Jersey Birds

01.05.2026 Garden Warblers are being seen moving through the Island now with the first having been seen and in song in Samares Manor grounds on the 27th April. Image: MD A Hoopoe was a welcome visitor to a garden off Route des Augerez in St Peter and 2 Yellow Wagtails were in a horsefield at Grantez. Reported from the north side of St Ouen's Pond from first light were 5 Sedge Warblers , 15 Reed Warblers , 2 Blackcaps , a singing Reed Bunting , a Wheatear , a Shoveler and a Peregrine , also 15 Painted Lady butterflies. On and around the Scrape were 3 Shelduck , a pair of Coot with 4 young, a Black-headed Gull , a Caspian Gull , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 6 Whimbrels , 2 Wheatears , 3 Swallows , a male Shoveler , a pair of Oystercatcher , a Sedge Warbler , several Reed Warblers , a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier which took a Lapwing chick. On the Sand dunes were 2 Garden Warblers and in the Sandpits were good numbers of Sand Martins , a Shelduck , 6 Oystercatchers and an alba Wagtail . At Le Pulec were 4 Little Egrets and 3 Cormorants . In Grouville Bay were 2 Shelduck and 3 Whitethroats were singing at Sorel. A further 2 Whitethroats were at Noirmont also a Chiffchaff and Greenfinch , plus another 16 Painted Ladies . 5 Buzzards were seen in flight over Mont Felard in St Lawrence. One extra for yesterday was a Greenland Wheatear on Grouville Common

30.04.2026 female Shelduck at the Scrape today. A decreasing easterly wind and feeling warm this afternoon. Waders in St Ouen's Bay this morning included, 33 Ringed Plovers, 15 Sanderling and 5 Dunlin at Le Port. Nine Whimbrels flew into the Scrape, also seen there was a drake Shoveler, a Shelduck, 2 Lapwings with 2 chicks, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears. At Les Landes 5 Wheatears and a pair of Stonechats. North of the Airport a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, a Sparrowhawk and singing Skylarks. Up at Victoria Tower 5 Swifts and a Sparrowhawk. In Grouville Bay 6 Bar-tailed Godwits. Yesterday evening a Teal was still on the Scrape and 4 Common Sandpipers were at Sands Slip, St Ouen's Bay.

29.04.2026. A nice image of a Rock Pipit at La Corbiere. RdC A strong easterly wind, cloudy with a few brighter spells. The weather kept passerine sightings to a minimum, but there were a few waders around today. In Grouville Bay a Whimbrel, 2 Sanderlings and a Common Sandpiper. In St Ouen's Bay at Sands Slip, 123 Bar-tailed Godwits flew in from the north, 20 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin and 2 Sanderlings. At Le Braye Sandpit, 2 Grey Herons, 10Swifts, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, c80 Sand Martins, and a Cetti's Warbler. Four Whimbrels landed on Les Mielles Golf Course. Over St Ouen's Pond at least 50 House Martins and 10 Swifts.

28.04.2026 A Peregrine at Les Landes taken by Romano da Costa. Feeling cooler today, cloudy in a fresh north-east wind, sunny this afternoon. At Grouville Marsh and surrounding areas this morning, 7 singing Reed Warblers, a pair of Bullfinch, a grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 7 Buzzards and a few Swallows passing through. At Grands Vaux Reservoir, a Grey Heron and 40 Swallows. Up at Victoria Tower, a Peregrine and 3 Swifts. In the west of the Island, starting at La Corbiere. Little was offshore, but a local Shelduck flew past, plus a Wheatear. Near La Pulente a pair of Stonechats. In Le Braye Sandpit, 14 Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, 16 Coot, 26 Herring Gulls, 5 Swallows, c80 Sand Martins and a pair of Marsh Harriers. Opposite the GAP hide was a juvenile Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler. Four Swifts were over Le Braye Slip. A male Stonechat was on Beauport Common and at Gorselands, 2 Whitethroats and a Dartford Warbler. At St Ouen's Pond c100 mixed hirundines and 3 Swifts. On the Scrape a pair of Shelduck. A single Wheatear was at Les Laveurs. Up at Les Landes a pair of Marsh Harriers, 2 Wheatears and a Stonechat. An interesting report yesterday of a possible Crossbill at the Corbiere end of the Railway Walk, one to look out for! Also on Les Ecrehous a single Wheatear.

27.04.2026 A Dartford Warbler, taken by Romano. Another sunny day with a light north-east wind. At Grouville Marsh early this morning, 12 Sedge Warblers, including a French ringed bird, 15 Reed Warblers, 2 Firecrests, 8 Blackcaps, a Snipe, one Sparrowhawk, 8 Swallows, and at 6-30 a Cuckoo was calling in the direction Grouville Golf Course, but was not heard again. A few waders were noted in Grouville Bay, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrels, 4 Curlew, 8 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Brent Geese. A walk through St Catherine's Woods on a beautiful morning found a nice selection of birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Song Thrush, Garden Warbler (the first this spring), Firecrests, at least 6 Blackcaps and a Buzzard. At Gorselands this morning were 3 Dartford Warblers and 2 singing Whitethroats. At St Ouen's Pond 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Snipe, the usual Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard and on the Scrape 2 Whimbrels and a Peregrine.

