Jersey Birds

24.01.2024 Male Marsh Harrier taking flight at the Wetland Centre. Image: MD Another wild day, mainly dry in a strong south-southwest wind, gusting to gale force at times. Seen from the shelter of the Wetland Centre this morning were 2 Shelduck , 57 Teal , 51 Shoveler , 14 Pochard , 3 Tufted Duck , a Snipe , a Little Grebe , 2 Grey Herons and 2 Stonechats while in the backfields were 250 Brent Geese , 43 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 70 Lapwings . On Kempt Tower pools were 6 Tufted Duck and in the car park, a male Stonechat. By La Tour Caree were 33 Ringed Plovers, 11 Dunlin and 4 Sanderlings . At Petit Port and Le Grouet were 51 Mediterranean Gulls , 9 Black-headed Gulls , a Great Black-backed Gull , 32 Turnstones , 3 Purple Sandpipers , 2 Grey Plovers , 38 Oystercatchers and 4 Shags . Seen earlier at Le Pulec were 12 Gannets , a Razorbill , 24 Shags , 4 Cormorants and 11 Great Black-backed Gulls , with c300 Oystercatchers roosting in Stinky Bay. At L'Etacq were 6 Curlews , 42 Oystercatchers , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 5 Great Black-backed Gulls and 5 Meadow Pipits . 13 Mediterranean Gulls and 7 Black-headed Gulls were roosting on the Airport football pitch and 450 Brent Geese plus a Curlew were in Beaumont Marsh. Seen between Beauport and Les Creux were a Redwing , a Firecrest , a Stonechat , 6 Ravens and 83 Herring Gulls were in a ploughed field there. Counts at La Sente included 280 Brent Geese, a Wigeon , 74 Redshanks , 4 Grey Herons , 3 Little Egrets , 14 Cattle Egrets , a Common Gull and a Mediterranean Gull . Below : Dramatic times at Le Pulec on this morning's high tide. Image: MD

23.01.2026 One of 160 Shag which passed Le Pulec this morning. Numbers of the species seem to be slowly improving locally, but are still a way down on what they were at the turn of this century. Image: MD A day of mixed fortunes on the weather front, mainly dry and often sunny this morning, but with more rain arriving in the afternoon, winds were south-southeasterly, fresh increasing to near gale by this evening. At La Sente this morning were 275 Brent Geese, 21 Grey Herons , 28 Cattle Egrets , 52 Redshanks , 2 Greenshanks , 3 Common Gulls and one Mediterranean Gull and at Cowley Farm were a further 10 Cattle Egrets . Early seabird movement through St Ouen's Bay, as viewed from Le Pulec, included 79 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 5 Razorbills , 160 Shags , 12 Cormorants , 60 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 15 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Kittiwakes and a Peregrine , while roosting in Stinky Bay were 301 Oystercatchers , 9 Little Egrets and 20+ Rock Pipits . 10 Pied Wagtails were in a ploughed field at La Saline and by Tour Carre in St Ouen's Bay were 17 Ringed Plovers and 7 Dunlin . In Petit Port Bay were 77 Mediterranean Gulls . At St Ouen's Pond were 26 Teal , 2 Wigeon , 34 Shoveler , 12 Pochard , 6 Tufted Duck , 11 Coot , a Snipe , 3 Grey Herons and a Stonechat , while in the backfields were 39 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 156 Brent Geese , 200+ Stock Doves and 35 Lapwings . Also seen were 10 Marsh Harriers and a Merlin . In the Sandpits were 40 Great Black-backed Gulls , 32 Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe . In Beaumont Marsh were 100 Black-headed Gulls , 5 Mediterranean Gulls , 330 Brent Geese , 3 Little Egrets , 6 Redwings and 8 Meadow Pipits .

22.01.2026 Adult Little Gull feeding outside Stinky Bay this morning. Image: MD Another rainy morning, with a drier afternoon. Winds started in the southeast before veering west-southwest late morning (10c) Passing Le Pulec this morning were a Great Northern Diver , 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Shelducks , 2 Red-breasted Mergansers , an adult Little Gull, 16 Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, 18 Great Black-backed Gulls , 310 Herring Gulls , 47 Gannets , 85 Shags , 10 Cormorants and a Peregrine . Roosting in Stinky Bay over the morning's high tide were 51 Curlews , 286 Oystercatchers , 2 Turnstones , 12 Little Egrets and 45 Rock Pipits. On the Pond were 14 Pochard , 4 Tufted Duck , 41 Shoveler , 22 Teal , a Little Grebe and a Stonechat , and in the backfields were 177 Brent Geese (after the morning wash on the Pond!), 75 Lapwings and 30 Starlings . The Snow Bunting was at Kempt Tower and in St Ouen's Bay were 46 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . In Petit Port Bay were 72 Mediterranean Gulls , 35 Turnstones and 11 Great Black-backed Gulls . 3 Stonechats were at Les Landes, also a Kestrel . Birds at La sente included 74 Redshanks , 5 Greenshanks , a Lapwing , 4 Curlews , a Snipe , a Wigeon , a Teal , 300 Brent Geese, 5 Common Gulls , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 100 Black-headed Gulls , 45 Cattle Egrets , 18 Little Egrets , 6 Grey Herons and 10 Pied Wagtails . At Le Catillon were 2 Fieldfares , 6 Common Gulls and a displaying male Marsh Harrier . On Queen's Valley reservoir were 10 Tufted Duck and a Kingfisher . The White-fronted Goose remained at Grouville Marsh. In St Aubin's Bay, 13 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at La Haule, while at St Aubin were 32 Redshanks , 12 Turnstones , 2 Grey Herons , a Little Egret and a Great Crested Grebe . In Beaumont Marsh were 40 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron . A nod to the future today was a Mallard chick at the Zoo

