Jersey Birds

12.09.2025 A juvenile Great Black-backed Gull in fine condition on St Ouen's Bay beach on Monday, ringed in the Netherlands in June ( see below) Image: Romano RDC. Another very unsettled day with showers and a very strong and blustery west-southwest wind. It was seabirds to the fore again, unsurprisingly. Seen passing Corbiere this morning were 169 Balearic Shearwaters, 20 Manx Shearwaters , 159 Gannets , a Guillemot , 180 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 46 Great Black-backed Gulls , 5 Mediterranean Gulls , a Black-headed Hull, a Common Gull , 12 Common Terns , 146 Sandwich Terns, as well as 2 Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails . Seen from the San Malo ferry at the north-east Minquiers buoy were single Manx and Balearic Shearwaters . On St Ouen's Beach were 102 Great Black-backed Gulls , 40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 6 Sandwich Terns and by Sands were 80 Starlings . At Le Pulec were 250 Oystercatchers , 19 Curlews , 15 Cormorants , 10 Little Egrets and a Kestrel . At Grosnez was a pale-phase Buzzard , 3 Marsh Harriers , 200 Linnets and a Peregrine . The Pied Flycatcher spent another day in a garden in Vallee des Vaux along with 3 Firecrests , a Sparrowhawk was seen by Beaumont Marsh and at La Sente were 3 Cattle Egrets , 2 Grey Herons and 4 Swallows . .... and not in such great shape back in June as it is being ringed as a chick in Grevelingen, the Netherlands. Image with thanks to the Dutch ringing team there.

1 1.09.2025 This Ringed Plover received it's extra rings on Gull Island in Hampshire this June and is pictured here in Grouville Bay recently. Image thanks to Romano RDC A mainly dry and fair day, with just an odd shower, but in a strong and gusty west-southwest wind (F6). A good morning-long passage of shearwaters past Corbiere saw a total of 652 Balearic Shearwaters and 57 Manx Shearwaters counted. Also passing were 93 Gannets , a Fulmar , 3 Great Crested Grebes together, a Razorbill , 38 Sandwich Terns , 128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 6 Mediterranean Gulls , a Common Gull, 3 Black-headed Gulls and 57 Great Black-backed Gulls with another 70 roosting on the cliffs there, also 36 Curlews , 3 Choughs , 4 Ravens , a Wheatear and 2 Peregrines . Seen at the Gunsite, before today's air display got underway were 370 Black-headed Gulls , 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 100 Sandwich Terns , a White Wagtail and a Kestrel A Pied Flycatcher spent a third day in Vallee des Vaux with 2 Firecrests , a Goldcrest , a Chiffchaff , 5 House Martins and a Sparrowhawk also seen, and a Hobby was seen in flight over the Zoo. Just a handful of Swallows were seen over Red Houses this afternoon, with the current run of weather severely disrupting what should be one of the busiest weeks of the year for the species, as they pass through Jersey on their way South. In St Ouen's Bay were 123 Great Black-backed Gulls , 47 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull and 10 Sandwich Terns .

10.09.2025 A recently taken image of a juvenile Glossy Ibis in Grouville Bay, with thanks to Romano for the picture. RDC A poor day for weather, with rain through a good part of it, and a blustery southwest wind not helping. A few birds passing Corbiere before the rain set in, included 27 Balearic Shearwaters , 8 Manx Shearwaters , 17 Gannets , 87 Great Black-backed Gulls , 9 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Black-headed Gulls , 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . 16 Shags and 3 Sandwich Terns . 165 Oystercatchers were roosting on the north side of Petit Port Bay this morning over the high (11.5 metre) tide. Very little was moving past Noirmont, with just 4 Swallows , 6 House Martins and a juvenile Peregrine seen during a brief watch there. One House Martin nest was still active on a house in Rosedale Avenue at Beaumont, with adults seen feeding young there today. A Pied Flycatcher was present for a second day in a garden at Vallee des Vaux, another Pied Flycatcher was near Bayview Court on Mont Matthieu and a third was at Grouville Marsh, by the stream on the road to les Pres Manor. 17 Cattle Egrets were also in the same vicinity. This evening in Vallee des Vaux were 3 Firecrests , 2 Blackcaps , a Water Rail, also the Pied Flycatchers still present. A Kingfisher wa sat on a gate post at Green Island earlier and 2 Wigeon plus 3 Green Sandpipers were on the Scrape. At the Gunsite were 20 Sandwich Terns, 98 Black-headed Gulls and 4 White Wagtails . An update for yesterday at Noirmont was, on review of images taken, 2 Ospreys passed, not one as stated yesterday.

