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24.10.2024  Among all the thousands of birds on the move today, were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. This first winter bird is seen passing Noirmont  MD



A clear start to the morning was replaced with a low overcast, before clearing again by lunchtime. Winds were fresh from the southeast.


Victoria Tower was showered with copious numbers of migrant birds, making accurate counts somewhat difficult, so well done to Romano for returning counts of 45,343 Redwings, 728 Song Thrushes, 13,071 Starlings, 1,114 Woodpigeons, 22 Stock Doves, 84 Skylarks, a Swallow, 6 Hawfinches, 1,177 Chaffinches, 6 Bramblings, 37 Siskins, 92 Goldfinches, 2 Linnets, a Corn Bunting, a Reed Bunting, 9 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, a Water Pipit, 10 Meadow Pipits, a Spoonbill, 2 Great White Egrets, a Cormorant, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Firecrest, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Peregrines, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, and 2 Buzzards. 61,767 were counted in total, plus some local birds not included, but even this total is almost certainly an undercount!!


Many of the birds above were likely to have been pushed off of the Normandy coast by the wind and probably did not reach the West side of the Island in any numbers, and the comparison in species between Victoria Tower and Noirmont is very interesting.

Seen from Noirmont where Woodpigeons were to the fore again with 15,305 leaving southwards. Also seen were 13 Swallows, 213 Skylarks, 143 Redwings, 28 Song Thrushes, 6 Blackbirds, 2 Ring Ouzels, 1,276 Starlings, 2,189 Chaffinches, a Brambling, a Reed Bunting, 29 Linnets, 14 Goldfinches, 6 Greenfinches, a Grey Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtails, 99 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Chiffchaff, a Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Choughs and 2 Ravens.


Uncounted numbers of birds were also seen over the Northern parishes early on.


At La Rocque over the high tide were 47 Curlews, 32 Turnstones, 2 Redshanks, 16 Sanderlings, 37 Dunlin, 250 Oystercatchers, 20 Grey Plovers and 72 Brent Geese.  In St Aubin's Bay were 230 Brent Geese and 2 Great Crested Grebes


At Grosnez were 220 Linnets, 2 Stonechats, 15 Meadow Pipits and 13 Gannets  and in St Ouen's Bay, at Kempt Tower, were 38 Ringed Plovers, 2 Stonechats and 2 Pied Wagtails, while at Le Braye were 6 Pied Wagtails and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.


A Barn Owl was seen in flight at Le Huquet in St Martin.


Evening update:  At Grouville Marsh were 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Redwings and 4 Water Rails and further Redwings were heard over First Tower, Vallee des Vaux  and Mont Matthieu.

