Jersey Birds

20.05.2026 A Whitethroat in song near the Scrape MD Overcast with drizzle through the morning, before the skies cleared with an anicyclone approaching and the promise of better conditions in the days ahead. Winds today were from the southwest. Firstly, a report from yesterday , when a Hoopoe was seen near to St Georges School in St Peter. Off Le Pulec this morning were 7 Manx Shearwaters , a Shelduck , a Fulmar , 7 Gannets , 2 Kittiwakes , a Whimbrel , 25 Shags and a Peregrine , while earlier on at Corbiere were 10 Manx Shearwaters , another Shelduck , 12 Gannets , 34 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Swifts and a Swallow . In the Plemont area this morning were 12 Swifts , 3 House Martins , 7 Swallows , 40 Linnets , a Kestrel , 4 Choughs , a Jackdaw , a pair of Marsh Harrier and a Painted Lady butterfly. At St Ouen's Pond were 3 Shelduck , 5 Tufted Ducks , a male Shoveler , a male Stonechat , 120 Swallows , House Martins and Sand Martins feeding low over the water, also 4 Swifts . North of the Pond, Stonechats were feeding fledged young. At Fountain Lane were a Marsh Harrier and a Cetti's Warbler and at Grands Vaux were 7 Tufted Duck and 11 Swifts . 3 Swifts and 3 Swallows were at St Catherine and a male Cirl Bunting was on Grouville Common.

19.05.2026 A Coot with her four babies at Kempt Tower pools today. MD Periods of rain and drizzle through the day gave way to sunshine late this afternoon, with winds in the southwest. This morning's seabirds passing Corbiere in two hours of daylight included another Great Northern Diver heading off high to the northwest, 39 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Fulmars , 48 Gannets , 7 Guillemots , 3 Cormorants , a Sandwich Tern , 2 Kittiwakes , 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 48 Great Black-backed Gulls. A male Shelduck was in Petit Port Bay again. At St Ouen's Pond were 2 Shovelers , 5 Tufted Ducks , 8 Swifts , 15 Sand Martins , 2 House Martins, 8 Swallows and a juvenile Raven . At Kempt Tower pools were 3 Tufted Ducks , a Little Grebe , a family of 6 Coot , a Blackcap , several Chiffchaffs and a Swallowtail butterfly. A survey of birds at a private site in St Peter's Valley recorded 26 species, which included a Spotted Flycatcher and fledged Blackcaps . At Les Landes were a Marsh Harrier , a Peregrine , a Kestrel , 2 Dartford Warblers , a pair of Stonechat , a Wheatear , a Whitethroat , 10 Linnets , a Greenfinch and 13 Swallows .

18.05.2026 . As many as five pairs of Shelduck may be present on the West coast at the moment. The male on the left of this image is seen being escorted off the premises by one of the occupying pair, after a brief visit to the Scrape this morning. MD Showery rain today mainly missed the Island again, leaving a mainly cloudy day in an increasing west, becoming southerly wind There was a better level of movement past Corbiere first thing this morning with 6 Great Northern Divers , 110 Manx Shearwaters , 14 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 9 Gannets , 5 Cormorants , 19 Shags , 3 Kittiwakes , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 62 Great Black-backed Gulls passing in two hours. 3 Ravens and a Peregrine were also seen. In Grouville Bay, as seen from Seymour, were 24 Ringed Plovers , 22 Dunlin , 2 Sanderlings , 2 Turnstones and a Curlew . At St Ouen's Pond were 4 Tufted Ducks , a Shoveler , a pair of Stonechat and varying numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins through the morning. Shelduck were to the fore elswhere with a pair on the Scrape joined briefly by a second pair, a pair In Petit Port Bay and another one at La Pulente. Around the Scrape were 4 Lapwings , the pair of Oystercatcher , several Marsh Harriers , and a Tufted Duck on the South Canal. At Sorel this afternoon were 2 singing Garden Warblers , a singing Willow Warbler, 3 pairs of Whitethroats , a singing Stonechat , , a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap while flying over were 13 Swifts , 8 Swallows and a female Marsh Harrier . 2 Tufted Ducks were at Handois Extras from yesterday include 4 Sedge Warblers and 2 Ravens at Grouville Marsh and a singing Firecrest in Vallee des Vaux.

