black-headed Gulls , 7 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 12 Little Egrets , 29 Tufted Duck , a male Pochard , 3 Oystercatchers , 14 Sand Martins and a Cetti's Warbler . On the beach in St Ouen's Bay were a Caspian Gull , 3 Yellow-legged Gulls , 134 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 81 Great Black-backed Gulls . Passing Corbiere early on were a Balearic Shearwater, a Fulmar , 30 Gannets , 6 Cormorants , 29 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 22 Great Black-backed Gulls , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls , a Curlew , a Grey Heron , 4 Ravens , a Swallow and a pod of 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . At St Aubin were 106 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 10 Redshanks and at La Rocque were 107 Sandwich Terns . 5 Ravens and a pair of Kestrels were at Les Platons.

30.07.2025 One of two Grasshopper Warblers, at St Ouen's Pond this morning, this one now wearing a Jersey ring! Image David Buxton A cloudy start to a fine day, becoming warm in a moderate north-west wind. As July heads towards it's close, definite signs of migration around the Island. At St Ouen's Pond from Dawn were 2 Grasshopper Warblers , 50 Sedge Warblers , 30 Reed Warblers , 8 Willow Warblers , a Blackcap , 5 Chiffchaffs , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Water Rail , 2 Grey Herons, a Swift , 20 Sand Martins , 20 House Martins , 25 Swallows , 3 Stonechats , a juvenile White Wagtail, 2 male Pochard , 30 Starlings , 20 Linnets , 3 Choughs , 2 Ravens , an overflying Ringed Plover and an impressive 18 Marsh Harriers out of a roost there. 5 Clouded yellow butterfies were also seen there, with another 2 seen in the Scrape area, but little else given the work carried out there today. Offshore, at Les Ecrehous were 300+ Sandwich Terns , a Roseate Tern , 50 Common Terns , 11 Little Egrets , 158 Turnstones , 20 Sanderlings , 50 Oystercatchers , a Grey Heron and a Willow Warbler . Passing Corbiere were 2 Common Scoters, 2 Fulmars , 35 Gannets , 29 Cormorants , 44 Shags , an immature Yellow-legged Gull , 4 Sandwich Terns , 76 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 39 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12 Mediterranean Gulls , 15 Black-headed Gulls , 165 Herring Gulls, 4 Swallows and also present were 5 Willow Warblers , a Peregrine and 2 Ravens . In Petit Port Bay were 23 Curlews , a Whimbrel and 10 Mediterranean Gulls while in St Ouen's Bay this afternoon were a juvenile Caspian Gull , 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , ( one wearing a Portuguese colour-ring), 78 Great Black-backed Gulls and 13 Mediterranean Gulls . The Redshank count at St Aubin had reached 10 today and by the car park at Egypte was a Dartford Warbler . Early on, a Barn Owl was seen near St Ouen's Manor. Below : The Scrape at St Ouen's Pond has received it's Summer cut, and it means that the water is now visible from the Scrape Hide again. Members of the Ornithology Section of the Societe Jersiaise joined the Rangers of the National Trust for Jersey to complete the tidy up in fine and warm conditions. Image: MD