by Romano da Costa 17 March 2026
17.03.2026 A Lapwing at St Ouen's Pond MD Seen at St Ouen's Pond were 20 Sand Martin , a Water Pipit , 34 Shoveler , a Pochard , a Wigeon , 14 Teal , 4 Lapwing , a Snipe , a Water Rail and a singing Reed Bunting while at Kempt Tower were 3 Little Grebe , 11 Tufted Duck , 4 Stonechat , 3 Chough and 2 Wheatear with 2 more Wheatear on the Blanches Banques and another 2 at Grosnez. On Mont Matthieu were 11 Shoveler and 2 Tufted Duck . At La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler , 8 Little Egret and 2 Pied Wagtail while 16 Cattle Egret were near the Seymour Inn and a Grey Heron was at Handois. Yesterday evening 182 Alba Wagtail were roosting in the Marina.
by Romano da Costa 16 March 2026
16.03.2026 Gull numbers are declining rapidly now as they head off back to Europe for the breeding season, this Common Gull had taken a break in St Ouen's Bay, photo thanks to Stuart Matthews. Seen at St Ouen's Pond were 7 Wigeon , 40 Shoveler , 4 Tufted Duck , 23 Teal , a Snipe , a Little Grebe , 2 Stonechat and a Water Pipit while in the Sandpits were 25 Tufted Duck . At La Sente were 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler , 20 Little Egret , 7 Common Gull , 6 Black-headed Gull , 22 Redshank , 6 Greenshank , 300 Brent Geese , 6 White Wagtail , 3 Pied Wagtail and 24 Cattle Egret near the Seymour Inn. A pair of Shelduck were at Pontac, likely to be the same as the La Sente pair. In Grouville Bay were 567 Brent Geese , 143 Oystercatcher , 63 Grey Plover , 93 Sanderling , 35 Dunlin , 12 Curlew , a Great Crested Grebe , 4 Red-breasted Merganser , 4 Common Gull and 4 Black-headed Gull . Up at Le Catillon were 2 Common Gull , 3 Black-headed Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Cattle Egret while at Grands Vaux were 5 Black-headed Gull , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Tufted Duck . Beaumont Marsh held 26 Brent Geese , 43 Pale-bellied Brent Geese , 20 Meadow Pipit and a Little Egret . Up at Sorel were 2 Wheatear , 3 Buzzard were over Jardin D'Olivet and a Kingfisher was in the town Marina.
by Romano da Costa 15 March 2026
15.03.2026 After all the loses in recent weeks, it was great news to see a few of our breeding Puffins back along the North coast this morning RdC Seen from Plemont this morning were 3 Puffin and 29 Razorbill . On the Scrape were the White-fronted Goose , 13 Teal , 6 Lapwing and 2 Skylark with 2 Shelduck and 8 Little Egret at Le Pulec. In Grouville Bay were a Knot , 11 Grey Plover , 13 Dunlin , 9 Sanderling , 11 Curlew and 73 Brent Geese and at La Rocque on the incoming tide were 6 Greenshank , 4 Redshank , 17 Grey Plover , 11 Curlew , 15 Dunlin , 35 Sanderling , 63 Oystercatcher , 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 120 Brent Geese . At La Sente shortly after were 26 Little Egret , 14 Cattle Egret , 11 Black-headed Gull , 2 Common Gull , 11 Redshank , 4 Greenshank , 2 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck and 13 Pied Wagtail . At Ouaisne were 3 Snipe , 2 Teal , a Redwing , 2 Dartford Warbler , 5 Chiffchaff and 12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese while at Beaumont Marsh were 57 Brent Geese , 12 Snipe , 2 Little Egret , 3 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest with 39 Brent Geese and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at West Park. Elsewhere, a Stonechat was at Noirmont, a Peregrine was on Elizabeth Castle and at Grands Vaux were 10 Tufted Duck , a Teal , 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Raven . Below, a short video of today's Knot feeding in Grouville Bay, thanks to Jo Bramley.
by Romano da Costa 14 March 2026
14.03.2026 A pair of Dutch colour-ringed Brent Geese that have spent the winter at La Rocque RdC Seen at Beaumont Marsh were 25 Brent Geese , 2 Little Egret and a Grey Heron with another 24 Brent Geese and 2 Chough in St Aubins Bay. On the Scrape were the White-fronted Goose and 23 Teal while a Wheatear was at Les Landes and 2 Peregrine at Grosnez. 10 Little Egret were at Le Pulec and at Petit Port were a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 6 Curlew and 7 Brent Geese . At La Sente were 4 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 21 Cattle Egret , 24 Little Egret , 37 Black-headed Gull , a Common Gull , 300 Brent Geese and 8 Pied Wagtail while at La Rocque were a Black-necked Grebe , a Common Gull , 26 Curlew , 2 Ringed Plover , 5 Greenshank and a Black Redstart . 26 Black-headed Gull and 2 Brent Geese were at St Catherine's and at Grouville Marsh were a Reed Bunting , 5 Cetti's Warbler , 3 Chiffchaff , 10 Water Rail , 4 Snipe , 2 Grey Heron , 78 Jackdaw and 95 Carrion Crow .
by Romano da Costa 13 March 2026
13.03.2026 A male Red-breasted Merganser at La Rocque recently RdC At La Sente this morning were 4 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 5 Greenshank , 23 Redshank , 18 Little Egret , 6 Black-headed Gull , a Common Gull and 18 Pied Wagtail while near the Seymour Inn were 25 Cattle Egret and at Le Hurel 112 Oystercatcher. 38 Black-headed Gull were at Grouville Marsh. Seen at Petit Port were 9 Curlew , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull , a Red-breasted Merganser , 2 Shelduck and 9 Brent Geese with 15 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in St Brelades Bay and at St Ouens Pond were 28 Shoveler and a Snipe and on the Scrape 32 Brent Geese , 5 Lapwing , 12 Teal and a Water Rail . 44 Brent Geese were at Beaumont Marsh and 19 Black-headed Gull were at the Aeroclub.
