Jersey Birds

A handsome male Stonechat on the seawall near Kempt Tower yesterday. Image: MD A dry but mainly overcast day in a fresh south-southeast wind. A quiet day for birds, but still with some points of interest. In St Ouen's Bay, a Bittern was seen again on the Scrape while on St Ouen's Pond were 25 Shoveler , a Little Grebe , a Snipe , a Water Pipit and 2 Stonechats . In the backfields behind the Pond were 28 dark-bellied Brent Geese and along the seawall near Kempt Tower were the Snow Bunting and 2 Stonechats . Off of Corbiere first thing were 37 Razorbills , a Guillemot , 16 Gannets , 32 Shag , 5 Cormorants , 48 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Kittiwake , a Mediterranean Gull , 3 Black-headed Gulls , a Grey Heron and a Purple Sandpiper , with a Peregrine and a Raven also seen. Later morning, seen from Grosnez were 63 Razorbills , 85 Fulmars which included a raft of 68 birds, 33 Gannets , 52 Kittiwakes , 6 Great Black-backed Gulls , also a single Harbour Porpoise . At Petit Port late morning were 28 Curlews , 20 Sanderlings , 86 Oystercatchers , 2 Cormorants , 4 Ravens and 8 Long-tailed Tits . 12 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm. In the St Helier Marina this evening was a roost of 250 alba Wagtails , also a Kingfisher . One report from yesterday was a Black Redstart near the Blue Note in St Helier which disappeared when the Christmas band struck up!

14.12.2025 A Skylark , preening near Kempt Tower in today's sunshine. Image: MD A fair to fine day in a fresh southerly wind, but cool at 12c. At the Wetland centre in St Ouen's Bay were 22 Shoveler, 14 Teal, a Water Rail. a Water Pipit, 4 Stonechats and a Brent Goose, which along the seawall between Sands and Kempt Tower, were 41 Ringed Plovers , the Snow Bunting , 3 Skylarks , 3 Stonechats and 4 Pied Wagtails . Another busy morning at Corbiere saw a Black-throated Diver , 6 Red-throated Divers , a late Manx Shearwater , 1,330 Razorbills , 9 Guillemots , 23 Gannets , a Shelduck , a Brent Goose , 8 Cormorants , 150+ Kittiwakes , 13 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 61 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Common Gulls and a Peregrine , in three hours. At St Aubin were 16 pale-bellied Brent Geese . At La Rocque were 469 Dunlin, 378 Sanderlings , 65 Ringed Plovers, 109 Grey Plovers , 49 Redshanks , 2 Greenshanks , 37 Curlews , 88 Turnstones , 340 Oystercatchers , a Shelduck , 285 Brent Geese , 10 Red-breasted Mergansers , 2 Great Crested Grebes , a Slavonian Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull and behind Seymour were 7 Little Egrets. At La Sente were 9 Grey Herons , 5 Cattle Egrets and 7 Little Egrets . A further 2 Little Egrets were at Fauvic Marsh. At Haie Fleurie in St Martin were 16 Cattle Egrets and at nearby Fliquet was a pale-phase Buzzard . 2 Peregrines were at La Crete. In St Catherine's Woods were a Grey Heron , a Grey Wagtail , 3 Goldcrests and a Sparrowhawk . A Dartford Warbler was seen at Beauport and in Les Creux Country Park were 13 Long-tailed Tits . In Beaumont Marsh were 450 Brent Geese , a Grey Wagtail and a Raven . Back to yesterday evening and Redwings were calling over Gorey.

