21.10.2025 Many thanks go to Susan Renouf for this fine image of the Bittern which was on the Scrape yesterday. SR
A day of squally showers, lessening in the afternoon, with a fresh to strong west-southwest wind, but mild at 15c
After a few days with little by way of visible migration, Noirmont was busy throughout this morning, especially with the smaller passerines. Counts included 20 Swallows, a House Martin, 11 Skylarks, 6 Song Thrushes, 4 Blackbirds, a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, 152 Pied Wagtails, 564 Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, 14 Starlings, 752 Chaffinches, 764 Linnets, 220 Goldfinches, 58 Siskins, 10 Greenfinches, 8 Stonechats, a Firecrest, a Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit and 2 Dartford Warblers. Passing offshore were 9 Razorbills, 6 Gannets and 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Early morning passage past Victoria Tower involved 7 Swallows, 4 Song Thrushes, 239 Chaffinches, 22 Linnets, 10 Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaffs and 4 Goldcrests.
In St Ouen's Bay Sandpits were 7 Pochard (one female), a female Wigeon, 62 Tufted Duck, 20 Little Grebes, 32 Cormorants, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Caspian Gull, 30 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull and a Common Sandpiper while on St Ouen's Pond were 29 Shovelers, a Lapwing, 2 Marsh Harriers, 40 Goldfinches, 50 Linnets, 4 Stonechats and a male Reed Bunting. A Dunlin visited the Scrape.
Around the fields by Grouville Parish Hall were 75 Chaffinches, 50 Goldfinches, 8 Greenfinches, 4 Stonechats, a House Martin and a Sparrowhawk and in the fields behind La Rocque were a Skylark, 32 Swallows feeding, 40 Starlings, 12 Stonechats, a Goldcrest and a Sparrowhawk, while flying over there, were 38 Chaffinches, 16 Meadow Pipits, a Redwing, 2 Song Thrushes, 12 Linnets and a Siskin.
On Mont es Neaux was a Wheatear and over Woodlands Apartments in Grouville were 3 House Martins and 3 Swallows. At Holme Grown, Fauvic, were 28 Cattle Egrets and 3 Ravens and around the mud pond at Queen's Valley were a Teal and 14 Siskins. 10 Swallows were seen by Trinity Manor. Early on, at Rue Pignon in St Clement was a Barn Owl.
In Grouville Bay, Brent Geese numbers had risen to 1,276 and also there, were 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Wheatears, 25 Linnets, 20 alba Wagtails, 30 Meadow Pipits. Seen from Seymour Slip were 205 Sanderlings, 30 Dunlin, 55 Turnstones, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 36 Redshanks, 16 Grey Plovers, 20 Swallows and another Wheatear. At Grouville Marsh were 3 Stonechats, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Siskins, 15 Meadow Pipits, 7 Song Thrushes, 2 Water Rails, 5 Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Swallows and a Sparrowhawk.
Evening update: A late
acredula
Willow Warbler
was in a garden in Vallee des Vaux this afternoon, as well as 4
Chiffchaffs, 5
Blackcaps, 2
Siskins, 4
Song Thrushes, 9
Long-tailed Tits, and a
Short-toed Treecreeper, with a
Fieldfare and a
Sparrowhawk flying over there too.
