11.01.2025 Ringed waders seem to be proliferating in the Island at the moment. This suitably named Ringed Plover, was pictured by Romano near Sands in St Ouen's Bay, having been ringed in Finland, and previously seen here in 2020, but probably present each Winter since RDC
A fair to fine day for a change, with a cold feel in an Easterly wind.
Another ringed wader seen today was an Avocet from the Netherlands, present briefly at the Scrape this morning ( but long enough to be photographed), it later arrived in Guernsey on a tour of the Islands. Other birds seen on the Scrape through today included 75 Lapwings, a Grey Heron, 4 Wigeon and a Shelduck. On St Ouen's Pond were a Bittern, 12 Shovelers, 21 Teal, 6 Wigeon, 6 Pochard, a Little Grebe, a Snipe and a Water Pipit. In the Sandpits were 27 Tufted Ducks, 6 Pochard, 5 Little Grebes and 12 Black-headed Gulls with 3 Buzzards overhead.
Passing St Catherine's / La Coupe this morning were 2 Great Northern Divers, 5 Black-throated Divers, 7 Red-throated Divers, 4 Common Scoters, 109 Gannets, 169 Razorbills, 16 Guillemots, 13 Brent Geese, 25 Kittiwakes, 24 Common Gulls and 28 Black-headed Gulls. A colour-ringed Curlew on the rocks at Fliquet was probably our regular winter visiting one from Poland. 6 Bottle-nosed Dolphins moved past there heading South.
Cattle Egrets featured well on the East of the Island and these included 43 at Le Roncier, 3 at La Sente, and 5 at Grouville Marsh. Also at La Sente were 3 Redshanks, a Lapwing, 3 Grey Herons, 10 Little Egrets, 150 Brent Geese, 2 Common Gulls, 17 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Bullfinches, 2 Pied Wagtails and 2 Song Thrushes.
In a flooded orchard field opposite La Rocque Church were 28 Redwings and 9 Fieldfares and at Le Roncier were a Common Gull, 5 Little Egrets, 40 Redwings and a pair of Stonechat.
In Beaumont Marsh were 85 Brent Geese, a Black Redstart, 2 Stonechats and 4 Shovelers and at Grands Vaux were 10 Tufted Ducks, a Grey Heron, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Cormorants. On the North coast, at Rozel, were 13 Brent Geese and at Ile Agois was a Sparrowhawk, while behind the energy from waste plant at La Collette was a Grey Seal.
Evening update: Seen at Grouville Marsh this evening were 30 Reed Buntings, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Grey Wagtails, 20 Redwings, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Woodcock, 4 Water Rails, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Ravens and 70 Jackdaws. At Croix au Maitre was another Barn Owl.
Below: This Ringed Plover, also pictured at Sands, was ringed on the Polish Coast. Image by RDC