13.12.2025 Long-tailed Tit at Kempt Tower. Image: MD A decent day for a change, with mainly clear skies in a light east-southeast wind and a temperature of 12c A nice surprise today was the reappearance of the Snow Bunting in St Ouen's Bay, still near to Kempt Tower. Also in the area were 3 Stonechats . On St Ouen's Pond was a Bittern and a Water Pipit . A decent amount of movement offshore at Corbiere, in the light winds, included a Great Skua , a late Balearic Shearwater, 16 Common Scoters , 5 Fulmars , 19 Gannets , 280 Razorbills , 10 Guillemots , 28 Cormorants , 2 Brent Geese , 147 Kittiwakes , 54 Mediterranan Gulls , 5 Common Gulls , 25 Black-headed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 26 Great Black-backed Gulls , and 47 Curlews . a Black Redstart was also present and a Peregrine was hunting the area. At Petit Port were 28 Turnstones , 4 Brent Geese and 4 Little Egrets . Another Peregrine was seen at grosnez. Around La Rocque were a Slavonian Grebe , 2 Great Crested Grebes , 275 Sanderlings , c 300 Dunlin , 73 Turnstones , 37 Grey Plovers , 41 Redshanks , 87 Brent Geese , 8 Red-breasted Mergansers , 13 Grey Herons , 11 Little Egrets and 120 Oystercatchers . At Seymour were 280 Brent Geese , 17 Ringed Plovers and 7 Pied Wagtails . 420 Brent Geese were in Beaumont Marsh and 2 Cattle Egrets were on Mont a l'Abbe. At the Orchard near Trinity Church were 13 Fieldfares , 23 Redwings , 3 Song Thrushes , 8 Blackcaps , 3 Firecrests , 2 Goldcrests , 2 Siskins , 2 Woodcocks , a Sparrowhawk and 6 Raven which flew overhead. 320 Herring Gulls were in a field on Rue de Brabant in Trinity and a Chough was seen on a roof at Les Hamonnets in St John.

12.12.2025 Thanks go to Romano for this great image of a Pied Wagtail which was at Le Pulec this week, wearing a colour ring from the Isle of Man . Early rain soon cleared to a cloudy day with a fresh westerly wind. A Bittern was seen again at St Ouen's Pond this morning, where 3 Snipe and a pair of Stonechat were also present. 45 Brent Geese were in the fields behind the Pond too. This morning's counts from Corbiere included 615 Razorbills , 63 Guillemots , a Red-throated Diver , 3 Fulmars , 52 Gannets , 48 Kittiwakes , 9 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls and 76 Great Black-backed Gulls , with a Grey Seal also there. At St Aubin were 33 Redshanks , 18 Turnstones and 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese while in Beaumont Marsh were a Siberian Chiffchaff , 40 Chiffchaffs , 12 Goldcrests , 8 Firecrests , 4 Blackcaps , 2 Siskins , 2 Redwings , a singing Song Thrush , a Grey Heron and 8 Snipe . Seen between Seymour and La Rocque were 17 Redshanks , 2 Greenshanks , 8 Ringed Plovers, 130 Grey Plovers , 11 Grey Herons , 7 Little Egrets , 80 Sanderlings , 45 Turnstones and 250 dark-bellied Brent Geese . 13 Cattle Egrets were at La Sente and in French Harbour were 3 Brent Geese . Around Beauport and Les Creux were 7 Redwings , a Firecrest , 2 Goldcrests , a Dartford Warbler , a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 Long - tailed Tits .

11.12.2025 A first-winter Common Gull at Corbiere Image: MD There was feel of Winter about today's weather, with overcast skies and some hill fog, feeling cooler in a fresh south-southest wind Auks were seen in greater numbers than of late at Corbiere this morning, with 1,048 Razorbills and 30 Guillemots counted in three hours. Also passing Corbiere were a Great Northern Diver , a Red-throated Diver , a Fulmar , 45 Gannets , 4 Brent Geese , 81 Shags , 9 Cormorants , 171 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 61 Kittiwakes , 3 Common Gulls , 33 Mediterranean Gulls , 9 Black-headed Gulls and 150 Herring Gulls . At La Rocque were 2 Great Northern Divers , a Great Crested Grebe , 366 Dunlin , 260 Sanderlings , 159 Grey Plovers , 22 Ringed Plovers , a Bar-tailed Godwit , 44 Redshanks , 84 Turnstones , a Red-breasted Merganser , a Sandwich Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a Black Redstart . 32 Cattle Egrets were by Holme Grown at Fauvic, 12 Grey Herons were at La Sente and on Grouville Common were 45 Redwings , 4 Chiffchaffs , 2 Goldcrests and 3 Stonechats . A further 16 Cattle Egrets were at Maufant while at Le Catillon were 36 Common Gulls and one Mediterranean Gull . In St Ouen's Bay, 50 Brent Geese , 53 Shovelers , a Wigeon , 2 Teal , a Little Grebe , 16 Lapwings , a Water Pipit and a Chiffchaff were seen from the Wetland Centre and 2 Bitterns were reported from the Scrape. At Le Pulec were 11 Little Egrets , 250 Oystercatchers , 9 Curlews , 7 Great Black-backed Gulls , 40 Cormorants and 14 Shags . In Beaumont Marsh were 320 Brent Geese, a Little Egret , a Grey Heron , 3 Snipe , a Grey Wagtail and 6 Meadow Pipits . Elsewhere, 22 Fieldfares , 10 Redwings , 2 Woodcock , 2 Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff were at an orchard near to Trinity Church, a Bullfinch visited a garden at Rue de Huquet in St Martin and in Rue des Jutize at Grouville were 250 Chaffinches , 14 Reed Buntings and 60 Redwings . In Vallee des Vaux were 14 Redwings , 2 Goldcrests , a singing Song Thrush and 2 Woodcock . A late report for St Ouen's Pond yesterday evening with a roost of 24 Marsh Harriers there, also 15 Reed Buntings , 6 Chiffchaffs , 10 Cetti's Warblers , 3 Stonechats , a Firecrest , a Snipe and 6 Water Rails seen and heard there. Below : Thanks go to George Louis for this short video of Brent Geese arriving into Goose Green ( Beaumont Marsh) today.

