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19.07.2025 Chiffchaff near the Scrape Hide. Image: MD
An unsettled day, with rain on and off through the morning, and odd showers this afternoon. Winds were light from the northwest.
Swifts featured today, mainly avoiding the weather, with 11 seen at the Albert Pier, 8 at St Aubin, 5 near Tower 5 in Grouville Bay and 14 over Red Houses this afternoon.
In the Sandpits were 41 Tufted Ducks, 8 Little Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 White Wagtails, 30 Sand Martins, a Stonechat, another 10 Swifts, 20 House Martins, 6 Ravens, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Grey Herons and 2 Little Egrets.
At Le Hurel were 37 Mediterranean Gulls, 132 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret and 7 House Martins while at St Aubin were a Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets and 7 Redshanks. At Crabbe were 5 Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier and 3 Choughs.
From Corbiere this morning, counts included 6 Common Scoters, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 11 Cormorants, 3 Fulmars, 141 Gannets, 30 Shags, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Black-headed Gulls, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Whimbrel, a Grey Heron, an incoming Little Egret from the southwest and a Swallow, also 6 Ravens and a pod of 15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins moving East. At Petit Port were a Whimbrel, 2 Curlews, a Mediterranean Gull, 3 Kestrels, a Stonechat and 2 juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls.
30.07.2025 One of two Grasshopper Warblers, at St Ouen's Pond this morning, this one now wearing a Jersey ring! Image David Buxton A cloudy start to a fine day, becoming warm in a moderate north-west wind. As July heads towards it's close, definite signs of migration around the Island. At St Ouen's Pond from Dawn were 2 Grasshopper Warblers , 50 Sedge Warblers , 30 Reed Warblers , 8 Willow Warblers , a Blackcap , 5 Chiffchaffs , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Water Rail , 2 Grey Herons, a Swift , 20 Sand Martins , 20 House Martins , 25 Swallows , 3 Stonechats , a juvenile White Wagtail, 2 male Pochard , 30 Starlings , 20 Linnets , 3 Choughs , 2 Ravens , an overflying Ringed Plover and an impressive 18 Marsh Harriers out of a roost there. 5 Clouded yellow butterfies were also seen there, with another 2 seen in the Scrape area, but little else given the work carried out there today. Offshore, at Les Ecrehous were 300+ Sandwich Terns , a Roseate Tern , 50 Common Terns , 11 Little Egrets , 158 Turnstones , 20 Sanderlings , 50 Oystercatchers , a Grey Heron and a Willow Warbler . Passing Corbiere were 2 Common Scoters, 2 Fulmars , 35 Gannets , 29 Cormorants , 44 Shags , an immature Yellow-legged Gull , 4 Sandwich Terns , 76 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 39 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12 Mediterranean Gulls , 15 Black-headed Gulls , 165 Herring Gulls, 4 Swallows and also present were 5 Willow Warblers , a Peregrine and 2 Ravens . In Petit Port Bay were 23 Curlews , a Whimbrel and 10 Mediterranean Gulls while in St Ouen's Bay this afternoon were a juvenile Caspian Gull , 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , ( one wearing a Portuguese colour-ring), 78 Great Black-backed Gulls and 13 Mediterranean Gulls . The Redshank count at St Aubin had reached 10 today and by the car park at Egypte was a Dartford Warbler . Early on, a Barn Owl was seen near St Ouen's Manor. Below : The Scrape at St Ouen's Pond has received it's Summer cut, and it means that the water is now visible from the Scrape Hide again. Members of the Ornithology Section of the Societe Jersiaise joined the Rangers of the National Trust for Jersey to complete the tidy up in fine and warm conditions. Image: MD