09.09.2025 A beautiful image of a juvenile Little Tern in Grouville Bay recently, image courtesy of Romano RDC. Todays threatened rain failed to materialise during daylight hours, leaving a pleasant day with high cloud and a fresh southerly wind. Another Osprey appeared at Noirmont this morning, being seen three times in an hour mid-morning, before it headed East over St Aubin's Bay. A quiet day for passage there saw 105 Swallows , 7 Sand Martins , 6 House Martins , 41 Yellow Wagtails , 8 Tree Pipits , a Meadow Pipit , 6 White Wagtails , 17 Wheatears , 5 Whinchats , a Redstart , 2 Stonechats , 3 Whitethroats , a Willow Warbler , 3 Chiffchaffs , 29 Linnets , 2 Grey Herons , a male Marsh Harrier , 6 Buzzards , 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Peregrines there. Offshore were at least 35 Manx Shearwaters , 25 Balearic Shearwaters , 80 Sandwich Tern s, 17 Mediterranean Gulls , 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 69 Gannets . At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were an overflying Spotted Redshank, a Barn Owl, 20 Sedge Warblers , 12 Reed Warblers , a Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaffs , 15 Cetti's Warblers , 2 Blackcaps , a Sand Martin , 50 House Martins , 60 Swallows , 8 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Water Rails , 60 Goldfinches , a Snipe and a hunting Hobby . Seen at the Sandpits were 275 Coot , 4 Grey Herons , 23 Little Grebes and 3 male Pochard . In St Ouen's Bay were a Yellow- l egged Gull , 96 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 81 Great Black-backed Gulls , 48 Mediterranean Gulls, 31 Black-headed Gulls , 11 Sandwich Terns and 2 Wheatears . At Les Landes were 3 Wheatears , a Whinchat , a Willow Warbler , 8 Stonechats , 2 Dartford Warblers , 30 Linnets , 2 House Martins , 20 Swallows , a Ringed Plover and a Marsh Harrier . In Petit Port Bay were 69 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Sandwich Terns . In Grouville Bay, as seen from Seymour, were 113 Sandwich Terns , 12 Little Egrets , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , an alba Wagtail , 8 Turnstones , 270 Oystercatchers , a Grey Plover, 2 Grey Herons , hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and 3 Swallows . 2 Wheatears were on the seawall at Fauvic. Near to the Co-op at Fauvic were 16 Cattle Egrets, a Yellow Wagtail and 30 Linnets . In Vallee des Vaux were a Pied Flycatcher and 3 Firecrests and at Bouley Bay were a Wheatear and 3 Buzzards . At Beaumont Marsh were 20 Yellow Wagtails and at St Aubin were 300 Black-headed Gulls .

