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.
Mick Dryden
Romano da Costa
Tony Paintin