09.03.2025   A Shag ( or Green Cormorant as it is sometimes known) passing Grosnez   MD


A cloudy but mild day in a moderate easterly wind.


In St Ouen's Bay, starting at the Pond, were 4 Shovelers, 2 male Pochard, a Tufted Duck  and 2 Little Grebes while on the Scrape were 72 Brent Geese, 16 Teal, a pair of Shelduck, the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose, a Redshank, 6 Lapwings and 40 Starlings. On Kempt Tower pools were 15 Shovelers, 7 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Little Grebe singing, 7 Coot and a Moorhen, with 2 Marsh Harriers  overhead. At Le Pulec were 16 Curlews, 2 Cormorants, a Shag and 2 Little Egrets. In Petit Port Bay were a pair of Shelduck, a single Curlew, 7 Brent Geese and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.


Moving East past Grosnez were 158 Lesser Black-backed Gulls ( incuding several intermedius ), 170 Herring Gulls, a Common Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, a Kittiwake, 12 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Guillemots, a Razorbill, 54 Shags, 4 Cormorants, 2 Porpoises and 25+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Just a handful of passerines headed off  North including 3 Meadow Pipits, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Linnets and also 17 Crows.


At La Sente this morning were 41 Cattle Egrets, 16 Little Egrets,  16 Redshanks, a Greenshank, a pair of Shelduck, 2 White Wagtails and 3 Pied Wagtails. Around or flying over La Rocque were 100+ Brent Geese, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Kingfisher. and at Grouville Marsh were 3 Common Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. At Webber's Lane were 37 Brent Geese and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.


In Vallee des Vaux were 2 Bullfinches, 4 Greenfinches, a singing Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a singing "sooty-nosed" Chiffchaff and a Sparrowhawk, while in Le Petit Pre, opposite Trinity School, were 2 Firecrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.


A Dartford Warbler  was singing at Noirmont this morning, while at Ouaisne were 12 Chiffchaffs including "sooty-nosed" birds, a Firecrest, a Snipe and a Raven. At Beaumont Marsh were 240 Brent Geese, a Teal, 11 Moorhens,  2 Pied Wagtails and a Firecrest, and off of Gorselands were a Peregrine and a Gannet.


Evening update: Extras at La Rocque included 41 Curlews, 123 Oystercatchers, 11 Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, 97 Grey Plovers, 63 Turnstones, 30 Sanderlings, 53 Dunlin, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 509 Brent Geese  and 9 Ringed Plovers with another 111 Brent Geese at Seymour.


A Crossbill flew over Mont les Vaux this afternoon and 5 Woodcock were over Vallee des Vaux this evening at Dusk. In St Peter's Valley near the Battle of Flowers shed were 2 Bullfinches, a Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, a Firecrest and a Goldcrest and in St Aubin's Harbour were 10 Redshanks and 3 Grey Plovers. Seen from Grosnez late afternoon were 4 Teal offshore, and around the castle, 30 Meadow Pipits. A Firecrest was singing at West Hill in St Helier. At Grands Vaux reservoir were 8 Tufted Duck. In the fields opposite La Sente this afternoon were 9 Cattle Egrets  and at La Sente were 25 Little Egrets. Another 6 Little Egrets were on Rue du Pont.


Yesterday evening, 30 Dunlin, 12 Redshanks and 3 Grey Plovers  were feeding at Gorey Harbour.


