Jersey Birds

16.05.2025 The 2024 Jersey Bird Report is now available from the Societe Jersiaise, and Costa Electrics, @ £9.00 per copy, with many thanks to Romano for his efforts in producing it. Cover image: The Shorelark which was present in St Ouen's Bay in October last year, image by MD Another fine day with a cool northeast wind. Migrants are few and far between at the moment, given the clear conditions, so a Turtle Dove was a welcome addition, certainly to those who saw it! Waders in Grouville Bay included 4 Dunlin , 5 Ringed Plovers , 5 Sanderlings , 4 Grey Plovers and 13 Turnstones . Off Corbiere first thing this morning were 3 Common Scoters , 9 Guillemots , 32 Manx Shearwaters, 11 Fulmars , 38 Gannets , 15 Kittiwakes , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Whimbrel , also 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins heading East. 2 Peregrines were hunting in the area and at Petit Port was a Bar - tailed Godwit . Among birds seen during a Breeding Birds Survey at Ouaisne were 2 Little Grebes with one juvenile, Coots with a similar arrangement, a Cetti's Warbler , a Reed Warbler and 3 Buzzards overhead. Yesterday evening young Long-eared Owls were heard calling in two separate locations in Trinity.

15.05.2025 Little Egret and Oystercatcher in close formation at Corbiere this morning MD A fine day but with a cool northeasterly wind. Today's selection of birds passing Corbiere before 10:00, included a Summer-plumaged Black-throated Diver , 33 Manx Shearwaters, 13 Balearic Shearwaters , 20 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 29 Gannets , 5 Cormorants , 15 Kittiwakes , an immature Mediterranean Gull , 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 38 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Whimbrels , a White Wagtail and 3 Swallows . 2 Shelduck were in Petit Port Bay. At the Scrape were 30 Swifts , 5 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Shelduck , a White Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail . Another Shelduck was at Le Pulec, also 4 Little Egrets and Stonechats feeding 3 fledged young. A Swallowtail butterfly was at Beauport Common. 23 Ravens were together at Egypt and another 5 Ravens were at Crabbe, along with 4 Swifts and 5 Swallows . At Plemont were a Puffin , 2 more Ravens , 20 Linnets and 6 Fulmars . A visit to Les Minquiers today saw 2 Common Terns among the nesting Herring Gulls , Great Black-backed Gulls and Oystercatchers , but without any indications that they are going to breed there. Evening update : 2 Spotted Flycatchers were seen behind the farm at Noirmont this evening.

14.05.2025 Thanks go to Romano for this stunning image of a Bar-tailed Godwit at La Pulente RDC A mainly clear day with good visibility in a moderate easterly wind. A Bee-eater was heard flying over Beauport late this afternoon, heading towards Les Quennevais, so may well still be around on the Island in the morning. Seawatching from Grosnez was rewarded with 2 Roseate Terns heading East ( hopefully towards Les Ecrehous!). Also passing were 26 Manx Shearwaters , a Balearic Shearwater , 3 Guillemots , 9 Sanderlings , 3 Cormorants , 5 Kittiwakes , a Black-headed Gull , 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 12 Great Black-backed Gulls . Also flying over were 31 Swifts , 43 Swallows and 3 House Martins . A family of 7 Ravens were in the air, also 2 Choughs , 8 Goldfinches and a pair of Stonechats . A Swallowtail butterfly was also seen there. Butterflies seen at Plemont included 3 Swallowtails , 2 Painted Ladies and 2 Red Admirals, also 6 Swallows were seen there. A Reed Warbler was in song at Crabbe. In St Ouen's Bay, at Le Pulec were 2 Shelduck and a female Stonechat , while at Kempt Tower Pools were 7 Tufted Duck , a male Shoveler , 2 Little Grebes , a Garden Warbler , 2 Blackcaps , c 20 Reed Warblers , a Whitethroat and a Painted Lady butterfly. At St Ouen's Pond were 4 Grey Herons and 3 Swifts , with 2 Lapwings and a male Shoveler seen at the Scrape. To the north of St Ouen's Pond were 2 Lapwings , a Whitethroat and a pair of Stonechat . In the backfields behind the Pond were 8 singing Reed Warblers , 4 Cetti's Warblers and a Sedge Warbler . and on the hill behind were a Garden Warbler and a Whitethroat . Also in St Ouen's Bay, at La Pulente, were a Bar-tailed Godwit and a pair of Shelduck and at Petit Port was a Whimbrel . Below Val de la Mar dam were a Cetti's Warbler and a Garden Warbler . In the valley below Lakeside, by the Airport was a pair of Cetti's Warbler