29.07.2025 A beautiful flight shot of a Sandwich Tern on the southeast coast, courtesy of Romano. RDC A cloudy day with some light rain in a west-northwest wind A good list from St Ouen's Pond and surrounds from first light this morning included a Hobby , a Green Sandpiper , 35 Sedge Warblers , 30 Reed Warblers , 5 Willow Warblers , 6 Cetti's Warblers , 10 Chiffchaffs , 15 House Martins , 50 Sand Martins , 30 Swallows , 2 Swifts , a Grey Heron , 25 Starlings , 30 Linnets , a family of 4 Stonechats , 2 Ravens , a juvenile Mediterranean Gull , a juvenile Marsh Harrier , a Sparrowhawk , 5 Skylarks and a Grey Heron . Passing Corbiere were 2 Balearic Shearwaters , 5 Fulmars , 31 Gannets , 41 Shags , 8 Cormorants , 16 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Grey Herons . Notable on land there, were a female Marsh Harrier and a flock of 24 Ravens . In Petit Port Bay were 29 Curlews , a Whimbrel and 11 Mediterranean Gulls while at Le Pulec were 10 Little Egrets , 6 Black-headed Gulls and 28 Rock Pipits . In St Ouen's Bay this evening were a Yellow-legged Gull , 65 Great Black-backed Gulls , 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Sanderlings . On Les Ecrehous today were a Roseate Tern , c 60 Sandwich Terns, many of them juveniles, a Grey Heron and 3 Willow Warblers . Seen at Noirmont were 3 Willow Warblers , 65 Swallows and 6 Black-headed Gulls , while at Elizabeth Castle were 33 Curlews , 258 Oystercatchers , 13 Cormorants and 3 Little Egrets . At Queen's Valley reservoir were 4 Greenshanks , a Tufted Duck and a Grey Heron . A Barn Owl was seen early this morning, near St John's Manor, and another Barn Owl was seen late yesterday at Mont Matthieu.
28.07.2025 A flock of Black-headed Gulls with a selection of plumages, seen in the Sandpits last week. Image: MD Cloudy to fair conditions in a moderate north-west wind. Among birds seen during a visit to Les Minquiers today were 80 Turnstones , 9 Sandwich Terns , 80 Shags, mainly immatures, 6 Cormorants , 21 Great Black-backed Gulls a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Willow Warbler . This morning's passage past Corbiere included 3 Common Scoters , 5 Balearic Shearwaters , 5 Manx Shearwaters , 35 Gannets , 12 Fulmars , 84 Shags including good numbers of immatures, 2 Sandwich Terns , 40 Mediterranean Gulls , 22 Black-headed Gulls , 53 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 32 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Kittiwake , 45 Curlews heading off to a roost, a Turnstone , an immature Peregrine being chased off by an adult bird, a Raven and 12+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins , also 3 Swallows . In Petit Port Bay were 22 Mediterranean Gulls and 27 Black-headed Gulls . Seen from Dawn at St Ouen's Pond were 4 Green Sandpipers , a Swift , 30 Sand Martins , 25 Swallows , 8 House Martins , 20 Sedge Warblers , 30 Reed Warblers , 2 Willow Warblers , 10 Chiffchaffs , a Blackcap , 6 Cetti's Warblers , a Water Rail , a singing Skylark , 2 Grey Herons , a juvenile Marsh Harrier and a family of 4 Stonechats . On the Scrape were 3 Green Sandpipers, a Grey Heron and a passing Swift, and a Common Sandpiper was in the Sandpits. On Mont Matthieu were a Willow Warbler , a Blackcap and a juvenile Marsh Harrier . North of Le Braye slip this afternoon were a Yellow-legged Gull , 72 Great Black-backed Gulls and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, At St Aubin were 140 Black-headed Gulls and 9 Redshanks and around Elizabeth Castle were 150 Oystercatchers and 2 Cormorants . An extra for yesterday was a raft of 500-600 Balearic Shearwaters seen off Grosnez from the cross channel ferry.
