Jersey Birds

16.06.2025 A Meadow Pipit at Les Landes this week, one of our breeding birds. Image MD There was an overcast start to the day, which gradually cleared to fine conditions by this afternoon, in light west-northwest winds. A selection of species seen from Corbiere this morning, in the light wind conditions, included 6 Manx Shearwaters , 4 Balearic Shearwaters ( or Mediterranean Shearwaters as they will now become known - see below), 5 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 32 Gannets , 37 Shags , 8 Cormorants , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 7 Kittiwakes , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 23 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Swift , a Raven , 2 Peregrines , 13 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and also a Hummingbird Hawk Moth . At Petit Port, Curlews had increased to 7, with one pair of Shelduck also present. At Plemont, 3 Puffins were feeding actively ( also seen there yesterday evening), 2 Razorbills , and 3 Grey Herons which flew over in formation, also 12 Swifts , 3 Swallows and 5 Great Black-backed Gulls . 12 Choughs , including some juveniles, were at Grosnez. At St Aubin were 20 Black-headed Gulls and 10 Swifts. Seen from the Wetland Centre at St Ouen's Pond were 30+ Swallows , 40+ Sand Martins , 5 House Martins, and the usual Marsh Harriers , Reed Warblers , Cetti's Warblers and a Wren carrying food. Evening update : Counts in the Sandpits this evening included 120 Sand Martins with many fledged young, 2 young Marsh Harriers , 110 Coot , the male Wigeon , a Pochard , 18 Tufted Duck , 3 Little Egrets , a Cetti's Warbler , 2 White Wagtails and 10 Oystercatchers , A unified global taxonomy has been published for the first time, this week, with the launch of Avilist and should provide a long overdue standard reference for the first time. One or two of our locally appearing species are affected by some list changes and full details can be found at: https://www.birdguides.com/news/unified-global-taxonomy-published-for-first-time/ ....and for comparison with the Meadow Pipit above, a Rock Pipit at Grosnez . Image MD

15.06.2025 Clearly there is an ambitious building project in progress near to Corbiere. Great Black-backed Gull today . Image: MD A mainly fine day with a cool westerly wind. The slow times continue, with breeding in full swing. A few birds not involved, passing Corbiere this morning, included 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls still in Summer plumage, a Kittiwake , 6 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 2 Cormorants , 18 Shags , 30 Gannets , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Swallow heading off South. A family of 7 Ravens , 5 Choughs and a Marsh Harrie r were on the headland while roosting at Petit Port were 2 pairs of Shelduck , but no signs of any young, and 6 Curlews . Seen at Plemont were a Puffin , 8+ Razorbills , 2 Gannets , 3 Buzzards , a Kestrel and 5 Linnets , with 2 Storm Petrels and a pair of Stonechats having been seen there late yesterday. North of St Ouen's Pond this morning were at least 4 Skylarks , 2 Marsh Harriers , 5 Ravens , a Buzzard and several Swallows and at Kempt Tower pools were a male Tufted Duck , a Little Grebe , 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Buzzards . 3 adult Lapwing were in the Scrape field and the family of 5 Shelduck was on the Scrape. Elsewhere, unusually, a juvenile Long-eared Owl was seen in flight at Les Blanches Banques this afternoon and a pair of Stonechat was on Beauport Common.

14.06.2025 A Swift over Les Landes this morning. Image: MD A clear and mainly sunny day in a moderate west-southwest wind. It was just odds and ends passing Corbiere this morning which included 8 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Guillemots , 40 Gannets , 3 Fulmars , a Kittiwake and a Curlew , while in Petit Port Bay were 5 Curlews and the pair of Shelduck and 8 Choughs were by the radio tower at Corbiere. At Grosnez and Les Landes were a Guillemot , a Mediterranean Gull, 8 Swifts , 2 Stonechats , 30 Linnets and 7 Choughs . Seen along the northwest coast were 23 Razorbills , another 8 Swifts , a Swallow and 2 Choughs , which were near to Crabbe Farm. A further 2 Choughs were seen over Rue de la Roulerie in Trinity. In St Clement, between Pontac and Le Hocq were 3 Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers and a Great Crested Grebe was taken into care, having been picked up near Havre des Pas pool. On Grouville Common were a singing Firecrest , several Chiffchaffs , a Blackcap and a Linnet while both Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were near La Rue de Grouville, where 4 male Cetti's Warblers , 3 singing Reed Warblers , 3 singing Chiffchaffs , 4 singing Blackcaps and a male Sparrowhawk were also seen or heard in a marshy area there. Yet another Buzzard was at Rozel and 9 Swifts were in flight near Le Hurel, in Grouville Bay.