13.05.2025 This juvenile Long-tailed Tit was part of a family of 8 in Les Ormes Valley yesterday. MD An overcast start to a dry and generally sunny day, warm at 20c in a light southeast wind. There was plenty of activity offshore at Corbiere this morning with some large parties of feeding gulls and Gannets to be seen. Counts there today included 68 Manx Shearwaters , a Balearic Shearwater , 12 Guillemots , 130 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , a Shelduck , 138 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 55 Great Black-backed Gulls , 270 Herring Gulls , 57 Kittiwakes , 2 Sandwich Terns, a Grey Heron and a Whimbrel , but with just 4 Swallows arriving from the southwest. A single Whimbrel was at Petit Port and another 2 Whimbrels were at L'Etacq. Odds and ends seen in St Ouen's Bay included a male Gadwall on the Sandpits, a displaying Sedge Warbler in front of the Scrape Hide, a Wheatear on Les Blanches Banques, and a Whitethroat near Kempt Tower. 5 Ringed Plovers, 3 Grey Plovers and a Turnstone were in Grouville Bay, 4 House Martins were in flight over the Co-op in Grouville and at Beaumont Marsh were 2 Grey Herons , a House Martin and a Swallow . On Portelet Common this morning were 7 Dartford Warblers , and a singing Greenfinch , while overhead were 2 Sand Martins , 4 Swallows and a Peregrine dicing with 2 Buzzards . A Swallowtail butterfly was also seen. Some extras for late yesterday included a Short-eared Owl on Grouville Common, a Barn Owl at Beauport and 10 Red-billed Choughs flying in to roost at Ronez Quarry, Sorel. Evening update : On the Scrape was the pair of Shelduck , m 4 Lapwings , a Little Egret , 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Jackdaws , in the Sandpits was a male , perhaps the same one as was seen on Les Mielles golf course earlier. At Corbiere was one Purple Sandpiper and in Petit Port were a Shelduck , a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel .

12.05.2025 A beautiful image of yesterday's Knot at Petit Port, in breeding plumage, image courtesy of Romano. RDC There was a clear start to an overcast morning, becoming fine and warm this afternoon. Winds were from the southeast. The pick of the day was a Turtle Dove, seen on Chemin du Moulin, behind St Ouen's Pond late morning, but, so far, not relocated since. Over St Ouen's Pond were 11 Swifts , 20 House Martins and 15 Swallows , while in the Sandpits were c30 Sand Martins and 15 Tufted Duck , with 7 Swifts also feeding there. On Les Blanches Banques this morning were a Whitethroat and a male Marsh Harrier, while in Les Ormes Valley were 3 Garden Warblers , 5 Blackcaps , a Dartford Warbler , a Whitethroat , a pair of Bullfinch , at least 8 Chiffchaffs and a family of 8 Long-tailed Tits . A Hobby flew over there in the gloom. Early passage past Corbiere involved 30 Manx Shearwaters , 4 Balearic Shearwaters , 7 Guillemots , 3 Fulmars , 46 Gannets , 7 Sandwich Terns , 57 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Whimbrel , with a Purple Sandpiper and a Turnstone roosting nearby. Roosting in Petit Port were a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel , along with the usual Oystercatchers . One Wheatear remained at Elizabeth Castle this morning, with 159 Oystercatchers on the beach there. Waders still lingering in Grouville Bay included a Whimbrel , 2 Grey Plovers , 5 Ringed Plovers , 3 Dunlin and 3 Turnstones , with 8 Little Egrets also present.