26.04.2026 A very attractive Dunnock, taken by Romano da Costa. Sunny and warm with a light south-east wind. At Grouville Marsh a singing Serin, possibly present yesterday as well, a Wheatear and 3 Swallows. At La Sente 3 White Wagtails and a Wheatear. A late Cattle Egret was still in Rue des Fonds, Grouville and at Seymour Slip 5 Little Egrets, 9 Oystercatchers and 7 Whimbrels. Up at Victoria Tower a Turtle Dove, the first this spring. Seen at the Farmers Cricket pitch in St Martin a White Wagtail, a pair of Marsh Harriers and a Raven. Moving west to St Ouen's Pond, on the Scrape,a Shelduck, a pair of Oystercatchers and a Lapwing chick sadly taken by a Marsh Harrier. Yesterday evening Barn Owls were seen at La Blinerie and near Maufant and the first Nightjar of the spring was churring in the south-west of the Island.

25.04.2026 A pair of Oystercatchers at The Scrape, St Ouen's Pond. JB Sunny with a light south-easterly wind. A ringing session at St Ouen's Pond this morning was fairly quiet. Among the birds seen were 3 Sedge Warblers, 11 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears, 2 singing Stonechats,10 Chiffchaffs and 4 Shovelers. Birds over a Peregrine, one Yellow Wagtail and 4 Black-headed Gulls. Two Whitethroats were singing on the hillside behind the Pond. In Le Braye Sandpit a Shelduck, 8 Oystercatchers, 50 Sand Matins and 2 Choughs over. Two Wheatears were on Les Blanches Banques and 5 at Les Laveurs. A pair of Shelduck were at Le Pulec and also a pair of Stonechats. At Sorel on the north coast, 2 Whitethroats, a singing Willow Warbler a pair of Stonechats and a Dartford Warbler. Cuckoos were seen or heard near Grouville Marsh and in St Catherine's Woods this morning. On Elizabeth Castle c50 Oystercatchers, in St Aubin's Bay a pod of 6 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and a very close in Gannet! A Map butterfly was seen at Victoria Tower and a Guillemot, possibly a JSPCA release was standing on the beach at Gorey. A couple of late records from yesterday a Teal on the Scrape, 2 Swifts over St Helier Marina and 3 Common Sandpipers at Queen's Valley Reservoir.

24.04.2026 A Common Sandpiper at the Scrape today, thanks to Jo Bramley for the picture. The fine weather continues with a moderate easterly wind. A good selection of birds at St Ouen's Pond, today, seen mainly from the Scrape Hide, an Osrpey, a Merlin, 2 Peregrines, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, one Ruff, a Yellow Wagtail, 9 Wheatears, a pair of Shelduck, a drake Pochard and 15 Swifts. In Le Braye Sandpit, a Hobby, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, 70 Sand Martins and 10+ Swifts. At Noirmont, a Whinchat near Warren Farm, the first this spring, a Whitethroat and 2 Common Buzzards. At Elizabeth Harbour, 8 Wheatears, a Black Redstart and 5 Swifts. Two Swifts were at St Aubin also 3 Choughs. In the east of the Island, a Cirl Bunting, one Bullfinch and a Cetti's Warbler were seen on Grouville Common. In Grouville Bay, 6 Brent Geese, 2 Curlew, a Whimbrel and 12 Sanderlings. At La Sente which is nearly dry now, 2 Brent Geese, a Whimbrel, 2 Cattle Egrets and a Little Egret. A late record from Queen's Valley Reservoir yesterday of a single Wheatear.

23.04.2026 Thanks to Romano for this picture of a male Stonechat. Another fine day but still with a fresh easterly wind. Plenty of Wheatears today, mainly in the west of the Island, with 7 at Corbiere, 4 on Les Blanches Banques, 12 at St Ouen's Pond, 6 at Les Laveurs, 8 at La Saline and singles at Beauport Common and La Sente. Mid-morning at Kempt Tower in St Ouen's Bay about 20 were reported moving north in less thana 15 minute period. Other birds at St Ouen's Pond included 5 Swifts, 3 Whimbrels, a Little Ringed Plover, a single Snipe, 4 Lapwings, a pair of Oystercatchers and a pair of Stonechat in the back fields east of the Pond. A sedge Warbler was singing near the North Canal. In the east of the Island at La Sente, a single Brent Goose, 3 White and a Pied Wagtail, with 3 Yellow Wagtails nearby at Happy Hens. At Seymour Slip 4 Brent Geese, 16 Oystercatchers and 3 Little Egrets. In La Rue de Pont 83 Herring Gulls and 5 Great Black-backed Gulls were roosting in a recently ploughed field. This evening at Noirmont, 7 Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Dartford Warbler, 5 Swallows, a Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk.