14.08.2024  A juvenile Reed Bunting at St Ouen's Pond today, image courtesy of James Wankling   (JW)


A cloudy to fair day in a west-northwest wind


A Red-backed Shrike was showing well at Noirmont today, in the hedge on the west side of the large horse field, the second in three days, after a period of ten years without a single sighting of the species on the Island! Also on the ground at Noirmont were 2 Whitethroats, a Dartford Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, 5 Stonechats, also a fly over Yellow Wagtail and 6 Swallows.


At St Ouen's Pond this morning were 200 Swallows, a Sand Martin, 20 House Martins, 4 Swifts, a Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 20 Reed Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers and 5 Willow Warblers. Also ringed and released was a juvenile Reed Bunting (above) following on from a female there yesterday in moult, the second female bird caught there recently. With a male seen carrying food, It seems likely now that Reed Buntings did breed succesfully. Seen in St Ouen were 3 Buzzards and a Swift. In the Sandpits there, were 10 Little Grebes and 2 Common Sandpipers.


Passing Corbiere this morning were 2 Arctic Terns, 8 Balearic Shearwaters, 56 Gannets, 13 Cormorants, a Fulmar, 45 Mediterranean Gulls, 19 Black-headed Gulls, 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Little Egrets and a Sparrowhawk with a pod of 16 Bottle-nosed Dolphins feeding close inshore. In Petit Port Bay were 24 Curlews, a Grey Heron, a Mediterranean Gull and 7 Little Egrets.


In Grouville Bay were 210 Sandwich Terns, 180 Black-headed Gulls, 1 juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 10 Grey Plovers, 7 Turnstones and 2 Sanderlings.


Elsewhere, a Green Sandpiper was at Grands Vaux, 3 noisy Peregrines, a Bullfinch and a Firecrest were in a Garden In Vallee des Vaux and a Dartford Warbler was at Plemont.


This evening: A Peregrine was at Creux Gabourel on the north coast and 4 Swifts were circling over Elizabeth Castle. At the Scrape this afternoon were a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Heron and 2 juvenile Moorhens.


Additional reports for St Ouen's Pond yesterday included 300 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 20 House Martins, a Sedge Warbler, 10 Reed Warblers and a Sparrowhawk.