21.01.2026 Goldcrest at Pont Marquet. Image: MD Another morning of rain, heavy at times, in a strong to gale south-southeasterly wind. It was drier this afternoon but still windy. Viewed from the Wetland Centre this morning, on St Ouen's Pond were 6 Wigeon , 35 Shoveler , 15 Teal , 14 Pochard ( just one a female), 3 Tufted Duck , a Stonechat and a Chiffchaff , while in the backfields were 120 Brent Geese , 41 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 55 Lapwings and 4 Black-headed Gulls . 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Curlew flew past Le Pulec. At Petit Port were a pair of Shelduck , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 37 Curlews , 2 Purple Sandpipers , 20 Turnstones , a Sanderling and 2 Grey Plovers . At La Sente were 180 Brent Geese, one Teal , 11 Grey Herons , 8 Little Egrets , 44 Cattle Egrets , 275 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 8 Common Gulls . A gathering of corvids in Rue des Chasses, St John included c200 Crows , 4 Jackdaws , 10 Ravens and 2 Jays , with 100 Chaffinches also in the same area.

20.01.2026 A super image of a Black-necked Grebe at La Rocque, with thanks to Romano as ever! RDC A clear morning with increasing high cloud and an ever increasing south-southeast wind, with heavy rain this afternoon (10c) The gusty wind made today's organised counts of Brent Geese and Waders , somewhat challenging, but hopefully with successful outcomes which will be posted in the Resources section here, in due course. Early morning seawatching from Seymour Slip in Grouville Bay saw 9 Great Northern Divers , 2 Black-throated Divers , 3 Red-throated Divers , 3 Great Crested Grebes , a Black-necked Grebe , 19 Red-breasted Mergansers , 3 Sandwich Terns , 310 Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull and 6 Common Gulls . among the waders counted were 2 Knot , 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and 216 Grey Plovers . Brent Geese totalled over 800 in Grouville Bay and at La Sente. Also at La Sente were 62 Redshanks , 2 Greenshanks , 3 Teal , 14 Grey Herons , 2 Cattle Egrets , 167 Black-headed Gulls , 3 Common Gulls , 250 Starlings , 10 Redwings , 2 Song Thrushes and 5 Pied Wagtails , with 3 Buzzards causing much disturbance there. Another 5 Grey Herons were at La Blinerie. Waders in St Ouen's Bay included 45 Sanderlings , 9 Dunlin , 20 Ringed Plovers , while on St Ouen's Pond were 34 Shoveler 56 Teal , 12 Pochard , 6 Tufted Duck , a Water Pipit and 60 Lapwings . 57 Mediterranean Gulls were in Petit Port Bay, while at West Park in St Aubin's Bay were 47 Oystercatchers , 17 Black-headed Gulls , one Mediterranean Gull and 7 Great Black-backed Gulls .

19.01.2026 There are good numbers of Redwings on the Island at the moment, including this bird at Pont Marquet today. Image: MD A mainly dry but overcast day with some early hill fog and a southerly wind (9c). Seen on St Ouen's Pond through the day were a pair of Shelduck , 13 Pochard , 4 Tufted Duck, 50 Shovelers , 4 Wigeon , 13 Teal , a White-fronted Goose , the Pink-footed Goose with it's Barnacle Goose friend, the Australian Wood Duck, back on the scene, 2 Little Grebes , a Grey Heron , 2 Stonechats and a Water Pipit, while in the backfields were 61 Brent Geese , 80 Lapwings and 30 Starlings . 7 Marsh Harriers flew out of roost at first light and 2 Shelduck on the Scrape may well have been the same as those on the Pond. 2 Lapwings were also seen on the Scrape and by Kempt Tower were the Snow Bunting and a Stonechat . In St Ouen's Bay were 28 Ringed Plovers , 16 Sanderlings , 4 Dunlin , a Turnstone , 52 Mediterranean Gulls , 7 Black - headed Gulls , 41 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . Seen passing La Coupe this morning were 7 Common Scoter , 7 Great Northern Divers , 10 Red-throated Divers , 9 Razorbills , 2 Guillemots , 8 Gannets , 2 Brent Geese , 3 Common Gulls , 10 Kittiwakes , 3 Black-headed Gulls and a Fulmar . At La Sente were the Greylag Goose , a Wigeon , 6 Teal , 41 Cattle Egrets , 18 Common Gulls and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. In fields just south of Trinity Church, including the Orchard there, were 15 Fieldfares , 75 Redwings , 2 Song Thrushes , a Firecrest , 30 Woodpigeons , a Buzzard and a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches, and at the playing field opposite Trinity School were another Fieldfare , 35 Redwings, 4 Chaffinches and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker . On the Railway Walk at Pont Marquet were 4 Fieldfares , 20 Redwings , 4 Song Thrushes , a Water Rail , 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers , 3 Short-toed Treecreepers , 5 Firecrests , 3 Goldcrests , 2 Long-tailed Tits , a Blackcap , 11 Goldfinches and 5 Chaffinches .