11.05.2025 A male Tufted Duck at Kempt Tower pools. MD A line of heavy showers passed through the Island early morning, after which it was a fair today with variable cloud and a light and variable winds. Today's birds, passing Corbiere included 8 Balearic Shearwaters , 17 Guillemots , 10 Common Scoters , 6 Fulmars , 38 Gannets , 36 Shags , 7 Cormorants , a Shelduck , 5 Kittiwakes , 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Sandwich Terns , 18 Swallows , a Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail, and 2 Peregrines which chased a Ringed Plover , but failed to take it. A single Shelduck was seen at Petit Port. In Grouville Bay were a Knot , 5 Grey Plovers , 6 Ringed Plovers and 7 Dunlin , while at Pontac were a Shelduck , 60 Oystercatchers and 53 Crows . 4 Tufted Ducks were on Grands Vaux reservoir. In St Ouen's Bay, a Shoveler with 3 young, the male Wigeon , 6 Reed Warblers , and 2 Cetti's Warblers were around the Pond, a Sedge Warbler was in the Tamarisks by the Wetland Centre car park, a Lapwing and a Grey Heron were to the north of the Pond and at Kempt Tower were 3 Shovelers , 8 Tufted Ducks , 2 Little Grebes , 5 Whitethroats , 2 Dartford Warblers , 3 Skylarks and 11 Goldfinches . Also, 6 Painted Lady butterflies were near the Wetland Centre with a further 25 seen at Les Landes. On the Scrape were the male Shelduck , 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Lapwings , a Sedge Warbler and several more Reed Warblers . At La Pulente were a Bar-tailed Godwit , 3 Whimbrels and a pair of Shelduck and At Beaumont Marsh were 4 House Martins . Evening update: In Grouville Bay was a Brent Goose and in Grouville Marsh were 5 Sedge Warblers and 15 Reed Warblers . On the Farmer's Cricket Ground were 6 White Wagtails and a female Marsh Harrier and at Grands Vaux reservoir were singing Firecrest, Goldcrest and Garden Warbler. Good numbers of Common Terns were on Les Ecrehous again, also a Whimbrel, a Curlew and 2 Crows .

10.05.2025 A Garden Warbler in Les Ormes Valley, image courtesy of Romano RDC A clear day with increasing high cloud, as a low over France moved slowly north towards the Channel Islands, but feeling warmer at 20c. Winds were still fresh from the East. Some activity past Corbiere in the first three hours of daylight included another Balearic Shearwater , 59 Manx Shearwaters , 5 Shelduck , 8 male Common Scoters , 15 Guillemots , 84 Gannets , 6 Cormorants , 6 Sandwich Terns , 6 Common Terns , 2 immature Mediterranean Gulls , 24 Kittiwakes , 73 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 40 Great Black-backed Gulls , but overhead, just a single Swift and 11 Swallows , probably because of the thundery weather over Brittany preventing much progress north. Roosting at Petit Port first thing were a Grey Plover , a Whimbrel and a Turnstone . Common Terns have returned to Les Ecrehous with c 100 birds there, also a Roseate Tern has been heard. On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were 2 Shelduck , the male Wigeon , a male Shoveler , 2 Oystercatchers , and a Skylark while overhead were 4 Swifts , 5 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins . A Grey Heron dropped in on St Ouen's Pond. On Les Blanches Banques were a Garden Warbler , a Whitethroat and a Dartford Warbler with 2 Swifts seen overhead and at Le Pulec were a Shelduck , a Raven and another Swift . Seen at Les Landes were a Whinchat , 2 pairs of Stonechats , 3 Swifts , 4 Swallows and a Buzzard . Afternoon update: At Petit Port this afternoon were a Knot in Summer plumage, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits , 2 Whimbrels , a Curlew , a Shelduck and 15 Swifts . In the Sandpits were 18 Tufted Ducks, a Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers, 20 Sand Martins , a Stonechat , a Cetti's Warbler , a Shelduck and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls .

09.05.2025 Common Sandpiper on the Scrape MD The fair to fine conditions continue, but still with an annoying north-east wind. A selection of species passing Corbiere this morning, included the first Balearic Shearwater of the season, 8 Manx Shearwaters , 5 Guillemots , 3 Fulmars , 75 Gannets , 2 Shelducks , 5 Cormorants , 19 Shags , 6 Kittiwakes , 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 42 Great Black-backed Gulls , 45 Swifts , 38 Swallows , 7 House Martins , a Grey Heron , 3 Little Egrets and 2 Peregrines . On and around the Scrape this morning were a male Shoveler , 5 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , 18 Swifts , 20 Swallows , 5 House Martins, 10 Sand Martins , a Peregrine , a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail . On St Ouen's Pond were the male Wigeon, 3 Grey Herons and a Shoveler and between Kempt Tower and the Frances le Sueur Centre were 7 Whitethroats , a Grey Heron , 3 Greenfinches and 2 Lapwings . In Les Ormes Valley were 2 Garden Warblers and 2 Whitethroats , while on Les Blanches Banques were another Whitethroat , a pair of Stonechats and overhead, 6 Swifts . Seen on Les Ecrehous today were 10 Purple Sandpipers , 3 Swallows and 2 Crows , with 12 Common Terns seen there yesterday. There was little by the way of migrants at Grouville Marsh today, with just a Sedge Warbler , 15 Reed Warblers and a Sparrowhawk of note and 2 Swifts plus 2 Swallows flying over. A single Brent Goose flew through Grouville Bay and 3 Tufted Duck were on Grands Vaux reservoir. A Stonechat was on Beauport Common and between there and La Moye Point were just 11 pairs of Herring Gulls and 4 pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls , also a Peregrine . A White Wagtail was in Le Marais at La Moye, 2 Tufted Ducks were on Dannemarche Reservoir and 11 Swifts were at the Albert Pier in St Helier Harbour. At Petit Port this evening were 2 Shelducks and 3 Whimbrels .

08.05.2025 Many thanks to Nick Parlett for this image of a White Stork over Jardin d'Olivet. NP The cold conditions continued today with cloudy skies slowly clearing through the day in a moderate to fresh east-northeast wind. The White Stork over Jardin d'Olivet apart, it was a slow news day for migrants, despite seemingly favourable conditions. There was some early passage past Corbiere though with 3 Great Northern Divers , 2 Black-throated Divers and a Red-throated Diver seen, as they headed off North. Also passing were 4 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Guillemots , 2 Shelduck , a drake Mallard , 41 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 11 Cormorants , 27 Shags , 4 Black-headed Gulls , a Kittiwake , 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 40 Great Black-backed Gulls seen offshore. 19 Swallows and 5 House Martins arrived from the southwest and a Peregrine was on rocks there too. 2 Shelduck were in Petit Port Bay. Good numbers of Swifts were in St Ouen's Bay again, with at least 50 in The Sandpits and another 30 at St Ouen's Pond. Seen at the Scrape were the male Shelduck , a Shoveler , a Common Sandpiper , 2 Oystercatchers , 5 Lapwings still with at least 2 chicks, a Grey Heron , 40 Swallows , 5 House Martins , a Sand Martin , a Yellow Wagtail, a Blackcap and a Wheatear . In the Sandpits were a pair of Stonechats , 40 Sand Martins , a Shelduck , 22 Tufted Ducks and 6 Oystercatchers . In Les Ormes Valley were 3 Garden Warblers , 2 Whitethroats and 5 Chiffchaffs . Another pair of Stonechats were on the Blanches Banques. This afternoon, a trickle of Swifts were moving northeast over Red Houses.