Below: Two distant images of today's Red-backed Shrike at Noirmont  MD


by Michael Dryden 17 June 2026
17.06.2026 A migrant immature Peregrine passing over Corbiere this morning MD A cloudy morning gave way to a fine afternoon, feeling warm at 22c in a light west-southwest wind. Some visible migration was in place over Corbiere this morning, notably 517 Swifts in three hours, 20 Sand Martins , a single Swallow , a White Wagtail and a Stonechat . Offshore were 89 Balearic Shearwaters , 12 Manx Shearwaters , 9 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 2 Fulmars , 15 Gannets , 7 Cormorants , 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 34 Great Black-backed Gulls . Off L'Etacq was a feeding patch with up to 300 Balearic Shearwaters with local Gulls and a single Puffin was seen off of Grosnez. Seen from Mont Felard were 2 Swifts , a Swallow and 4 Red-billed Choughs and at Sandybrook were 10 Long-tailed Tits . Non-bird sightings today included 10+ Purple Hairstreaks on Mont les Vaux, a White-lettered Hairstreak at Val de la Mare, several Elephant Hawk Moths and a Privet Hawk Moth on Mont Felard and a Painted Lady at Corbiere.
by Michael Dryden 16 June 2026
16.06.2026 An Oystercatcher at Corbiere. MD An overcast morning gave way to a fair to cloudy afternoon, mild in a west-northwest wind. On the West coast today, at Le Pulec were 6 Curlews , a Whimbrel , 7 Little Egrets , a Shelduck , 5 Ravens and 2 Peregrines , while in Petit Port Bay were 2 Shelduck , but no signs of any breeding there so far this season. In the Sandpits were a Pochard , 28 Tufted Ducks , 103 Coot , a Little Grebe, 13 Swifts , 60 Sand Martins , a Reed Warbler with fledged young, a Cetti's Warbler , a Stonechat with young and a Grey Heron . 2 Stonechats , one a juvenile, were north of St Ouen's Pond, also a singing Skylark , while overhead were 4 Swifts and 30 Sand Martins . In the Scrape fields were at least 6 Lapwings . In fields at Les Landes were 3 singing Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler and a pair of Marsh harriers. Early passage past Corbiere included 88 Balearic Shearwaters , 3 Manx hearwaters , 5 Fulmars , 15 Gannets , 7 Guillemots , 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull, a Kittiwake , a Raven and 2 different female Marsh Harriers . Yesterday : Sadly, a Manx Shearwater was found dead on the beach at Beauport.
by Michael Dryden 15 June 2026
15.06.2026 A Buzzard at Les Landes recently. MD A cloudy day with the odd shower, mild at 22c in a south, becoming west, wind. There were some hints of migration today. Seen from Corbiere, were 22 Black-headed Gulls including 3 juveniles, 10 Mediterranean Gulls , 8 Curlews , a Whimbrel , 122 Balearic Shearwaters , 37 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Fulmars , 25 Gannets , 7 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 35 Great Black-backed Gulls , 19 Swifts heading south, a single Sand Martin and also a female Marsh Harrier and 5+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins . A single Curlew was at Petit Port. At St Aubin were 20 Swifts , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Curlews and a Little Egret , while Beauport Common was a singing Whitethroat . Another 2 singing Whitethroats wer south of La Moye Prison and at Crabbe were, 3 Ravens , 4 Choughs including a juvenile and yet another singing Whitethroat . Further Swifts were heard over Garden Lane. In the sandpits al La Braye were 94 Coot , 30 Tufted Ducks , 2 Little Grebes , a Little Egret , 4 Oystercatchers , 2 Shelduck and 2 Marsh Harriers .
by Michael Dryden 14 June 2026
14.06.2026 Cirl Bunting on song in Grouville. MD A fine day, warm at 25c in a southeasterly wind. In the early hours of this morning, a ringing session at Plemont ringed and released 3 Manx Shearwaters and 5 Storm Petrels , including one wearing a ring from Alderney. In the more sociable hours of today, 15 Razorbills , 11 Swifts , a Gannet , 7 Fulmars , 3 Ravens , 2 Marsh Harriers , a pair of Kestrel , 5 Swallows , 12 Linnets , 5 Greenfinches and 3 Goldfinches were also recorded there. Shearwater numbers continue to increase and passing Corbiere in 4 hours this morning were 628 Balearic Shearwaters and 125 Manx Shearwaters . Also passing were 3 Shelducks , 6 Common Scoters , 19 Guillemots , 12 Razorbills , 24 Gannets , 3 Fulmars , 6 Cormorants , 31 Shags , 8 Sandwich Terns , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 12 Kittiwakes , 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 28 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Marsh Harrier . At St Ouen's Pond Scrape were 9 Lapwings and a Grey Heron . No reports of the Black-winged Stilts , so far today. 2 Whitethroats and a Dartford Warbler were on Beauport Common and another Dartford Warbler was singing at Gorselands. Seen from Gorey were a Manx Shearwater and 10 Swifts .
