Jersey Birds

15.09.2025 A juvenile Arctic Skua , pictured at sea off Jersey recently, image courtesy of John Ovenden JO A wild day with scattered showers in a strong to gale west-southwest wind. Seen from Corbiere this morning were 2 distant Sooty Shearwaters , 81 Balearic Shearwaters , 21 Manx Shearwaters , 62 Gannets , 2 Razorbills , 6 auk sp , 151 Sandwich Terns , 72 Great Black-backed Gulls , 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 8 Mediterranean Gulls , 6 Black-headed Gulls , a Kittiwake and c 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and on the headland, 2 Ravens and one Wheatear . In Petit Port Bay were 19 Curlews , 52 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 4 Black-headed Gulls . At St Ouen's Pond were 2 Grey Herons , a Little Grebe , 2 Tufted Duck , 5 Swallows and 50 House Martins , and near the Cutty Sark were 12 Ringed Plovers and 2 Wheatears . In the relative calm of Grouville Bay were a Curlew Sandpiper , 28 Sanderlings , 13 Dunlin , 18 Turnstones , a Bar-tailed Godwit , 16 Grey Plovers , 76 Ringed Plovers , 3 Curlews , 3 Little Egrets , 85 Sandwich Terns , 3 Common Terns , 45 Linnets and a Wheatear . At La Sente were 23 Grey Herons , 2 Little Egrets and a Marsh Harrier , while in Grouville Marsh were 16 Cattle Egrets, 30 House Martins and 30 Swallows . At St Catherine's were 6 Turnstones , 6 Sandwich Terns , 2 Gannets , 15 Chiffchaffs , a Firecrest , 2 Goldcrests and 2 Short-toed Treecreepers . In Beaumont Marsh were 25 Yellow Wagtails , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 65 Herring Gulls . On Grouville Common yesterday were 5 juvenile Cirl Buntings and at St Catherine's on Saturday were 13 Wheatears, 20 Linnets and 2 Chiffchaffs .

14.09.2025 A juvenile Common Gull, at sea recently, a beautiful image taken by John Ovenden JO An overcast day with a lighter south-southeast wind which allowed a little more by way of visible migration. Seen through the morning at Noirmont were 105 Swallows , 140 Meadow Pipits , 52 Yellow Wagtails , 4 alba Wagtails , 312 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Whinchat , 4 Wheatears , 2 Stonechats , a Whitethroat , 2 Dartford Warblers , a Grey Heron , an immature Peregrine (chasing a Sparrowhawk ), 3 Choughs and 2 Marsh Harriers . At Beauport Common were 2 Wheatears , 4 Chiffchaffs and 10 Meadow Pipits . A further 6 Wheatears were at Grosnez. On the rocks at Corbiere were 18 Turnstones and the first returning Purple Sandpiper of the Autumn. At the now flooded Scrape were 5 Yellow Wagtails , 60 Swallows , 40 House Martins and 5 Sand Martins , while in the Sandpits were a Grey Heron , 2 Little Egrets , 22 Little Grebes , 2 Pochard , 36 Tufted Duck , a Common Sandpiper , 10+ House Martins , 10 Swallows and a Kestrel . In St Ouen's Bay were 71 Sandwich Terns , 9 Mediterranean Gulls , 26 Great Black-backed Gulls and 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . 39 Ringed Plovers were near Sands. At Petit Port were 31 Curlews , a Common Sandpiper , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with a further 78 flying over, a Yellow-legged Gull and 12 Little Egrets . In Beaumont Marsh were 23 Yellow Wagtails , 5 Swallows and a Sparrowhawk . Seen from La Rocque were 35 Sandwich Terns , 28 Curlews , 20 Sanderlings , 12 Grey Plovers , 43 Turnstones and 6 Swallows moving South. In the fields behind La Rocque were a Tree Pipit , 14 Meadow Pipits , 35 Yellow Wagtails , a Willow Warbler , 5 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap . At La Sente were 17 Grey Herons , 6 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 6 Long-tailed Tits , 3 Chiffchaffs and 2 Marsh Harriers . At Pontac were a Grey Heron , 2 Little Egrets , 2 Swallows , 5 Sandwich Terns , 200+ Oystercatchers and 2 alba Wagtails . At the Les Pres end of Grouville Marsh were 9 Cattle Egrets , a Yellow Wagtail , a Grey Wagtail , a Reed Warbler , a Willow Warbler , 50+ Chiffchaffs , 20 Blackcaps , 4 Cetti's Warblers , 30 Swallows , 30 House Martins , a Raven and a Marsh Harrier . Near to Holme Grown in Grouville were 3 Cattle Egrets and a further 5 Cattle Egrets were at Five Oaks.

