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21.08.2025  Tree Pipits  taking a brief rest at Noirmont this morning.  Image:  MD


A fair to cloudy, but dry morning, becoming fine this afternoon, but cooler at 21c in a fresh north-northeast wind.


On the ground at Noirmont this morning were a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Redstarts, 16 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, a juvenile Stonechat, 12 Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Dartford Warblers and 2 Tree Pipits. Flying over were a further 9 Tree Pipits, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Swifts, 58 Swallows, 12 Sand Martins, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk,  10 Ravens and a Ringed Plovers, while passing offshore were 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 12 Gannets, 5 Sandwich Terns, 7 Black-headed Gulls  and a Mediterranean Gull.


At Grouville Marsh from first light, were a Honey Buzzard, a Yellow Wagtail, a male Redstart, a Whinchat, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 15 Willow Warblers, 12 Reed Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 20 Blackcaps, 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Bullfinches, a Short-toed Treecreeper, a Goldcrest, 2 Water Rails, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Ravens and 25 House Martins, also 2 Clouded Yellow butterflies. Opposite Grouville Parish Hall were 14 Cattle Egrets, 2 Tree Pipits and 2 Willow Warblers. 2 Bullfinches and 2 Firecrests were at a garden in Vallee des Vaux.


Waders on the Scrape included a Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, 2 Redshanks and a Ruff. In St Ouen's Bay were 3 Redshanks, a Ringed Plover, 12 Sandwich Terns, a Common Gull, 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and 36 Great Black-backed Gulls. 2 Willow Warblers were in the Willows north of St Ouen's Pond and  2 Wheatears were at La Saline.


In Petit Port Bay were a Dutch ringed Caspian Gull, a Knot, 6 Sandwich Terns, 21 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 25 Curlews. 65 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and a Sandwich Tern were at St Aubin and 5 Swifts, 20 House Martins and 3 Buzzards flew over Beauport.


Evening update: At Petit Port this evening were a Caspian Gull, 104 Mediterranean Gulls including 3 Hungarian colour-ringed birds, 35 Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern, a Greenshank and a Redshank and on the Scrape were a Shelduck, a Snipe and a Teal. On Mont Matthieu were 3 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Ravens and a Marsh Harrier.




Below: A Pied Flycatcher at Grouville Marsh this morning, with thanks to David Buxton for the picture.   DB