by Michael Dryden 13 June 2026
13.06.2026 A fine drake Tufted Duck on the Kempt Tower pools today. MD The day started with fog shrouding the west of the Island, but clearing before lunch time to a sunny afternoon in a moderate westerly wind. Reports were biased towards the East side of the Island, where visibility was far better and at La Rocque over the early full tide were 3 Sandwich Terns , a Balearic Shearwater , 7 Cormorants , a Curlew and 45 Oystercatchers . In Grouville Bay later in the day were the first 5 returning Black - headed Gulls , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 11 Great Black-backed Gulls , 120 Oystercatchers , 4 Grey Herons arriving from the East, also 5 House Martins . On Grouville Common, 3 male Cirl Buntings were singing and seen from St Catherine's were a Manx Shearwater, a Fulmar , 5 Gannets , a Peregrine , 2 Little Egrets and 3 Swifts . In St Catherine's Woods were 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers , 2 Firecrests , a Bullfinch , 2 Linnet , a Moorhen with 2 young, and good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackaps . Overhead were a Buzzard and 4 Jackdaws . The 2 Black-winged Stilts were at St Ouen's Pond again, their stay now approaching three weeks, also 2 Barnacle Geese . At the Scrape were 8 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 4 adult Shovelers , a Tufted Duck , a Swift and 50 assorted hirundines . On the Kempt Tower pools were an adult and a juvenile Little Grebe , 4 Tufted Ducks with just one chick between them, 2 Whitethroats , and several Reed Warblers , 2 Cetti's Warblers and 5 Chiffchaffs . In the Orchid field was a family of Stonechats with fledged young. Off Le Pulec, 15 Balearic Shearwaters were with 50+ Herring Gulls at the feeding patch offshore. On Les Landes was a family of 5 Greenfinches . Evening update : At Les Ecrehous today were 120 Oystercatchers , 4 Curlews , 40 Turnstones , a Ringed Plover , 3 Sandwich Terns and numerous Common Terns . 8 Curlews were at La Rocque late this afternoon. Back to yesterday , when 20 Razorbills were along the northwest coast.
by Michael Dryden 12 June 2026
12.06.2026 A male Stonechat , one of a pair currently looking after a juvenile bird on the north side of St Ouen's Pond MD An overcast day in a mild west-southwest wind. Some brisk early morning passage past Corbiere involved an Arctic Skua , 438 Balearic Shearwaters , 24 Manx Shearwaters , 4 Shelducks , 14 Guillemots , 21 Gannets , 33 Shags , a Kittiwake , 32 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 31 Great Black-backed Gulls . 4 Ravens and a Marsh Harrier also visited the headland. Seen on and around st Ouen's Pond Scrape were the 2 Black-winged Stilts, 3 Shovelers including a female with 5 chicks, 2 Oystercatchers mating, 2 Little Egrets , 3 Lapwings and a Grey Heron . On the north side of St Ouen's Pond were a pair of Stonechats , 3 Linnets , a Skylark , a Swift , a few Sand Martins and Swallows and a flock of Long-tailed Tits in the willows there. At Kempt Tower pools were a female Tufted Duck with a single chick, a Marsh Harrier , a Chiffchaff and a few Reed Warblers and a Coot with one chick. At St Aubin were 2 Shelducks and 2 Swifts and at St Catherine's breakwater were 3 Swifts . Singing birds in a garden in Vallee des Vaux included Firecrest , Goldcrest and Chiffchaff . Evening update: In addition to the shearwaters passing Corbiere this morning, were another 194 seen passing La Coupe. Below : Two distant images of this morning's Arctic Skua , seen passing Corbiere in the gloom. MD
by Michael Dryden 11 June 2026
11.06.2026 Female Tufted Duck with one of her two surviving offspring at Kempt Tower pools yesterday. MD It was another cold-feeling day with overcast skies and some light rain, in a fresh west-southwest wind. On the best day, so far this year, for shearwaters, 428 Balearic Shearwaters and 82 Manx Shearwaters passed Corbiere during this morning. Also seen there, were 12 Guillemots , 3 Razorbills , 12 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 4 Cormorants , a Kittiwake and a Bottle-nosed Dolphin , with 4 Ravens in the area. 2 Shelduck were at Petit Port and a Hobby was seen at Les landes. The 2 Black-winged Stilts continued their vigil at St Ouen's Pond and also on the Pond were 5 Tufted Ducks , a Lapwing and an adult Little Grebe . 5 Swifts , 30 Sand Martins and a House Martin were feeding overhead there. On the Scrape and surrounding fields were 2 male Shovelers , a male Tufted Duck and 8 Lapwings . At St Aubin were 2 Shelduck again, a Grey Heron and a little Egret . On Grands Vaux reservoir were 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 4 Tufted Ducks and at Le Don Wheeler was a juvenile Grey Heron . 3 young Kestrels are about to fledge at a private site by Longueville Manor Extras for yesterday , at Le Pulec, included 6 Little Egrets , 11 Cormorants , a Shelduck and 2 Stonechats .