08.09.2025 Green Sandpipers on the Scrape today. Image: MD A fair to fine day, with winds firmly back in the West It was a relatively quiet day, with an overnight departure of many of yesterday's birds not being replaced. On Les Landes were 2 Redstarts , 3 Wheatears , 8 Stonechats , 6 Dartford Warblers and a White Wagtail , with just a few Swallows and House Martins passing overhead. At Les Laveurs were 12 White Wagtails, a Wheatear , a Willow Warbler , a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff and at St Ouen's Pond were 8 Teal , 8 Tufted Duck , 2 Common Sandpipers , a Snipe , a Grey Heron , 5 Swallows and a Sand Martin while on the Scrape were 4 Green Sandpipers , a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Grey Heron . On the beach in St Ouen's Bay were 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 102 Great Black-backed Gulls, 28 Mediterranean Gulls , 5 Common Terns , 52 Sandwich Terns , 2 Sanderlings and 20 Ringed Plovers . A short watch at Corbiere saw 11 Balearic Shearwaters , 5 Manx Shearwaters , a Razorbill , 17 Mediterranean Gulls , 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 22 Sandwich Terns, a Common Sandpiper , 8 Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails , with many more shearwaters , terns and gulls attending distant Tuna boils offshore. A Pied Flycatcher was a nice visitor to a garden on Mont Les Vaux in St Aubin, but very few birds were seen at Noirmont, with 22 Yellow Wagtails , a White Wagtail , and 7 Swallows seen during a brief watch there. A Honey Buzzard was another good sighting, this time circling over La Mare Vinyard with 2 Swallowtail butterflies also there. At La Haule Slip were 13 Sandwich Terns and at St Aubin were 80 Sandwich Terns and 2 Little Egrets . In Vallee des Vaux were 3 Spotted Flycatchers , 2 Blackcaps , 3 Chiffchaffs , 5 Firecrests , a Goldcrest , 3 Bullfinches and 8 Greenfinches . On Grouville Common were a Wheatear , 5 Cirl Buntings, a Blackcap , a Chiffchaff , 14 Linnets and a young Long-eared Owl . Around Les Platons on the North coast were up to 100 Goldfinches , a Dartford Warbler and a flock of 21 Ravens .

07.09.2025 Juvenile Osprey over Noirmont this morning. Image: MD A mainly dry but cloudy day, in a strong southerly wind. There were some quality migrants on offer today around the Island. At Noirmont, among eight species of raptor seen there were an Osprey , a Honey Buzzard , 2 Marsh Harriers , 3 Hobby , 2 Sparrowhawks , 4 Common Buzzards , an early morning Barn Owl and 2 Kestrels . An arrival of Whinchat totalled at least 28 birds and with them was an Ortolan Bunting . Also seen were 22 Swifts , 278 Swallows , 27 Sand Martins , 22 House Martins , 100 Yellow Wagtails , 3 White Wagtails , 3 Tree Pipits , 6 Wheatears , 2 Whitethroats , a Willow Warbler , 2 Stonechats , 202 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 21 Black-headed Gulls, 10+ Ravens , 2 Choughs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker . Offshore were 30 Sandwich Terns , a Mediterranean Gull and 13 Gannets . 5 Whinchats were at Beauport too. At Les Landes were a Tawny Pipit - a real rarity on the Island in recent years, a Wryneck , a Hobby , 7 Whinchats , 8 Wheatears , a Whitethroat , 5 White Wagtails , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 14 Stonechats and 75 Meadow Pipits . In St Ouen's Bay, on Les Blanches Banques were 3 Swifts , a Wryneck and 10 Wheatears and at Le Braye were 5 Sandwich Terns , 6 Ringed Plovers and a Sanderling . Roosting at Petit Port were 48 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits , 3 Common Sandpipers , a Redshank and a Willow Warbler . A second Osprey was seen at Greve de Lecq late morning and another Swift was over La Rocque. A second Honey Buzzard flew over Sandybrook around lunchtime. On the East side of the Island, 12 Grey Herons and a Cattle Egret were at La Sente and 4 Cattle Egrets were by Holmegrown. Late afternoon and evening update: at the Scrape was a ring-tailed Hen Harrier and in St Ouen's Bay were 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 87 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 58 Great Black-backed Gulls , 30 Mediterranean Gulls , 28 Sandwich Terns and 35 Ringed Plovers . At Gorselands were 3 Wheatears , 2 Yellow Wagtails , a Stonechat and 25 Swallows and at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay were 3 Curlews and 3 Bar - tailed Godwits . In Grouville Marsh were 17 Cattle Egrets and at La Rocque was a Kingfisher . Maize fields near Trinity Manor held a roost of 75 Swallows and at the Farmer's Cricket Ground in St Martin were 3 White Wagtails , a Willow Warbler and a Marsh Harrier . Below : Two distant images of a juvenile Honey Buzzard against a white sky at Noirmont today. Image: MD