10.12.2025 With no reports of the Snow Bunting near Kempt Tower for two days, possibly a last chance to show it here ( but hopefully not). Image: MD A fair day with medium to high cloud, mild again at 14c in a moderate southwest wind. Another steady day for birds passing Corbiere through the morning, resulted in counts of 6 Brent Geese, 125 Razorbills , a Guillemot , 85 Gannets , a Fulmar , 49 Shag , 10 Cormorants , 107 Kittiwakes , 50 Mediterranean Gulls , 38 Black-headed Gulls , a Common Gull, 88 Great Black-backed Gulls and 187 Herring Gulls . Passing La Coupe this morning were a Great Skua , 15 Razorbills , 3 Kittiwakes and a Mediterranean Gull. Seen in Beaumont Marsh today were 67 Brent Geese, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Snipe, a Grey Wagtail, an alba Wagtail , 2 Siskins , 25 Chiffchaffs , 2 Firecrests , 2 Goldcrests , 6 Long-tailed Tits , 2 Redwings , 3 Blackcaps , a Raven and an overflying Mediterranean Gull . At the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay were 245 Brent Geese and a Pied Wagtail and at St Aubin were 33 Redshanks , a Turnstone and 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese . In Waterworks Valley, a Little Grebe and a Coot were on Millbrook reservoir while on Dannemarche reservoir were 2 Tufted Duck , a Grey Heron , 5 Coot , a Grey Wagtail , 4 Long-tailed Tits , 4 Goldcrests , a Short-toed Treecreeper and a Buzzard . 5 Pied Wagtails were at Noirmont. On the North Coast, at Crabbe, were a Stonechat , a Brambling , 120 Chaffinches , a Skylark , 15 Goldfinches , 4 Linnets , 20 Reed Buntings , 3 Song Thrushes , 5 Meadow Pipits, a Dartford Warbler , 3 Choughs , a Kestrel , a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier . At Les Landes were a Peregrine , a Kestrel and a Stonechat and in Rue des Chasses, St John, was a flock of 50 Stock Doves . 2 Pied Wagtails were at Longbeach in Grouville Bay. In St Ouen's Bay, a Water Pipit was at the Wetland Centre, 10 Pochard and 6 Little Grebes were in the Sandpits, a Snipe , 5 Chiffchaffs , a Cetti's Warbler , 2 Long-tailed Tits and a Marsh Harrier were at Kempt Tower pools, while at Le Pulec were 9 Little Egrets and c 200 Oystercatchers .