13.09.2025 This Wheatear has taken up temporary residence at Corbiere, being there for nearly a week, presumably awaiting better weather. Image: MD Yet another day of showers and bright spells in a strong southwest wind. Less was moving past Corbiere this morning with counts there including 23 Balearic Shearwaters, 10 Manx Shearwaters , a Great Crested Grebe , 11 Cormorants , 85 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 11 Mediterranean Gulls , 8 Sandwich Terns , a Common Tern , a Curlew and the Wheatear again. In Petit Port Bay were 29 Black-headed Gulls , 20 Curlews and 19 Great Black-backed Gulls . At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were 50 Swallows , 2 House Martins , 2 Sand Martins, a Kingfisher , a Grey Heron , 16 Meadow Pipits , 5 Chiffchaffs , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Marsh Harriers , 2 Buzzards , 8 Linnets and a Clouded Yellow butterfly. Seen at Les Landes were 2 Marsh Harriers , 2 Kestrels , 16 Linnets , 3 Wheatears , a Stonechat and 2 Ravens . Cattle Egret numbers had risen to 29 at Grouville Marsh, with another 8 Cattle Egrets in Rue Malo. At La Sente were 3 Grey Herons and 5 Cattle Egrets . Pied Flycatchers had risen to 2 in Vallee des Vaux where 3 Firecrests . a Goldcrest , 2 Blackcaps , 2 Chiffchaffs and 9 Greenfinches were also present with a Sparrowhawk and 15 Swallows flying over. A Wheatear was at St Catherine's and 2 Grey Herons were at Rozel. Extra reports for yesterday : In Grouville Bay were 45 Ringed Plovers , a Sanderling , a Dunlin and a Wheatear and at Sorel were 3 House Martins and 5 Linnets . At Beaumont Marsh were 20 Yellow Wagtails .

12.09.2025 A juvenile Great Black-backed Gull in fine condition on St Ouen's Bay beach on Monday, ringed in the Netherlands in June ( see below) Image: Romano RDC. Another very unsettled day with showers and a very strong and blustery west-southwest wind. It was seabirds to the fore again, unsurprisingly. Seen passing Corbiere this morning were 169 Balearic Shearwaters, 20 Manx Shearwaters , 159 Gannets , a Guillemot , 180 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 46 Great Black-backed Gulls , 5 Mediterranean Gulls , a Black-headed Hull, a Common Gull , 12 Common Terns , 146 Sandwich Terns, as well as 2 Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails . Seen from the San Malo ferry at the north-east Minquiers buoy were single Manx and Balearic Shearwaters . On St Ouen's Beach were 102 Great Black-backed Gulls , 40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 6 Sandwich Terns and by Sands were 80 Starlings . At Le Pulec were 250 Oystercatchers , 19 Curlews , 15 Cormorants , 10 Little Egrets and a Kestrel . At Grosnez was a pale-phase Buzzard , 3 Marsh Harriers , 200 Linnets and a Peregrine . The Pied Flycatcher spent another day in a garden in Vallee des Vaux along with 3 Firecrests , a Sparrowhawk was seen by Beaumont Marsh and at La Sente were 3 Cattle Egrets , 2 Grey Herons and 4 Swallows . .... and not in such great shape back in June as it is being ringed as a chick in Grevelingen, the Netherlands. Image with thanks to the Dutch ringing team there.

1 1.09.2025 This Ringed Plover received it's extra rings on Gull Island in Hampshire this June and is pictured here in Grouville Bay recently. Image thanks to Romano RDC A mainly dry and fair day, with just an odd shower, but in a strong and gusty west-southwest wind (F6). A good morning-long passage of shearwaters past Corbiere saw a total of 652 Balearic Shearwaters and 57 Manx Shearwaters counted. Also passing were 93 Gannets , a Fulmar , 3 Great Crested Grebes together, a Razorbill , 38 Sandwich Terns , 128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 6 Mediterranean Gulls , a Common Gull, 3 Black-headed Gulls and 57 Great Black-backed Gulls with another 70 roosting on the cliffs there, also 36 Curlews , 3 Choughs , 4 Ravens , a Wheatear and 2 Peregrines . Seen at the Gunsite, before today's air display got underway were 370 Black-headed Gulls , 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 100 Sandwich Terns , a White Wagtail and a Kestrel A Pied Flycatcher spent a third day in Vallee des Vaux with 2 Firecrests , a Goldcrest , a Chiffchaff , 5 House Martins and a Sparrowhawk also seen, and a Hobby was seen in flight over the Zoo. Just a handful of Swallows were seen over Red Houses this afternoon, with the current run of weather severely disrupting what should be one of the busiest weeks of the year for the species, as they pass through Jersey on their way South. In St Ouen's Bay were 123 Great Black-backed Gulls , 47 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull and 10 Sandwich Terns .