by Michael Dryden 24 February 2026
24.02.2026 A male Marsh Harrier enjoying today's sun at St Ouen's Pond MD At last, a dry and even sunny day, feeling very mild (13c) in the clear skies. Winds were moderate from the south-southeast. Seen in two hours passing Corbiere, were a Common Scoter , 174 Razorbills , 36 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 16 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 31 Shags , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , 30 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Kittiwakes and 9 Curlews , while in Petit Port Bay were 4 Brent Geese , 2 Purple Sandpipers , 57 Turnstones , 14 Grey Plovers , 140 Oystercatchers and 9 Mediterranean Gulls . At St Ouen's Pond were 35 Shoveler , 8 Pochard , 4 Tufted Duck , a Little Grebe , 3 Grey Herons , a single Lapwing , 6 Marsh Harriers and 2 Buzzards . In the backfields there, were 150 Brent Geese and 120 Stock Dove s. Around Kempt Tower and pools were the Snow Bunting, a singing Skylark , a Little Grebe , 4 Tufted Duck , a pair of Marsh Harrier , a flock of 22 Goldfinches and a Peacock butterfly . In Beaumont Marsh were 380 Brent Geese, a Curlew , 3 Little Egrets and 9 Pied Wagtails , while at St Aubin were 30 pale-bellied Brent Geese , one dark-bellied Brent, and 20 Redshanks . Another 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the beach in St Brelade's Bay. At La sente were 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler , 10 Grey Herons , 12 Little Egrets , 41 Cattle Egrets , 19 Common Gulls , 55 Black-headed Gulls , 64 Redshanks and 6 Greenshanks . At La Ferme farm were 21 Redwings , 5 Song Thrushes , 56 Chaffinches , 2 Grey Wagtails , a Pied Wagtai l, a singing Firecrest , a singing Chiffchaff , a Jackdaw and a Raven . also another Peacock butterfly. In the cider orchard near Trinity Church were 7 Fieldfares , 2 Redwings , 5 Chiffchaffs , 2 Goldcrests and a Firecrest and on Rue du Moulin de Bas were 4 Redwings , a Fieldfare , 3 Chiffchaffs , a Goldcrest , a singing Firecrest and another Peacock butterfly. At Les Augerez in St Peter was a flock of 150 Starlings and in St Peter's Technical Park was a Grey Wagtail. Another singing Firecrest and 3 Blackcaps were in Vallee des Vaux. Extras for yesterday : a Dartford Warbler was at Archirondel and a Kingfisher was in Queen's Valley.
by Michael Dryden 23 February 2026
23.02.2026 A pair of pale-bellied Brent Geese at St Aubin this morning. MD A dry but cloudy to overcast day, mild at 13c in a southwest wind. Firstly, a significant record from a garden in Gorey, which a Common Rosefinch has been visiting for the last few days, this only the fifth record of the species for Jersey. St Aubin's Bay was popular today, with birds reported from there including 20 Great Crested Grebes, 77 Black-headed Gulls and 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, and around the St Aubin end of the bay, 19 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Black-headed Gulls, 29 Redshanks and 6 Turnstones . In Beaumont Marsh were 370 Brent Geese , 190 Black-headed Gulls , 17 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 5 Little Egrets , 25 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Heron , a Curlew , 17 Jackdaws and 2 Buzzards . Near the ferry ramps at the Elizabeth Harbour was a female Black Redstart . In La Rocque Harbour first thing were 2 Great Northern Divers , 2 Black-necked Grebes , a Great Crested Grebe , 6 Red-breasted Mergansers , 55 Curlews and several hundreds of Sanderlings and Grey Plovers . Another 3 Red-breasted Mergansers were near Le Hurel Slip. At La Sente were 210 Brent Geese , 7 Greenshanks , 55 Redshanks , 41 Cattle Egrets, 6 Little Egrets, 21 Common Gulls , 255 Black-headed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , a Wigeon and 2 Shovelers . The Snow Bunting was still present near Kempt Tower today and on St Ouen's Pond were 189 Brent Geese , 21 Lapwings , 2 Little Grebes , 3 Grey Heron s, 3 Tufted Duck , 26 Shovelers and the usual Marsh Harriers . 31 Great Black-backed Gulls were in St Ouen's Bay. Buzzards were seen cleaning out a former nest near St John's Village and in Vallee des Vaux were 3 Siskins , 3 Blackcaps and a singing Firecrest .
by Michael Dryden 22 February 2026
22.02.2026 A great image of a Black-throated Diver at La Rocque courtesy of Romano RDC
by Michael Dryden 21 February 2026
21.02.2026 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are returning in numbers now, with 52 passing Grosnez this morning. Image: One in company with a Herring Gull today. MD
by Michael Dryden 20 February 2026
20.02.2026 Common Gulls are often anything but common in Jersey, but good numbers are around, mainly off the East coast, at the moment. This winter plumaged adult is seen here flying over Grouville Bay today. Image: MD
by Michael Dryden 19 February 2026
19.02.2026 One of many adult Gannets which are around the Island at the moment, this one seen here passing Grosnez MD
by Michael Dryden 18 February 2026
18.02.2026 One of the Great Northern Diver s currently scattered around the south-east corner, image courtesy of Romano RDC
by Michael Dryden 17 February 2026
17.02.2026 Goldcrest at Pont Marquet today. Image: MD
by Michael Dryden 16 February 2026
16.02.2026 A cute Fulmar passing Grosnez this morning. Image: MD
by Michael Dryden 15 February 2026
15.02.2026 Female Red-breasted Merganser at close quarters, La Rocque Harbour, with thanks to Romano for the image RDC
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