by Michael Dryden 10 June 2026
10.06.2026 One of our recently fledged Lapwings in the Scrape field this morning. Image: MD More heavy showers this morning.becoming dry but cool and cloudy this afternoon in a fresh westerly wind. A Marsh Warbler was singing occasionally at the back of St Ouen's Pond this morning, and another was heard at Rue des Pres in St Clement. Seen at St Ouen's Pond this morning, as well, were the 2 Black-winged Stilts , Sedge Warblers collecting food, 30 Swifts , 13 House Martins , 25 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows , while at the Scrape and field were at least 8 Lapwings , a pair of Tufted Duck , 2 male Shovelers and a family of 5 Coot . AT Kempt Tower pools were 2 adult Little Grebes with a full grown juvenile nearby, 3 Tufted Ducks , 2 Marsh Harriers and a Whitethroat , with another Little Grebe seen on Mont Matthieu . A Stonechat was gathering nest material at Le Pulec and 2 Whitethroats were seen near to Les Landes. In the Sandpits at Le Braye were 60 Swifts , 60 Sand Martins , 6 Tufted Ducks , 82 Coot , a Whitethroat , a Cetti's Warbler and Reed Warblers, all feeding young. A brief seawatch at Corbiere, saw 20 Balearic Shearwaters , 11 Manx Shearwaters , 12 Guillemots , 15 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 4 Kittiwakes , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Swallows and 4 Ravens . 2 Shelduck were at St Aubin. At Rue des Pres were 6 singing Reed Warblers and 2 singing male Cetti's Warbler as well as a female and fledged young in a nearby garden and 3 young Kestrels were at Le Hocq. Several further reports for yesterday include 40 Swifts and 5 Tufted Ducks at Grands Vaux, 2 pairs of Shelducks at Petit Port, at least 8 hatched House Martins at a private site in St Clement, fledged Goldcrests being fed in Coronation Park, 200+ Crows at Trinity Manor as well as 3 Buzzards , and a fly-over Gadwall at St Ouen's Pond.
by Michael Dryden 9 June 2026
09.06.2026 The male Shelduck from the Scrape chasing away an intruding female. MD There were a few heavy showers passing the Island this morning, becoming dry this afternoon, but with a fresh and gusty west-southwest wind. It was another good morning for shearwaters passing Corbiere and in three hours, 367 Balearic Shearwaters and 86 Manx Shearwaters were seen. Also passing were 15 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 18 Gannets , 3 Kittiwakes , 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 17 Great Black-backed Gulls. In Petit Port Bay were 2 pairs of Shelduck , and at Le Pulec was another pair of Shelduck , although their last 2 chicks look to have disappeared now. A Whitethroat and a pair of Buzzard were at the south end of Les Landes. On St Ouen's Pond, the pair of Black-winged Stilt were still in situ, while overhead were 6 Swifts , 2 House Martins , 10 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows . At the Scrape were the pair Of Shelduck , 2 male Shovelers and a female Shoveler , still with 7 fast-growing chicks in tow. On the north side of the Pond were a male and a juvenile Stonechat , also a Skylark still singing. Elsewhere, 2 Curlews were at St Aubin and 2 pairs of Moorhens , both with 3 young, were seen in Waterworks Valley mud pond and Dannemarche reservoir. A pair of Cirl Bunting was seen with a juvenile, on Grouville Common.
by Michael Dryden 8 June 2026
08.06.2026 Whitethroat in the rain, image courtesy of Romano RDC Rain through the morning gave way to a clear afternoon with a fresh northwest wind. Firstly, back to yesterday evening, when a Pectoral Sandpiper was seen on St Ouen's Pond, but has not been reported so far today. Also seen were a Snipe , 3 Grey Herons , the Savi's Warbler, 8 Lapwings , 10 Swifts and 40 Swallows . Today at St Ouen's Pond, the 2 Black-winged Stilts were still present, but the Savi's Warbler has not been heard so far today. Also at the Pond were 6 Tufted Ducks , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Swifts , 3 Sand Martins , 11 House Martins and 20 Swallows , while in the Scrape field were 4 and probably 5 juvenile Lapwings with their parents. In Le Braye Sandpits were a Grey Heron , 5 Tufted Ducks , 72 Coot , 3 Little Egrets , 3 Oystercatchers , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 31 Great Black-backed Gulls , with 12 Swifts , 30 Sand Martins and a House Martin feeding in the shelter provided by the sand banks. Early passage at Corbiere, ahead of the rain arriving, involved 112 Manx Shearwaters , 57 Balearic Shearwaters , 15 Guillemots , 3 Fulmars , 31 Gannets , 3 Cormorants , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 29 Great Black-backed Gulls, and 7 Swallows heading off southwest. At La Rocque were 7 Curlews , a Whimbrel , a small unidentified wader sp , 16 Little Egrets and 3 Sandwich Terns .
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