10.09.2025 A recently taken image of a juvenile Glossy Ibis in Grouville Bay, with thanks to Romano for the picture. RDC A poor day for weather, with rain through a good part of it, and a blustery southwest wind not helping. A few birds passing Corbiere before the rain set in, included 27 Balearic Shearwaters , 8 Manx Shearwaters , 17 Gannets , 87 Great Black-backed Gulls , 9 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . 16 Shags and 3 Sandwich Terns . 165 Oystercatchers were roosting on the north side of Petit Port Bay this morning over the high (11.5 metre) tide. Very little was moving past Noirmont, with just 4 Swallows , 6 House Martins and a juvenile Peregrine seen during a brief watch there. One House Martin nest was still active on a house in Rosedale Avenue at Beaumont, with adults seen feeding young there today. A Pied Flycatcher was present for a second day in a garden at Vallee des Vaux, another Pied Flycatcher was near Bayview Court on Mont Matthieu and a third was at Grouville Marsh, by the stream on the road to les Pres Manor. 17 Cattle Egrets were also in the same vicinity. This evening in Vallee des Vaux were 3 Firecrests , 2 Blackcaps , a Water Rail, also the Pied Flycatchers still present. A Kingfisher wa sat on a gate post at Green Island earlier and 2 Wigeon plus 3 Green Sandpipers were on the Scrape. At the Gunsite were 20 Sandwich Terns, 98 Black-headed Gulls and 4 White Wagtails . An update for yesterday at Noirmont was, on review of images taken, 2 Ospreys passed, not one as stated yesterday.

09.09.2025 A beautiful image of a juvenile Little Tern in Grouville Bay recently, image courtesy of Romano RDC. Todays threatened rain failed to materialise during daylight hours, leaving a pleasant day with high cloud and a fresh southerly wind. Another Osprey appeared at Noirmont this morning, being seen three times in an hour mid-morning, before it headed East over St Aubin's Bay. A quiet day for passage there saw 105 Swallows , 7 Sand Martins , 6 House Martins , 41 Yellow Wagtails , 8 Tree Pipits , a Meadow Pipit , 6 White Wagtails , 17 Wheatears , 5 Whinchats , a Redstart , 2 Stonechats , 3 Whitethroats , a Willow Warbler , 3 Chiffchaffs , 29 Linnets , 2 Grey Herons , a male Marsh Harrier , 6 Buzzards , 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Peregrines there. Offshore were at least 35 Manx Shearwaters , 25 Balearic Shearwaters , 80 Sandwich Tern s, 17 Mediterranean Gulls , 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 69 Gannets . At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were an overflying Spotted Redshank, a Barn Owl, 20 Sedge Warblers , 12 Reed Warblers , a Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaffs , 15 Cetti's Warblers , 2 Blackcaps , a Sand Martin , 50 House Martins , 60 Swallows , 8 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Water Rails , 60 Goldfinches , a Snipe and a hunting Hobby . Seen at the Sandpits were 275 Coot , 4 Grey Herons , 23 Little Grebes and 3 male Pochard . In St Ouen's Bay were a Yellow- l egged Gull , 96 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 81 Great Black-backed Gulls , 48 Mediterranean Gulls, 31 Black-headed Gulls , 11 Sandwich Terns and 2 Wheatears . At Les Landes were 3 Wheatears , a Whinchat , a Willow Warbler , 8 Stonechats , 2 Dartford Warblers , 30 Linnets , 2 House Martins , 20 Swallows , a Ringed Plover and a Marsh Harrier . In Petit Port Bay were 69 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Sandwich Terns . In Grouville Bay, as seen from Seymour, were 113 Sandwich Terns , 12 Little Egrets , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , an alba Wagtail , 8 Turnstones , 270 Oystercatchers , a Grey Plover, 2 Grey Herons , hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and 3 Swallows . 2 Wheatears were on the seawall at Fauvic. Near to the Co-op at Fauvic were 16 Cattle Egrets, a Yellow Wagtail and 30 Linnets . In Vallee des Vaux were a Pied Flycatcher and 3 Firecrests and at Bouley Bay were a Wheatear and 3 Buzzards . At Beaumont Marsh were 20 Yellow Wagtails and at St Aubin were 300 Black-headed Gulls .