27.07.2025 A juvenile Goldfinch at Kempt Tower this week. Image: MD A fair to cloudy day in a moderate north-west wind Mediterranean Gull numbers continue to rise on a daily basis with another 44 seen passing Corbiere this morning. Also passing were 5 Balearic Shearwaters , 4 Manx Shearwaters , a Fulmar , 49 Gannets , 80 Shags , 12 Cormorants , a Common Scoter , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 52 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 26 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Curlews , a Turnstone and 2 Swallows . A Peregrine and a Raven also flew by. At Petit Port were a further 55 Mediterranean Gulls , 42 Black-headed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 7 Little Egrets . 2 Sandwich Terns were at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay and 2 Peregrines were seen at Jardin d'Olivet. Evening update: At Les Landes were a Wheatear and a Swift and in St Ouen's Bay were a Yellow-legged Gull, 128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 72 Black-backed Gulls and 10 Mediterranean Gulls . At Grands Vaux reservoir were a Grey Heron , a Common Sandpiper , 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . In Vallee des vaux was a Firecrest in moult and on Mont Cochon was a Goldcrest with 2 fledged young. At the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay were 40 Black-headed Gulls with another 3 Black-headed Gulls seen at Rozel. Extra reports for yesterday evening include 147 Black-headed Gulls at La Pulente and Barn Owls seen near Victoria Tower and Les Pres Manor in Grouville.
26.07.2025 Stock Dove in the Sandpits. Image: MD After a little drizzle first thing, it was a mainly cloudy day in a moderate west-northwest wind. a small overnight fall of migrants at St Ouen's Pond involved 20 Sedge Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers , a Whitethroat and 40 Reed Warblers and also seen from first light there, were 15 House Martins , 20 Swallows , 20 Sand Martins , a juvenile Marsh Harrie r, a Kestrel , a Sparrowhawk , a family of 4 Stonechats , 2 Grey Herons, 2 Grey Herons, a Chough and 6 Pochards flying over. At La Pulente were 6 Little Egrets , a Mediterranean Gull and a Grey Seal . On Grouville Common were a Wheatear and a male and juvenile Cirl Bunting . A Grey Heron was seen at Handois reservoir. At sea, off of Corbiere this morning, were a flock of 17 Common Scoters , an adult Roseate Tern , 4 Sandwich Terns , a Manx Shearwater , a Balearic Shearwater , 60 Gannets , a Fulmar , 11 Cormorants , 51 Shags , 35 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 25 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Whimbrel , 5 Curlews , 2 Peregrines , a juvenile Kestrel , 3 Little Egrets, 3 Swifts , a pod of 6+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins , and on the headland, 11 Rock Pipits and a Chiffchaff . In Petit Port Bay were 29 Curlews , a Whimbrel , 35+ Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Sandwich Terns and a Grey Heron . In St Ouen's Bay this evening were 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 96 Great Black-backed Gulls , 67 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 10 Mediterranean Gulls , 45 Black-headed Gulls and a German colour-ringed Ringed Plover . Yesterday evening at St Ouen's Pond were a Swift , 15 House Martins , 30 Swallows , 60 Sand Martins , a Common Sandpiper , a Stonechat and a juvenile Marsh Harrier .