06.09.2025 Two images of today's adult Hobby passing Noirmont. Images: MD A fine day with a fresh to strong southeast wind, warm at 22c Visible migration finally kicked in today, with good numbers of birds passing Noirmont. Seen through this morning there, were a Honey Buzzard , a Hobby , a juvenile Peregrine , 19 Swifts , 294 Swallows , 49 Sand Martins , 41 House Martins , 362 Yellow Wagtails , 11 White Wagtails , 31 Tree Pipits , 85 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 9 Black-headed Gulls , 5 Whimbrels , a Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, 2 Grey Herons, and on the ground were a Whinchat and 3 Wheatears. Local birds included 10 Ravens, a juvenile Marsh Harrier a nd 4 Buzzards . In Grouville Marsh this morning were a Barn Owl , a Garden Warbler , a Reed Warbler , a Whitethroat , 3 Willow Warblers , 15 Chiffchaffs , 8 Cetti's Warblers , 15 Blackcaps including recently fledged young, a Kingfisher , 2 Water Rails , 2 Marsh Harriers , 6 Buzzards , 2 Ravens and 18 Jackdaws . In Grouville Bay were 1000+ Sandwich Terns , 2 Knot , a Bar-tailed Godwit , 13 Grey Plovers , 7 Dunlin , 2 Greenshanks , 64 Ringed Plovers , 47 Turnstones , a Redshank , 11 Little Egrets , 51 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Wheatears . A Hen Harrier was at Les Landes again and on St Ouen's Pond Scrape were a Green Sandpiper , a Sparrowhawk and a singing Willow Warbler . In Beaumont Marsh were 8 Yellow Wagtails , 20 Swallows , 3 House Martins and 2 Ravens , with single Yellow Wagtails seen at Beauport and Gorselands. On the north coast, at White Rock were 6 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Heron , 25 Swallows and 35 House Martins and at Rozel were 2 Common Sandpipers . A Kingfisher and a Grey Heron were seen at Grands Vaux reservoir. Some extras for yesterday: At St Aubin yesterday evening were 16 Redshanks and a Kingfisher and a Visit to Les Ecrehous found a Greenshank , 61 Turnstones , 4 Little Egrets , 4 Wheatears and a Willow Warbler present.