Below: A Harbour Porpoise  below Grosnez this morning   MD



by Romano da Costa 22 March 2026
22.03.2026 The first Willow Warbler of the year arrived today, the exact same date as 2025. Here's a photo I took earlier RdC Seen at La Sente today were 3 Little Ringed Plover , 19 Redshank , 6 Greenshank , 2 Shelduck , 5 Black-headed Gull , 2 Common Gull , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 6 Little Egret and 18 Cattle Egret . Around St Ouen's Pond were the White-fronted Goose , 20 Teal , a Wigeon , a Shelduck , 2 Stonechat , a Reed Bunting and 17 White Wagtail next to Sands while in the Sandpits were 5 Shelduck and at Petit Port were 105 Oystercatcher and 6 Brent Geese . A lone Swallow was at Noirmont. On the north coast a Willow Warbler , 2 White Wagtail and 4 Song Thrush were at Egypt and at Plemont were a Puffin and 28 Razorbill . 44 Pale-bellied Brent Geese , 6 Redshank and 4 Black-headed Gull were at St Aubin and 23 Brent Geese were at Beaumont Marsh. On Grands Vaux were 2 Teal and 10 Tufted Duck while in the grounds of the Zoo were a Water Rail , 4 Bullfinch , 5 Greenfinch , 3 Chiffchaff , 3 Blackcap , 2 Firecrest and 2 Tufted Duck . In Vallee des Vaux were 3 Chiffchaff .
by Romano da Costa 21 March 2026
21.03.2026 A male Stonechat singing away next to a field of Daffodils in St Ouen's Bay RdC Seen at La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 21 Redshank , 7 Greenshank , 2 Little Ringed Plover , 12 Little Egret , 11 Cattle Egret , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 3 Black-headed Gull , 2 Common Gull and a Cetti's Warbler . Up at Sorel were 7 Song Thrush , 5 Blackbird , 2 Stonechat , 3 Dartford Warbler , 4 Chiffchaff , 2 Raven and 2 Peregrine while flying over were 114 Meadow Pipit , 13 Linnet and 2 Chaffinch . Around St Ouen's Pond were 28 Shoveler , 9 Teal , 2 Tufted Duck , 2 Black-headed Gull , a Wheatear and 2 Stonechat while at Kempt Tower were 3 Tufted Duck , 2 Little Grebe and a Water Rail . At Beaumont Marsh were 49 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 10 Brent Geese . Elsewhere, 2 Wheatear were at Corbiere, a Dartford Warbler and 3 Chiffchaff were at Gorselands, 9 Chiffchaff were at Noirmont, 4 Buzzard over East Riding and 2 Redwing were in Vallee des Vaux.
by Romano da Costa 20 March 2026
20.03.2026 A distant record shot of today's Little Ringed Plovers , thanks to Alan Gicquel. At La Sente today were 2 Little Ringed Plover , 2 Shelduck , 41 Brent Geese , 21 Little Egret , 26 Cattle Egret , 25 Redshank , 7 Greenshank , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 3 Common Gull, a Black-headed Gull and 5 Song Thrush. Around St Ouen's Pond were 37 Teal , 11 Brent Geese , a Wigeon , 34 Shoveler , 6 Tufted Duck , the White-fronted Goose , 18 Sand Martin , a Swallow , a Water Pipit , 6 Song Thrush , 5 Lapwing , 3 Snipe , 2 Oystercatcher , 5 Wheatear , 4 Skylark and a Reed Bunting while at Kempt Tower were 3 Little Grebe , 3 Tufted Duck and 2 Wheatear . Near Jersey Pearl were 7 Wheatear , a pale Buzzard was over St Ouen's Church and 5 Shoveler and a Wheatear were on Mont Matthieu. At Petit Port were 103 Oystercatcher , a Common Gull and 7 Brent Geese . Beaumont Marsh held 57 Pale-bellied Brent Geese , 12 Brent Geese , 7 Snipe , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Firecrest while at Noirmont were a Dartford Warbler , 3 Chiffchaff and a Swallow . In Vallee des Vaux were a Grey Wagtail , a Firecrest and a Blackcap .
by Romano da Costa 19 March 2026