13.06.2025 Kestrel at Grosnez. Image: MD A fine and warm day, with heavy showers approaching this evening. Winds were light becoming north-easterly. Counts from Corbiere first thing included 27 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Balearic Shearwaters , 19 Gannets , a Fulmar , 6 Guillemots , 5 Cormorants , 4 sub-adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Raven . In Petit Port Bay were 3 adult Shelducks and 6 Curlews . At St Ouen's Pond Scrape were the family of 5 Shelduck , 4 Lapwings with one juvenile, a male Shoveler , a displaying Sedge Warbler , 5 Reed Warblers and 3 Cetti's Warblers . A visit to Les Ecrehous this morning saw 100+ Common Terns , 15 Sandwich Terns , c100 Oystercatchers , 30 Turnstones , 2 Grey Plovers , 7 Little Egrets , Great Black-backed Gulls with young, and hundreds of Herring Gulls . At St Aubin were 8 Black-headed Gulls and 6 Swifts and in St Catherine's Woods were 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers , a singing Goldcrest and a family of 4 Blackcaps , while 4 Swifts , a House Martin and 2 Swallows were seen overhead. Evening update : Black-headed Gull numbers had increased to 22 at the Gunsite this evening Extras for yesterday include a Puffin at Plemont, 17 Swifts at Gorey, 2 Swifts at Nicolle Tower and another 10 Swifts at St Aubin.

1 2.06.2025 Marsh Harrier by the Wetland Centre Image: MD A thundery trough brought plenty of rain this morning, before clearing to a fine and warm afternoon. Seen from Corbiere, mainly before the rain arrived were 10 Balearic Shearwaters , 29 Manx Shearwaters , a Guillemot , 9 Cormorants , 15 Shags , a Fulmar , 19 Gannets and a Grey Heron , also a Grey Seal and a Bottle-nosed Dolphin . The first signs of returning birds included 5 Curlew and 2 Redshank at Petit Port where the pair of Shelduck were still present. Black-headed Gulls are also reappearing, with 2 at St Aubin and 6 in Grouville Bay, following on from 2 seen at Long Beach yesterday. Also in Grouville Bay today was a pair of Shelduck , with a Grey Heron seen there yesterday. In Grouville Marsh were both Cetti's Warbler and Reed Warbler . At the Scrape in St Ouen's Bay were 6 Lapwings plus one juvenile, also the family of Shelduck . A pair of Little Grebe was on Kempt Tower pools. During the period of heaviest rain this morning, 50 Sand Martins and 15 Swallows were sitting it out at St Ouen's Pond, and 5 Swifts were still attempting to feed overhead. 30 Swifts were seen at Elizabeth Castle and a juvenile Long-eared Owl was heard in the grounds of Government House. Several extra reports for yesterday included 11 pairs of Common Terns at Les Minquiers, although gull predation is an issue there, a Whimbrel , 22 Turnstones and 2 Sandwich Terns also there. A pair of White Wagtail were feeding 2 young at the Farmer's Cricket Ground. Farther afield, a record count of 58 Roseate Terns was had at Ile de la Colomberie, near St Malo, but none seem to be at our Common Tern colonies so far.

11.06.2025 Oystercatchers in noisy mode at Corbiere Image MD An early morning overcast soon cleared to a warm and sunny day ( 25c) in light easterly winds Seabirds were far more active this morning, after a few very slow days. Seen passing Corbiere from sunrise were 99 Manx Shearwaters , 28 Balearic Shearwaters , 4 Fulmars , 48 Gannets , 11 Guillemots , 47 Shags , 7 Cormorants , 9 Kittiwakes , 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 27 Great Black-backed Gulls as well as a Grey Heron , a Little Egret , 2 Peregrines and 10 Swifts . 2 Shelduck were in Petit Port Bay once again. 7 Swifts were at St Catherine's Breakwater and another 4 Swifts plus a Little Egret were at St Aubin. and a pair of Stonechat was at Beauport Common.