17.05.2026 Good numbers of Reed Warblers are present now in St Ouen's Bay, including this one, pictured at Kempt Tower pools MD A cloudy day with a moderate west-northwest wind and still below average temperatures. In and around St Ouen's Bay today, starting with the Scrape at the Pond, were a male Shelduck , the Barnacle Goose and Pink-footed Goose combo, 2 Lapwings , a pair of Oystercatchers , 2 Swifts , 20+ Sand Martins , an adult Grey Heron , several singing Reed Warblers and 4 Tufted Duck , on the South Canal. At Kempt Tower were a Little Grebe , 2 male Tufted Ducks and several more Reed Warblers . A Garden Warbler was singing in Les Ormes Valley and 6 Swifts were at the Sandpits. Early morning movement past Corbiere included a Manx Shearwater , 13 Guillemots , a Fulmar , 20 Gannets , 24 Shags , a Cormorant , a Peregrine and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , with 4 juvenile Ravens , a female Marsh Harrier on the headland. A male Shelduck and 3 Little Egrets were in Petit Port Bay. Another 6 Swifts were seen at St Aubin's Harbour. An extra for yesterday was a White Wagtail collecting food at the Farmer's Cricket Ground in St Martin.

16.05.2026 Wren at the Scrape Image: MD A mainly dry day, but still cool for the time of year under a blanket of cloud in a moderate westerly wind. Passing Corbiere in the first two hours of light this morning were a Great Northern Diver , a Red-throated Diver , 7 Guillemots , 3 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Fulmars , 9 Gannets , 2 Kittiwakes , 34 Great Black-backed Gulls , a female Marsh Harrier and a single Swallow . A single Shelduck was in Petit Port Bay, hopefully the other is sitting nearby. At Plemont were 9 Razorbills , 2 Swifts , 4 Swallows , a Buzzard , a Marsh Harrier, 2 Choughs , 12 Linnets , 3 Goldfinches , 2 Ravens and a Kestrel . Up to 9 Bottle-nosed Dolphins moved East offshore. In Les Ormes Valley this morning were a Garden Warbler , a Cetti's Warbler , 4 Blackcaps , 8 Chiffchaffs , a Bullfinch , 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Buzzards . In the Sandpits, were 16 Tufted Ducks , a singing Reed Warbler , 20+ Sand Martins and 3 Marsh Harriers . Seen from Seymour in Grouville Bay were 26 Dunlin , 7 Ringed Plovers , 2 Grey Plovers and a Curlew . White Wagtails were feeding fledged young in the Parade in St Helier and in the East, a male Cirl Bunting was in song on Grouville Common. Evening update : On Les Ecrehous today were a Purple Sandpiper , a Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstones , 4 Little Egrets and c 100 Common Terns with 2 Sandwich Terns seen there yesterday. Below : Thanks again to Jo Bramley for this short video of a cunning Great Spotted Woodpecker in a garden at St Ouen'

15.05.2026 A fine pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Grosnez. MD Temperatures remained well below the norm for May, not helped by cloudy conditions and a northerly wind. Migrants are thin on the ground at the moment, but a Cuckoo was calling at Greve de Lecq, near the Prince of Wales and 2 Great Egrets flew over Mont les Vaux in St Aubin. Seen from a chilly Grosnez were a Manx Shearwater , 11 Common Terns , 2 Sandwich Terns , 8 Guillemots , 48 Gannets , just 6 Fulmars , 6 Cormorants , 5 Kittiwakes , 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 15 Great Black-backed Gulls , 42 Swallows , 19 House Martins , a male Stonechat , a pair of Marsh Harriers , a pair of Buzzards and 2 Ravens . Around St Ouen's Pond from first light till mid-morning were 2 Sedge Warblers , a Whitethroat , 4 Wheatears , 12 Swifts , 25 Swallows , 16 House Martins , a singing Reed Bunting , a Stonechat , a female Shoveler , a Sparrowhawk , and a Peregrine . In Les Ormes Valley were a Garden Warbler , 2 Chiffchaffs , 2 Peregrines and 3 Marsh Harriers and a Whitethroat was singing on Chemin du Moulin in St Ouen. A pair of Shelduck was at Petit Port as usual, while at Gorselands were 6 Whitethroats , 2 Dartford Warblers , 3 Greenfinches , a Chough , 30+ Painted Lady Butterflies and a Small Tortoiseshell . At Kempt Tower pools were a male Shoveler , a Tufted Duck and another Whitethroat . On the North coast, at Les Platons were up to 12 Ravens , 5 Dartford Warblers , 7 Swallows , 3 House Martins, 5 Swifts , 3 Linnets , a Blackcap , a Kestrel and a Buzzard , plus a Swallowtail butterfly. Seen at Seymour were 26 Ringed Plovers , 8 Dunlin and a Bar-tailed Godwit . At Elizabeth Castle were 2 Whimbrels , a Wheatear , 20+ Linnets , 2 Little Egrets, 4 Swifts , a Blackbird and a Raven .