19.03.2026 The first Swallow of the year was seen flying through St Ouen's Bay this afternoon. No photo of today's so here's one I took earlier RdC Seen at St Ouen's Pond were the White-fronted Goose , a Sand Martin , 4 Shelduck , a Wigeon , 29 Shoveler , 18 Teal , 6 Brent Geese , 3 Lapwing , 2 Skylark , a Stonechat and a Wheatear . At Corbiere were 24 Purple Sandpiper and a Turnstone while at Beaumont Marsh were 30 Brent Geese and at First Tower was a Black-headed Gull . Up at Le Catillon were 7 Common Gull and 12 Black-headed Gull while at Grouville Marsh were a Siskin , 9 Snipe and 2 Raven . At La Sente were 104 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 22 Redshank , a Greenshank , 26 Little Egret and 6 Cattle Egret and at Grands Vaux were 2 Teal .
by Romano da Costa 18 March 2026
18.03.2026 A female Marsh Harrier at St Ouen's Pond MD Seen around St Ouen's Pond were the White-fronted Goose , 14 Teal , 2 Lapwing , 2 Shelduck , a Pochard , 6 Tufted Duck and 24 Shoveler while at Kempt Tower were a Little Grebe , 6 Tufted Duck , 3 Coot , a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff . Up at Sorel were 12 Song Thrush , 2 Stonechat , 3 Chiffchaff , a Dartford Warbler , 12 Raven , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 4 Linnet , 14 Meadow Pipit and a Peregrine with 10 Gannet offshore. Les Landes were 2 Wheatear , 30 Linnet , 4 Stonechat , 20 Raven and a Peregrine with a pair of Stonechat at Le Pulec. At La Sente were 24 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 23 Redshank , 6 Greenshank, 19 Cattle Egret , 11 Little Egret , 2 Common Gull and 6 Pied Wagtail . Beaumont Marsh held 66 Brent Geese which included 35 Pale-bellied , a Little Egret and 3 Chough . In Vallee des Vaux were a Grey Wagtail , 2 Blackcap , 2 Bullfinch and a singing Greenfinch .
by Romano da Costa 17 March 2026
17.03.2026 A Lapwing at St Ouen's Pond MD Seen at St Ouen's Pond were 20 Sand Martin , a Water Pipit , 34 Shoveler , a Pochard , a Wigeon , 14 Teal , 4 Lapwing , a Snipe , a Water Rail and a singing Reed Bunting while at Kempt Tower were 3 Little Grebe , 11 Tufted Duck , 4 Stonechat , 3 Chough and 2 Wheatear with 2 more Wheatear on the Blanches Banques and another 2 at Grosnez. On Mont Matthieu were 11 Shoveler and 2 Tufted Duck . At La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler , 8 Little Egret and 2 Pied Wagtail while 16 Cattle Egret were near the Seymour Inn and a Grey Heron was at Handois. Yesterday evening 182 Alba Wagtail were roosting in the Marina.
by Romano da Costa 16 March 2026
16.03.2026 Gull numbers are declining rapidly now as they head off back to Europe for the breeding season, this Common Gull had taken a break in St Ouen's Bay, photo thanks to Stuart Matthews. Seen at St Ouen's Pond were 7 Wigeon , 40 Shoveler , 4 Tufted Duck , 23 Teal , a Snipe , a Little Grebe , 2 Stonechat and a Water Pipit while in the Sandpits were 25 Tufted Duck . At La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler , 20 Little Egret , 7 Common Gull , 6 Black-headed Gull , 22 Redshank , 6 Greenshank , 300 Brent Geese , 6 White Wagtail , 3 Pied Wagtail and 24 Cattle Egret near the Seymour Inn. A pair of Shelduck were at Pontac, likely to be the same as the La Sente pair. In Grouville Bay were 567 Brent Geese , 143 Oystercatcher , 63 Grey Plover , 93 Sanderling , 35 Dunlin , 12 Curlew , a Great Crested Grebe , 4 Red-breasted Merganser , 4 Common Gull and 4 Black-headed Gull . Up at Le Catillon were 2 Common Gull , 3 Black-headed Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Cattle Egret while at Grands Vaux were 5 Black-headed Gull , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Tufted Duck . Beaumont Marsh held 26 Brent Geese , 43 Pale-bellied Brent Geese , 20 Meadow Pipit and a Little Egret . Up at Sorel were 2 Wheatear , 3 Buzzard were over Jardin D'Olivet and a Kingfisher was in the town Marina.