08.09.2025 Green Sandpipers on the Scrape today. Image: MD A fair to fine day, with winds firmly back in the West It was a relatively quiet day, with an overnight departure of many of yesterday's birds not being replaced. On Les Landes were 2 Redstarts , 3 Wheatears , 8 Stonechats , 6 Dartford Warblers and a White Wagtail , with just a few Swallows and House Martins passing overhead. At Les Laveurs were 12 White Wagtails, a Wheatear , a Willow Warbler , a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff and at St Ouen's Pond were 8 Teal , 8 Tufted Duck , 2 Common Sandpipers , a Snipe , a Grey Heron , 5 Swallows and a Sand Martin while on the Scrape were 4 Green Sandpipers , a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Grey Heron . On the beach in St Ouen's Bay were 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 102 Great Black-backed Gulls, 28 Mediterranean Gulls , 5 Common Terns , 52 Sandwich Terns , 2 Sanderlings and 20 Ringed Plovers . A short watch at Corbiere saw 11 Balearic Shearwaters , 5 Manx Shearwaters , a Razorbill , 17 Mediterranean Gulls , 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 22 Sandwich Terns, a Common Sandpiper , 8 Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails , with many more shearwaters , terns and gulls attending distant Tuna boils offshore. A Pied Flycatcher was a nice visitor to a garden on Mont Les Vaux in St Aubin, but very few birds were seen at Noirmont, with 22 Yellow Wagtails , a White Wagtail , and 7 Swallows seen during a brief watch there. A Honey Buzzard was another good sighting, this time circling over La Mare Vinyard with 2 Swallowtail butterflies also there. At La Haule Slip were 13 Sandwich Terns and at St Aubin were 80 Sandwich Terns and 2 Little Egrets . In Vallee des Vaux were 3 Spotted Flycatchers , 2 Blackcaps , 3 Chiffchaffs , 5 Firecrests , a Goldcrest , 3 Bullfinches and 8 Greenfinches . On Grouville Common were a Wheatear , 5 Cirl Buntings, a Blackcap , a Chiffchaff , 14 Linnets and a young Long-eared Owl . Around Les Platons on the North coast were up to 100 Goldfinches , a Dartford Warbler and a flock of 21 Ravens .

07.09.2025 Juvenile Osprey over Noirmont this morning. Image: MD A mainly dry but cloudy day, in a strong southerly wind. There were some quality migrants on offer today around the Island. At Noirmont, among eight species of raptor seen there were an Osprey , a Honey Buzzard , 2 Marsh Harriers , 3 Hobby , 2 Sparrowhawks , 4 Common Buzzards , an early morning Barn Owl and 2 Kestrels . An arrival of Whinchat totalled at least 28 birds and with them was an Ortolan Bunting . Also seen were 22 Swifts , 278 Swallows , 27 Sand Martins , 22 House Martins , 100 Yellow Wagtails , 3 White Wagtails , 3 Tree Pipits , 6 Wheatears , 2 Whitethroats , a Willow Warbler , 2 Stonechats , 202 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 21 Black-headed Gulls, 10+ Ravens , 2 Choughs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker . Offshore were 30 Sandwich Terns , a Mediterranean Gull and 13 Gannets . 5 Whinchats were at Beauport too. At Les Landes were a Tawny Pipit - a real rarity on the Island in recent years, a Wryneck , a Hobby , 7 Whinchats , 8 Wheatears , a Whitethroat , 5 White Wagtails , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 14 Stonechats and 75 Meadow Pipits . In St Ouen's Bay, on Les Blanches Banques were 3 Swifts , a Wryneck and 10 Wheatears and at Le Braye were 5 Sandwich Terns , 6 Ringed Plovers and a Sanderling . Roosting at Petit Port were 48 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits , 3 Common Sandpipers , a Redshank and a Willow Warbler . A second Osprey was seen at Greve de Lecq late morning and another Swift was over La Rocque. A second Honey Buzzard flew over Sandybrook around lunchtime. On the East side of the Island, 12 Grey Herons and a Cattle Egret were at La Sente and 4 Cattle Egrets were by Holmegrown. Late afternoon and evening update: at the Scrape was a ring-tailed Hen Harrier and in St Ouen's Bay were 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 87 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 58 Great Black-backed Gulls , 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 28 Sandwich Terns and 35 Ringed Plovers . At Gorselands were 3 Wheatears , 2 Yellow Wagtails , a Stonechat and 25 Swallows and at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay were 3 Curlews and 3 Bar - tailed Godwits . In Grouville Marsh were 17 Cattle Egrets and at La Rocque was a Kingfisher . Maize fields near Trinity Manor held a roost of 75 Swallows and at the Farmer's Cricket Ground in St Martin were 3 White Wagtails , a Willow Warbler and a Marsh Harrier . Below : Two distant images of a juvenile Honey Buzzard against a white sky at Noirmont today. Image: MD