25.07.2025. A juvenile Black-headed Gull at Le Pulec today. Image: MD Another day with a cloudy start and a fine afternoon in a moderate northwest wind. Seen this morning at Corbiere, before 9 am were 5 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Balearic Shearwaters , a Fulmar , 49 Gannets , 24 Shags , 4 Cormorants , 14 Mediterranean Gulls, 6 Black-headed Gulls, 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 27 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Little Egrets including one juvenile, a Curlew , 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and 3 Tuna near the lighthouse. In Petit Port Bay were 19 Curlews , a Whimbrel , a Turnstone , a Grey Heron , 13 Mediterranean Gulls and 56 Black-headed Gulls. In St Ouen's Bay, at Le Pulec were 10 Black-headed Gulls and 10 Little Egrets and around Kempt Tower were 5 Whitethroats , 2 Stonechats and a Dartford Warbler . At St Ouen's Pond were a Grey Heron , 5 Sand Martins and 4 Swallows , but nothing was on the Scrape as it is currently being cut. At Noirmont were the first 2 Willow Warblers of the "Autumn", also 20 Swallows and a Swift while in Elizabeth Harbour in St Aubin's Bay were 20 Swifts , 6 Oystercatchers including a family of four, a Common Sandpiper , 7 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls . On the southeast of the Island, hundreds of Sandwich Terns and 100+ Oystercatchers were at Pontac and 97 Sandwich Terns , 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 72 Oystercatchers were at La Rocque. 8 Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Seymour and another 7 Mediterranean Gulls were at Bel Val. Evening update : At Petit Port this evening were 28 Mediterranean Gulls, a Kittiwake and a Whimbrel . 207 Black-headed Gulls were at Le Hurel this evening, also 11 Sandwich Terns while at La Rocque were a Ringed Plover and a Grey Heron . 11 Swallows were at Rue de Pont and 7 Sand Martins were over the Oyster Farm. 2 Peregrines and a Buzzard were seen at Plemont this afternoon too.
24.07.2025 A fine male Stonechat at Kempt Tower. Image: MD A cloudy morning and a fair to fine afternoon, with moderate winds from the north-northeast At La Rocque this morning were 2 Arctic Skuas, 100 Sandwich Terns, 6 Common Sandpipers , 2 Turnstones , 3 Grey Herons and 2 Mediterranean Gulls . In St Brelade, 6 Common Crossbills flew over Mont les Vaux this morning and in Petit Port Bay were 23 Curlews , 4 Little Egrets , 19 Mediterranean Gulls ( not the birds seen off of Corbiere), and a Black-headed Gull . Counts from Corbiere included 43 Manx Shearwaters , 10 Balearic Shearwaters , 2 Guillemots , 3 Fulmars , 52 Gannets , 23 Cormorants , 28 Shags , a Grey Heron , 19 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Kittiwakes , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 27 Great Black-backed Gulls and 5 Sandwich Terns . An unusual sight early today was a Coot migrating at sea, which passed the newspaper delivery boat 5 miles northwest of Grosnez Point. A pale-phase Buzzard was seen at La Coupe.
23.07.2025 Sandwich Tern carrying food for juvenile at La Rocque today. Image: MD A day of varying cloud, with showers passing close to the Island in a light to fresh west-northwest wind Seen over the high tide at La Rocque and Seymour were 180+ Sandwich Terns, many of them juveniles , 70 Black-headed Gulls , 20 Mediterranean Gulls , 23 Gannets , 9 Cormorants , 4 Grey Herons , 2 Whimbrels , a Curlew , a Common Sandpiper , 2 Swifts , 5 House Martins, 3 Swallows and 2 White Wagtails . At Le Hocq and Icho Tower rocks were 35 Little Egrets and 75 Curlews . 2 Cattle Egrets were at Grouville Marsh, also a Song Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker . In St Ouen's Bay, at the Sandpits, were 3 Barnacle Geese , a juvenile Marsh Harrier, 12 Little Grebes , 2 juvenile Black-headed Gulls , 4 Little Egrets , 2 Oystercatchers , 294 Coot , 52 Tufted Ducks and 15 Sand Martins. On the Scrape were 2 Teal , another juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Sand Martin, 2 pairs of Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler feeding young. A Sparrowhawk was at Kempt Tower pools, 4 Curlews were at Le Pulec, a Grey Heron was at Grantez and Reed Warblers were feeding young at L'Etacq. At Noirmont, 2 juvenile Kestrels were hunting on foot in the large field with a Dartford Warbler and 2 Buzzards also seen and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving west overhead. A Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were at Beaumont Marsh. In the Sandpits yesterday evening were 4 Swifts , 20 House Martins , 5 Sand Martins, 30 Swallows , 2 pairs of Reed Warblers feeding young, 2 Grey Herons and a juvenile Marsh Harrier .
