11.04.2024   Skylark on the southwest coast   MD


An overcast and sometimes misty morning, becoming sunny this afternoon in light southwest winds.


Off La Rocque and in Grouville Bay on this morning's rising  tide were 3 Great Northern Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 128 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelducks, 2 Guillemots, 12  Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Common Scoters, 3 Sandwich Terns, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Grey Plovers, a Redshank, 4 Curlews, a Whimbrel, 29 Turnstones, a Peregrine, a Yellow Wagtail and a White Wagtail. At La Sente through the morning, were a Ruff, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 22 Brent Geese, 2 Shelduck, 5 Cattle Egrets, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 18 Yellow Wagtails, 18 White Wagtails, 4 Swallows, 4 House Martins, a Willow Warbler, a Jay and 2 Ravens.


An Iberian Wagtail was with three Yellow Wagtails by the Wetland Centre this morning, the third year running that this race has appeared at St Ouen's Pond. Also seen from the Wetland centre, were 7 Shelduck, 16 Shovelers, a pair of Oystercatchers, a Water Pipit, 3 Reed Warblers and a Stonechat and 2 Choughs, 2 Reed Warblers and a Willow Warbler were seen to the North of the Pond. A White-fronted Goose and 15 Teal were on the Scrape, while at Kempt Tower were another 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, a pair of Stonechats and an overflying Common Sandpiper.


At Les Landes were 3 Stonechats, a pair of Marsh Harriers and good numbers of Meadow Pipits and at the Airport were a Skylark and a Willow Warbler 20 Purple Sandpipers were at Corbiere.  Along the North coast, at Sorel early on were 2 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail, a Swallow, 62 Linnets, 14 Goldfinches, 9 Meadow Pipits and 5 Chiffchaffs.


In St Aubin's Bay, 108 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese were at the Gunsite, 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin and 5 dark-bellied Brent plus a Wheatear were at Beaumont Marsh.


Widespread scattered reports for today include a Willow Warbler  and a Swallow in Mourier Valley,  another Willow Warbler at Grands Vaux, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Choughs over Midvale Road in St Helier and a pale-phase Buzzard at La Moye.


by Michael Dryden 30 Oct, 2024
30.10.2024 The Snow Bunting was present near Fort Henry in Grouville Bay again today, this fine image was taken by Romano
by Michael Dryden 29 Oct, 2024
29.10.2024 This beautiful pale-phase Buzzard was pictured have a time out at Noirmont in this morning's mizzle MD
by Michael Dryden 28 Oct, 2024
28.10.2024 A very welcome guest which becomes scarcer year on year, this lovely image of a Snow Bunting was taken by Alan Gicquel near to Fort Henry in Grouville Bay. 
by Michael Dryden 27 Oct, 2024
27.10.2024 A very smart looking Blackbird at Noirmont MD
by Michael Dryden 26 Oct, 2024
26.102024 A few of today's many Woodpigeons passing over Noirmont. MD
by Michael Dryden 25 Oct, 2024
25.10.2024 Thanks to Romano for this nearly in your face image of yesterday's Spoonbill passing over Victoria Tower A showery morning, becoming dry but cloudy in a south-southwest wind. It was another busy start to the day at Victoria Tower, albeit less manic than yesterday. Seen in the first two hours of daylight were 11 Hawfinches , 1,046 Redwings , 83 Song Thrushes, 39 Blackbirds , 15 Skylarks , 979 Woodpigeons , 12 Swallows , 493 Chaffinches , a Brambling , 28 Goldfinches and 4 Siskins . Noirmont's totals over four hours included 5,780 Woodpigeons , 14 Stock Doves , 3 Swallows , 271 Redwings , 53 Song Thrushes , 24 Blackbirds , a Brambling , 82 Chaffinches , 9 Goldfinches , 5 Linnets , 148 Starlings , 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Skylarks , 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Grey Heron , 9 Choughs , 2 Ravens , a migrant Peregrine , a Sparrowhawk and 5 Stonechats . At St Aubin this afternoon were 400-500 Brent Geese and 70 Black-headed Gulls and in St Helier Harbour was a Kingfisher . At Petit Port was another Kingfisher , as well as a Grey Heron , 2 Cormorants , 25 Curlews , 6 Ringed Plovers , 5 Turnstones and 12 Great Black-backed Gulls . In Grouville Bay were 340 Brent Geese , 6 Great Crested Grebes , 2 Wheatears and 250 Starlings . Another Wheatear was at Kempt Tower in St Ouen's Bay. At Queen's Valley this morning were 11 Redwings , a Swallow , a Grey Heron, 21 Tufted Ducks , a Grey Wagtail , another Kingfisher , 6 Long-tailed Tits , a Firecrest , a Short-toed Treecreeper, 2 Ravens and 150 Herring Gulls . At the Scrape this evening were 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Marsh Harriers , 4 Lapwings , 3 Teal and a Water Rail and at Grouville Marsh were 21 Cattle Egrets, 5 Song Thrushes , 4 Redwings , a Reed Bunting, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest
by Michael Dryden 24 Oct, 2024
24.10.2024 Among all the thousands of birds on the move today, were Lesser Black-backed Gulls . This first winter bird is seen passing Noirmont MD
by Michael Dryden 23 Oct, 2024
23.10.2024 A different view of a Skylark , taken at Noirmont this morning MD
by Michael Dryden 22 Oct, 2024
22.10.2024 Woodpigeons and Stock Doves passing over Noirmont this morning MD
by Michael Dryden 21 Oct, 2024
21.10.2024 Some of yesterday's Little Grebes in the Sandpits MD
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