by Romano da Costa 15 March 2026
15.03.2026 After all the loses in recent weeks, it was great news to see a few of our breeding Puffins back along the North coast this morning RdC Seen from Plemont this morning were 3 Puffin and 29 Razorbill . On the Scrape were the White-fronted Goose , 13 Teal , 6 Lapwing and 2 Skylark with 2 Shelduck and 8 Little Egret at Le Pulec. In Grouville Bay were a Knot , 11 Grey Plover , 13 Dunlin , 9 Sanderling , 11 Curlew and 73 Brent Geese and at La Rocque on the incoming tide were 6 Greenshank , 4 Redshank , 17 Grey Plover , 11 Curlew , 15 Dunlin , 35 Sanderling , 63 Oystercatcher , 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 120 Brent Geese . At La Sente shortly after were 26 Little Egret , 14 Cattle Egret , 11 Black-headed Gull , 2 Common Gull , 11 Redshank , 4 Greenshank , 2 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck and 13 Pied Wagtail . At Ouaisne were 3 Snipe , 2 Teal , a Redwing , 2 Dartford Warbler , 5 Chiffchaff and 12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese while at Beaumont Marsh were 57 Brent Geese , 12 Snipe , 2 Little Egret , 3 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest with 39 Brent Geese and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at West Park. Elsewhere, a Stonechat was at Noirmont, a Peregrine was on Elizabeth Castle and at Grands Vaux were 10 Tufted Duck , a Teal , 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Raven . Below, a short video of today's Knot feeding in Grouville Bay, thanks to Jo Bramley.
by Romano da Costa 14 March 2026
14.03.2026 A pair of Dutch colour-ringed Brent Geese that have spent the winter at La Rocque RdC Seen at Beaumont Marsh were 25 Brent Geese , 2 Little Egret and a Grey Heron with another 24 Brent Geese and 2 Chough in St Aubins Bay. On the Scrape were the White-fronted Goose and 23 Teal while a Wheatear was at Les Landes and 2 Peregrine at Grosnez. 10 Little Egret were at Le Pulec and at Petit Port were a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 6 Curlew and 7 Brent Geese . At La Sente were 4 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 21 Cattle Egret , 24 Little Egret , 37 Black-headed Gull , a Common Gull , 300 Brent Geese and 8 Pied Wagtail while at La Rocque were a Black-necked Grebe , a Common Gull , 26 Curlew , 2 Ringed Plover , 5 Greenshank and a Black Redstart . 26 Black-headed Gull and 2 Brent Geese were at St Catherine's and at Grouville Marsh were a Reed Bunting , 5 Cetti's Warbler , 3 Chiffchaff , 10 Water Rail , 4 Snipe , 2 Grey Heron , 78 Jackdaw and 95 Carrion Crow .
by Romano da Costa 13 March 2026
13.03.2026 A male Red-breasted Merganser at La Rocque recently RdC At La Sente this morning were 4 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 5 Greenshank , 23 Redshank , 18 Little Egret , 6 Black-headed Gull , a Common Gull and 18 Pied Wagtail while near the Seymour Inn were 25 Cattle Egret and at Le Hurel 112 Oystercatcher. 38 Black-headed Gull were at Grouville Marsh. Seen at Petit Port were 9 Curlew , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull , a Red-breasted Merganser , 2 Shelduck and 9 Brent Geese with 15 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in St Brelades Bay and at St Ouens Pond were 28 Shoveler and a Snipe and on the Scrape 32 Brent Geese , 5 Lapwing , 12 Teal and a Water Rail . 44 Brent Geese were at Beaumont Marsh and 19 Black-headed Gull were at the Aeroclub.
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