22.07.2025 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are starting to pass the Island in numbers, as they begin to move south again. This one was pictured passing Grosnez this morning. Image MD A cloudy day in a fresh to strong west-southwest wind Some signs today that migration is starting to get underway, with a Wheatear reported at Les Landes, also 2 very early Pied Wagtails at La Rocque, while passing Grosnez were 7 Balearic Shearwaters , 3 Manx Shearwaters, a Razorbill , 30 Gannets , 10 Cormorants , 39 Shags , 110 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 115 Herring Gulls , 35 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Black-headed Gulls . Several new birds were seen around the south-east of the Island. At La Rocque were an adult Roseate Tern with a juvenile , a summer-plumaged Knot , a Black-tailed Godwit , 3 Common Terns , 110 Sandwich Terns , 11 Mediterranean Gulls , 7 Common Sandpipers , a Greenshank and a Whimbrel . In Grouville Bay earlier were 114 Sandwich Terns , possibly the same birds as above, 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 14 Curlews and a Whimbrel and at Grouville Marsh were 3 Cattle Egrets . 5 Swifts were over Victoria Tower this morning. In St Ouen's Bay sandpits were 25 Tufted Ducks , 2 Little Grebes , 100+ Coot , 36 Black-headed Gulls , nearly all of them juveniles, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 8 Great Black-backed Gulls , a juvenile Marsh Harrier , 2 Swifts , 20 Sand Martins and a Cetti's Warbler . 4 Black-headed Gulls included one juvenile, in St Aubin's Harbour.
21.07.2025 A Whitethroat near the Kempt Tower pools this morning. Image: MD A cloudy day with rain early morning and an increasing west-northwest wind through the afternoon. A slow morning at Corbiere, recorded a Manx Shearwater , 35 Gannets , a Fulmar , 9 Cormorants , 87 Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving West, 5 Mediterranean Gulls , 19 Black-headed Gulls , 15 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Marsh Harriers , a Kestrel and a Raven . In Petit Port Bay this afternoon were 21 Curlews , a Whimbrel , 4 Little Egrets , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 37 Black-headed Gulls , a Grey Heron and 2 Kestrels . A sign of the times was a flock of 5 Cattle Egrets which appeared at Grouville Marsh ( with many more to follow?) A single Swift was seen at Rozel. In the area around Kempt Tower pools this morning were a Dartford Warbler , 2 Whitethroats , a family of 4 Stonechats , 4 Chiffchaffs , 4 Reed Warblers , a Cetti's Warbler, 15 Linnets , 12 Goldfinches , a Skylark , a Little Grebe , 2 Tufted Ducks , a Sparrowhawk , 3 Marsh Harriers including 2 fledged juveniles, a Grey Heron , 3 House Martins , also 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls flying over. At St Ouen's Pond were 4 Swifts , 10 House Martins , 20 Sand Martins, and a Grey Heron , while at the Scrape were a Teal , 2 Swallows , 4 Reed Warblers , 4 Chiffchaffs and a Skylark . At St Aubin were 9 Swifts , 8 Redshanks , a Kestrel , a Peregrine and a Little Egret . Evening update : In the Sandpits were 3 Barnacle Geese , 7 Grey Herons , 12 Little Egrets , 192 Coot , 85 Tufted Ducks, 39 Great Black-backed Gulls , 50+ Black-headed Gulls, a Cormorant and 40+ hirundines . At Le Braye were 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 64 Great Black-backed Gulls. Further reports for yesterday include 6 Stonechats on the Blanches Banques, a Grey Heron at La Blinerie, 2 Swifts over Grainville cricket pitch and 4 Ravens in flight over Vallee des Vaux.