10.06.2025 Four young Ravens awaiting their next meal, at Noirmont this morning. Image MD A cool and cloudy day with a niggling westerly wind. Very little was happening on the bird front, unsurprisingly, given the weather. Off Grosnez, just a Balearic Shearwater, a Manx Shearwater , a Guillemot and 5 Gannets of note, while at Les Landes were 3 young Ravens , 6 Choughs including at least one juvenile bird, 3 Swifts , 3 Swallows heading North, and a hunting Marsh Harrier . One Shelduck was seen at Le Pulec and 2 Little Egrets at La Saline. A family of 6 Ravens were at Noirmont, also 4 Buzzards , 8 Swallows and a Chiffchaff , while at Gorselands were 3 singing Dartford Warblers and a passing Peregrine . 4 Swifts were seen at Beaumont Marsh. On the East coast, 6 Swifts were over La Crete, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in St Catherine's Woods, a Cetti's Warbler was singing at Archirondel, while at La Sente were another singing Cetti's Warbler , and an adult White Wagtail with a juvenile White Wagtail seen at Le Hurel. Back to yesterday , when a visit to the Ecrehous found an excellent 118 pairs of Common Terns , 3 Sandwich Terns , 65 Turnstones and 50+ Oystercatchers present.

09.06.2025 Male Stonechat at Petit Port today. Image - MD A clear start to the day soon became an overcast sky, but at least it was dry. Winds were from the West and conditions improved again this afternoon. Early morning passage past Corbiere involved 16 Manx Shearwaters , 14 Balearic Shearwaters , 3 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 26 Gannets , a Grey Heron , a Little Egret and 3 Kittiwakes . At Petit Port was the pair of Shelduck , ( but no young seen) and a family of Stonechat including 2 well grown juveniles. Over St Ouen's Pond were 20 Swallows , 2 House Martins , 4 Sand Martins and 2 Swifts . Several Reed Warblers were in song in the reedbed. On the Scrape were the family of Shelduck , still with three young, 6 Lapwings plus one half-grown juvenile, and 2 Sand Martins . To the north of St Ouen's Pond were 6 Skylarks , a Lapwing , also an overflying Grey Heron and around Kempt Tower were 2 Little Grebes, 2 Tufted Duck , Coots with young, a pair of Stonechat , a Whitethroat , a Blackcap , 2 Chiffchaffs and 3+ Reed Warblers . At Le Pulec were another pair of Shelduck and a pair of Stonechat . A Garden Warbler was at Les Vaux Cuissin in St Ouen. A pair of Oystercatcher with three young by Sands Slip in St Ouen's Bay may well have been the family which bred on the Scrape field, but which were not seen there today. At St Aubin were 4 Swifts and a Little Egret and at Le Maseline reservoir was a single Grey Heron . Evening update: In the Sandpits were a pair of Shelduck , the male Wigeon , 4 Black Swans , 112 Coot , 31 Tufted Duck , 4 Little Egrets , 60 Sand Martins , both Reed Warbler and Cetti's Warbler feeding young, 2 recently fledged Marsh Harriers , 5 pairs of Oystercatchers , 2 pairs of Stonechats , including one pair with 2 young, a Whitethroat , 4 young White Wagtails with an adult bird feeding a second brood at it's nest site, 2 Ravens and also 2 Chough flew over. At the bottom of Jubilee Hill were 53 Great Black-backed Gulls and a pair of Stonechat and a family of Ravens flew over Grouville Marsh.

08.06.2025 A male Dartford Warbler carrying food for young today MD A dry day after several wet ones, but still cool in a west-northwest wind. Signs of successful breeding were all around today. A check of Les Ormes Valley found 13 Chiffchaffs , 7 Blackcaps , a Garden Warbler , a Firecrest , a young juvenile Robin , a Dartford Warbler carrying food and a singing Greenfinch , while overhead were 2 Marsh Harriers and three Buzzards . On Les Blanches Banques were a family of five Stonechats , a singing Skylark and several displaying Meadow Pipits. 10+ Swifts were over the Sandpits. To the north of St Ouen's Pond was a Whitethroat carrying food and a pair of Stonechat while at Kempt Tower were both Cetti's Warblers and Reed Warblers feeding young with a juvenile Stonechat also seen. On Mont Matthieu were Cetti's Warblers and Whitethroats also feeding young. Off of Corbiere this morning were an out of season Red-throated Diver , 32 Balearic Shearwaters , 11 Manx Shearwaters , a Razorbill , 5 Guillemots , 7 Fulmars , 30 Gannets , 3 Kittiwakes , 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Swallows and up to 7 Choughs . 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were offshore there. and the pair of Shelduck was at Petit Port, although the young were not seen. At Val de lar Mar were Short-toed Treecreepers also feeding young. House Martins had newly hatched chicks in a nestbox at Causie Lane in St Clement and a Firecrest was in a garden at Vallee des Vaux, also 20 Swifts were seen over Route d'Ebenezer