by Romano da Costa 12 March 2026
12.03.2026 A fly past from a Cattle Egret MD Seen at La Sente today were 330 Brent Geese , 4 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 28 Little Egret , 22 Cattle Egret , 24 Redshank , 2 Greenshank , a Common Gull , 4 Black-headed Gull and a Cetti's Warbler . On the Scrape were 28 Brent Geese , 24 Teal , 4 Lapwing and 2 Oystercatcher while in the Sandpits were 22 Tufted Duck , 4 Oystercatcher , 4 Chough and a Cetti's Warbler . Roosting at Petit Port were 2 Shelduck and 8 Curlew and at St Aubins were 36 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 12 Redshank . 11 Tufted Duck were at Grands Vaux and a Siskin and 2 Blackcap were in Vallee des Vaux.
by Romano da Costa 11 March 2026
11.03.2026 This Little Egret , colour-ringed in Llanon, Wales back in April 2022, is now on its third visit to Jersey. Usually seen in the first week of May on its previous two visits, its a few weeks earlier this year and coincides with an increase of Little Egret numbers at La Sente RdC Seen at La Sente this morning were 52 Little Egret , 26 Cattle Egret , 5 Common Gull , 21 Black-headed Gull , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 4 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 60 Brent Geese , 6 Greenshank , 55 Redshank and 10 Pied Wagtail while at Queens Valley were a Little Grebe , a flyover Cattle Egret , a Kingfisher , a Grey Wagtail and 2 Teal . At St Aubins were a Great Crested Grebe , 5 Black-headed Gull and 31 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with another 12 in St Brelades Bay. Out west at St Ouens Pond were 30 Teal , a Pochard , 10 Shoveler , 5 Tufted Duck , 2 Little Grebe , 40 Brent Geese , 4 Lapwing and 3 Marsh Harrier while at Petit Port were 4 Brent Geese and 4 Curlew . Yesterday evening at La Haule were a Grey Plover , 180 Sanderling and 8 Dunlin .
by Romano da Costa 10 March 2026
10.03.2026 A handsome drake Shoveler at La Sente RdC Seen at La Rocque this morning were 2 Knot , 85 Grey Plover , 100 Oystercatcher , a Common Gull, 230 Brent Geese and a Black Redstart with 2 Wheatear at Le Bourg. In Grouville Bay later on were 54 Grey Plover , 27 Dunlin , 32 Sanderling , a Great Crested Grebe , 5 Black-headed Gull and 6 Raven . Around La Sente were 4 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , 80 Brent Geese , 7 Greenshank , 28 Redshank , 19 Cattle Egret , 22 Little Egret , 2 Common Gull , a Black-headed Gull , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 27 Pied Wagtail while a Mallard with 7 ducklings was seen at Grouville Marsh. At St Ouens Pond were 44 Shoveler , 8 Tufted Duck , 4 Teal , a Wigeon , a Little Grebe and a Snipe while 2 Stonechat were at Beauport. Elsewhere, 3 Fieldfare were in Trinity Cider Orchard, 16 Black-headed Gull and 2 Tufted Duck were at Grands Vaux, a Kingfisher was at Queen's Valley, a Grey Wagtail was on La Rue du Moulin de Bas and 2 Turnstone were in the Marina.
by Romano da Costa 9 March 2026
09.03.2026 One of three Knot that have spent the winter in Grouville Bay RdC At La Sente this morning were 36 Brent Geese , 2 Shoveler , 2 Shelduck , the Wigeon , 10 Little Egret , a Cattle Egret , 36 Redshank , 4 Greenshank and 12 Black-headed Gull . In St Aubins were a Great Crested Grebe , 12 Redshank and 29 Pale-bellied Brent Geese while at Beaumont Marsh were 123 Brent Geese , 13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese , 30 Meadow Pipit and 3 Little Egret with another 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in St Brelades Bay. Along La Rue du Moulin de Bas were 13 Fieldfare , 5 Redwing , 2 Blackcap and a Firecrest while in the Trinity Cider Orchard were 5 Chiffchaff . A male Wheatear was at Sorel along with 3 Stonechat and 2 Song Thrush and at Les Platons were 4 Dartford Warbler . On the north side of St Ouens Pond were 3 Reed Bunting and 10 Chiffchaff with 32 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Teal , a Snipe and 2 Sand Martin on the Pond while at Kempt Tower were 2 Shoveler , 2 Little Grebe and 6 Raven . At Petit Port were 10 Mediterranean Gull . A Grey Wagtail was in St Peters Valley and a Siskin and 2 Blackcap were in Vallee des Vaux.
by Romano da Costa 8 March 2026
08.03.2026 A female Stonechat coming into land, brilliantly captured by Susan Renouf. Seen at La Sente this morning were 7 Common Gull , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler , the Wigeon , 70 Brent Geese , 28 Cattle Egret , 9 Little Egret , 6 Greenshank , 50 Redshank , 2 Raven and 30 Pied Wagtail while nearby at La Rocque were a Great Northern Diver , a Black-necked Grebe and 2 Red-breasted Merganser . At Petit Port were 15 Mediterranean Gull , 11 Curlew , 85 Oystercatcher and 6 Brent Geese and a Puffin was seen from a boat five miles west of L'Etacq. On the Scrape were 21 Teal , 2 Lapwing and 2 Oystercatchers while a pair of Little Grebe were at Kempt Tower and 14 Pied Wagtail and 2 Skylark were by Cutty Sark. Beaumont Marsh held 190 Brent Geese , 27 Meadow Pipit , 3 Little Egret and a Grey Heron and at St Aubins were 13 Redshank and a Pied Wagtail .
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