09.12.2025 Good numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls were on the move off the West Coast this morning, including this pristine adult, pictured passing Corbiere. Image : MD A morning of high cloud, with a storm moving North, well to the west of the Island bringing increasingly strong Southerly winds and some rain later Good numbers passing Corbiere, southbound, included 2 Great Northern Divers , 9 Common Scoters , 5 Brent Geese , 19 Razorbills , 2 Guillemots , 40 Gannets , 9 Cormorants , 71 Shags , 340 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Yellow-legged Gull , 228 Herring Gulls , 15 Mediterranean Gulls , 5 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls , a single Lesser Black-backed Gull and 24 Curlews heading off to roost on the South Coast. A visit to Handois Reservoir found 32 Tufted Duck , 138 Mallard , 16 Cormorants , 6 Grey Herons , 8 Goldcrests , a Firecrest , a Chiffchaff , 2 Grey Wagtails , 45 Redwings , 4 Song Thrushes , and 2 Ravens . At Sion were 2 Fieldfares and 11 Redwings and in Vallee des Vaux were 8 Redwings , 2 Goldcrests , a Chiffchaff , 2 singing Song Thrushes and 3 Woodcock which flew over at Dusk. In Beaumont Marsh were 120 Brent Geese , 60 Black-headed Gulls , a Grey Heron, 3 Little Egrets , 3 Snipe and a Grey Wagtail . 3 Grey Wagtails are regular in Rue des Samares at the moment attending a water filled garage roof. At La Sente were 33 Cattle Egrets and 6 Little Egrets . On the Airport football pitch were 47 Mediterranean Gulls , 9 Black-headed Gulls and 8 Pied Wagtails , and at the Rugby pitch were 20 Redwings . A Barn Owl was seen on Mont Matthieu pre-Dawn this morning too. Yesterday evening, good numbers of Redwings were heard in flight over Noirmont, Beauport and Woodlands Farm and at La Haule were 27 Sanderlings and 6 Dunlin . Below : An immature Great Black-backed Gull in flight at Corbiere today. Image MD

08.12.2025 A few Great Northern Divers were seen through today's poor conditions, including this bird, passing Corbiere Lighthouse early morning. Image: MD It was a poor day weatherwise, overcast with rain, but mild at least at 13c in a fresh south-south-west wind. Seen passing La Coupe were 4 Common Scoters , 6 Great Northern Divers , a Gannet , a Common Gull and 2 Razorbills , with a regular wintering Polish-flagged Curlew ( yellow R52) back in situ there. Seen from Seymour, in Grouville Bay, were 3 Great Crested Grebes, a Black-necked Grebe , another Great Northern Diver and 7 Mediterranean Gulls . At La Sente were 37 Cattle Egrets, 18 Little Egrets and 14 Grey Herons and on Rue a Don were 23 Cattle Egrets . A short seawatch in the rain at Corbiere saw a Great Northern Diver, 30 Gannets , 6 Cormorants , 24 Shags , 3 Curlews and 23 roosting Purple Sandpipers . 6 Brent Geese were in Petit Port Bay. Near Sands, in St Ouen's Bay, were 41 Ringed Plovers , and 2 Pied Wagtails and by Kempt Tower, above the seawall, were the Snow Bunting and a Pied Wagtail, with 9 Black-headed Gulls flying over. On St Ouen's Pond were 36 Shoveler , 2 Little Grebes , 18 Lapwings , a Snipe , 2 Brent Geese and 8 Pied Wagtails , while on the Scrape were a Grey Heron and 3 Chiffchaffs , with 9 Brent Geese flying over too. In Beaumont Marsh were 220 Brent Geese , 6 Snipe , a Curlew and 100 Black-headed Gulls and in St Brelade's Bay were 3 Brent Geese and a Grey Wagtail .

07.12.2025 Today's miserable weather brought inland a good number of Mediterranean Gulls RdC Feeding on the Airport football pitch this morning were 96 Mediterranean Gull , a Common Gull and 40 Black-headed Gull . Down in St Ouen's Bay, the Snow Bunting was still feeding along the sea wall, 16 Lapwing were at the Pond and on the beach were a Caspian Gull , 306 Great Black-backed Gull , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 24 Herring Gull , 2 Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern . At Le Pulec were 20 Pied Wagtail including one colour-ringed on the Isle of Man, 45 Rock Pipit , 12 Meadow Pipit , 2 Stonechat and 4 Little Egret while at Petit Port were a Yellow-legged Gull , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 8 Great Black-backed Gull , 4 Brent Geese , 25 Curlew and 2 flyby Common Scoter . Around La Sente were 47 Cattle Egret , 4 Little Egret , 11 Grey Heron , 30 Brent Geese , 14 Redwing and a Stonechat . Seen at Beaumont Marsh were 100 Brent Geese , 80 Black-headed Gull , a Curlew , 5 Snipe , a Grey Heron , 5 Meadow Pipit and a White Wagtail while in Vallee des Vaux were 14 Redwing and a Woodcock .