05.09.2025 Raven over Noirmont this morning. Image MD A fair day in a westerly wind. An Osprey was seen in flight over Grosnez Castle this afternoon, which is likely to roost somewhere on the Island overnight. Also seen at Les Landes were 6 Wheatears , 10 Stonechats , 6 Marsh Harriers , 7 Buzzards , 2 Kestrels , 25 Linnets and a Clouded Yellow butterfly . At Plemont were 4 Wheatears , 40+ Linnets and a Swallowtail butterfly. An overnight fall of warblers at St Ouen's Pond included 40 Sedge Warblers , 25 Reed Warblers , 6 Willow Warblers , 10 Chiffchaffs, 15 Cetti's Warblers , as well as a Glossy Ibis, 30 House Martins , 25 Swallows , a Grey Wagtail, 3 White Wagtails , a Whinchat , 2 Wheatears , 2 Stonechats , a Water Rail , 6 Tufted Ducks , 5 Shovelers , 4 Grey Herons , 3 Ravens , 4 Marsh Harriers , and a male Sparrowhawk. On the Scrape were a Greenshank , a Common Sandpiper , 3 Wheatears and 2 Willow Warblers and this afternoon, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 8 Great Black-backed Gulls , 150 Herring Gulls and 2 Willow Warblers. In the Sandpits were 300 Coot , 10 Little Grebes , 10 Tufted Ducks and a Kingfisher . Passage past Corbiere first thing included 42 Manx Shearwaters, 37 Balearic Shearwaters , 2 Fulmars , 16 Gannets , 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Black-headed Gulls , 8 Sandwich Terns , 5 Wheatears , 3 Tree Pipits , 5 Yellow Wagtails and a Common Sandpiper , with 20 Curlews at Petit Port. At Noirmont this morning were 86 Swallows , 11 Sand Martins , a House Martin , a Whinchat , 15 Wheatears , a Whitethroat , a Blackcap , 2 Stonechats , 3 Willow Warblers , 2 Chiffchaffs , 2 Yellow Wagtails , 2 White Wagtails and another Swallowtail butterfly. 5 Ravens and 8 Buzzards were in flight there too. This afternoon, seen at sea to the south of Noirmont Point were hundreds of shearwater sp rafting on the sea, 2 Arctic Skuas , a single Storm Petrel , 100 Sandwich Terns , and a few Common Terns . At Beaumont were 7 Yellow Wagtails and at the Gunsite were 2 Wheatears and 2 Swallows and at Beauport this morning were a Whinchat , 4 Wheatears , 2 Redstarts , a Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Tree Pipits . In Grouville Marsh were 16 Cattle Egrets , a Whitethroat , 5 Blackcaps , 10 Chiffchaffs , 2 Ravens , a Sparrowhawk and a Water Rail and at Sorel were 2 Dartford Warblers , a Whitethroat , 3 Ravens and a Kestrel . Large numbers of Swallows were over La Rocque at lunchtime today. A late report for yesterday, at La Rocque involved 4 Wheatears , 2 White Wagtails , 8 Grey Plovers , 6 Turnstones , 45 Ringed Plovers , 350 Sandwich Terns , 11 Common Terns , 83 Black-headed Gulls , 9 Mediterranean Gulls , a Great Crested Grebe and a Grey Seal.

04.09.2025 A juvenile Mediterranean Gull in St Ouen's Bay, wearing an Hungarian colour ring, with thanks to Romano for the picture. RDC A mostly dry day in a strong southwest wind. A second juvenile Sabine's Gull passed offshore at Corbiere early morning and the shearwater count there today totalled 372 Manx Shearwaters and 252 Balearic Shearwaters , all moving West. Also seen were 30 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 25 Mediterranean Gulls, 21 Sandwich Terns , as well as 2 Ravens , a Peregrine and a Wheatear ( same individual for it's fourth day). Petit Port counts included 30 Curlews , 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls In Grouville Bay were a Little Tern , 250+ Sandwich Terns , 3 Common Terns , 67 Ringed Plovers , 5 Greenshanks , 2 Redshanks , 10 Sanderlings , 12 Dunlin , 13 Grey Plovers and a Grey Seal . At Queen's Valley were 9 Tufted Duck , a Greenshank and a Great Crested Grebe . At St Ouens Pond Scrape were 2 Greenshanks and 2 Common Sandpipers while in the Sandpits were 2 Grey Herons , 12 Tufted Duck , 8 Little Grebes , a Great Crested Grebe , 4 Black-headed Gulls , a Common Sandpiper , 3 Ravens , 4 House Martins , a Stonechat a juvenile Marsh Harrier and 2 Barnacle Geese . 8 Balearic Shearwaters passed Noirmont, 170 Sandwich Terns were at St Aubin, a Common Sandpiper was at Elizabeth Castle and opposite the Union Inn were 28 Yellow Wagtails including a smart Blue-headed Wagtail .