14.05.2026 This male is one of the Marsh Harriers currently breeding at St Ouen's Pond. MD A cold and blustery day with occasional showers in a strong northwest wind. A few birds passing Corbiere in the unpleasant conditions, prior to 8 am, included 4 Manx Shearwaters , 24 Guillemots , 5 Fulmars , 21 Gannets , a Sandwich Tern , 3 Kittiwakes , 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Whimbrel . At St Ouen's Pond were 15 Swifts , 8 House Martins , 20+ Sand Martins, a few Swallows , 2 male Shovelers and 5 Tufted Ducks . On the Scrape were the pair of Shelduck and the Barnacle Goose / Pink-footed Goose combo. A few waders at La Rocque included 5 Curlews and 6 Whimbrels . Evening update: At Seymour this evening were 45 Ringed Plovers , 12 Sanderlings , 23 Dunlin , 7 Little Egrets and a Lesser Black-backed Gull , while at Francheville Farm was a Cetti's Warbler singing in Little Valley and at Grouville Marsh were 12 Swifts , 20 Swallows , 25 House Martins and a Sparrowhawk .

13.05.2026 Jackdaws over La Rosiere. MD An unsettled day, with blustery showers and brighter periods and a strong westerly wind, cold for May at 14c. A Turtle Dove was seen walking along Rue des Maltieres in Grouville this afternoon, before flying off towards the allotments there. In the shelter of the Sandpits at La Braye this morning, were 35 Swifts , 40 Sand Martins , 35 Swallows , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 16 Tufted Ducks , 54 Coot , 3 Ravens , and 2 Choughs checking out the Sand Martin colony. At St Ouen's Pond were an immature Mediterranean Gull , up to 90 Sand Martins , 80 Swallows , 20 House Martins , 4 Swifts , a Sparrowhawk , 2 male Shovelers and 7 Tufted Ducks . Passing Corbiere first thing were 3 Manx Shearwaters , 14 Guillemots , 17 Gannets , a Fulmar , 3 Kittiwakes , 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 74 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Cormorants and 3 Ravens . At Seymour this afternoon were 43 Sanderlings , 13 Dunlin , 28 Ringed Plovers, a Turnstone , and 2 Swifts , while in Grouville Marsh were30 Swallows and 8 House Martins and at Grands Vaux reservoir were 30 House Martins , a Sand Martin and 15 Swallows . Below : Today's out of season Mediterranean Gull over St Ouen's Pond against a grey sky.

12.05.2026 Great Black-backed Gulls , part of a group of nine birds, up and at it in today's beautiful conditions, at Grosnez. Image: MD A mostly fine day, with pristine visibility but a chilly northwest wind. On a relatively quiet day for the date, a Cuckoo heard calling near St John's Village was very welcome. At or passing Grosnez this morning were 55 Gannets , 3 Guillemots , 6 Cormorants , 3 Kittiwakes , 40+ Great Black-backed Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a flock of 22 Sanderlings , a Whimbrel , 82 Swallows , 13 House Martins , a migrant Kestrel heading North, a Peregrine , 2 Buzzards , 2 Marsh Harriers , 2 Wheatears , 5 Choughs and 2 Ravens . At Gorselands were 2 Dartford Warblers , a Whitethroat , 6 Painted Lady butterflies and one Swallowtail . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were the Shelduck pair, an Oystercatcher on eggs, and 4 Lapwings . A Whitethroat was near the GaP Hide at the Sandpits. At Grouville Marsh early on were 2 Sedge Warblers , 20 Reed Warblers , 5 pairs of Cetti's Warblers , a pair of Bullfinches and a Sparrowhawk . On La Rue du Moulin de Bas was a singing Garden Warbler and a pair of Bullfinches . In St Catherine's Woods were another Bullfinch , 3 Firecrests , 2 Short-toed Treecreepers , good numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs , and a Long-tailed Tit .