18.01.2026 The pale-bellied Brent Goose which is currently on the East coast, seen here at La Sente, image taken by Romano RDC A cold and mainly overcast day in a southeast wind. The Snow Bunting continues to delight by Kempt Tower and in addition today, a Bittern was in the pools there too. On St Ouen's Pond this morning were 65 Teal, 53 Shoveler, 11 Pochard ( just one a female), 2 Little Grebes , a Grey Heron , 2 Stonechats , a Water Pipit and 3 Meadow Pipit and in the backfields were 80 Lapwings , 112 Brent Geese and c200 Stock Doves . On the Scrape were a Bittern , 3 Wigeon , 2 Shelduck , a Lapwing , a Black-headed Gulls , 5 Song Thrushes and another Stonechat . Seen from Le Pulec were 2 Black-throated Divers , 19 Brent Geese , 35 Gannets , 4 Razorbills , 82 Shags , 9 Cormorants , 11 Kittiwakes , a Mediterranean Gull , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 34 Great Black-backed Gulls , 286 Herring Gulls , 12 Curlews , 7 Little Egrets , 2 Pied Wagtails and 79 Rock Pipits flying out of a roost there. At La Sente this morning were 41 Redshanks , 42 Cattle Egrets, a Marsh Harrier , 16 Little Egrets, the wild Greylag , 100 Black-headed Gulls, 26 Common Gulls and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. In Grouville Bay were 640 Brent Geese including the pale-bellied Brent and 10 Common Gulls . At La Rocque were 3 Black-necked Grebes , 2 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes , a Great Northern Diver and 9 Red-breasted Mergansers . On Grouville Common were a Grey Heron , 2 Firecrests , 12 Redwings , a Song Thrush , 2 Chiffchaffs and 3 Blackcaps . A further 25 Cattle Egrets were at Cowley Farm. c500 Brent Geese were seen in flight over St Aubin's Bay.

17.01.2026 A touch of colour. A Mediterranean Gull in St Ouen's Bay, image courtesy of Romano RDC A dry day with overcast skies and a cold feel in the south-southeast wind (9c) In St Ouen's Bay today: Along the beach between La Braye and Kempt Tower were 49 Great Black-backed Gulls , 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull , 27 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Black-headed Gulls and 11 Brent Geese . On St Ouen's Pond were a White-fronted Goose , 57 Teal , 33 Shovelers , 4 Pochard , 5 Tufted Ducks , 2 Little Grebes , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Grey Herons and in the backfields were 250 Lapwings . A Bittern was on the Scrape once again. At Petit Port were 32 Curlews , 12 Grey Plovers , 20 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper . In St Aubin's Bay, 16 Redshanks and 2 Turnstones were at St Aubin, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 286 Brent Geese , 2 Curlews and a Little Egret were between the Gunsite and La Haule. In Beaumont Marsh were a Cattle Egret , 2 Little Egrets , 40 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Grey Herons and 2 Pied Wagtails . Off Grosnez were 3 Red-throated Divers , 155 Gannets, 103 Fulmars , 61 Razorbills , 27 Shags , 67 Kittiwakes , a Common Gull, a Mediterranean Gull , 182 Herring Gulls arriving from the North, a Peregrine and 2 Ravens . Also seen were a Harbour Porpoise and a pod of at least 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . At La Sente were 473 Brent Geese , a Greylag Goose, 4 Teal , a Wigeon , 55 Cattle Egrets , 2 Snipe , a Grey Heron , 5 Mediterranean Gulls , a Redshank , 27 Redwings , 3 Song Thrushes and 9 Pied Wagtails . A further 7 Grey Herons were at La Blinerie and a Black Redstart plus a Grey Wagtail were at Le Bourg. Around La Rocque were 48 Redshanks , a Great Crested Grebe , a Black-necked Grebe , 32 Ringed Plovers , 7 Turnstones , 5 Dunlin and in Robin Bay were 2 Black Redstarts

16.01.2026 Waders roosting on the beach at La Rocque, with 2 Knot among the Sanderling, Dunlin and Turnstone . Image thanks to Romano RDC A clear day with some good sunny periods, before rain arrived after dark this evening. Winds were from the south-southwest and moderate Seabirds passing Grosnez this morning included 6 Red-throated Divers , 88 Razorbills , 19 Guillemots , 23 unidentified (distant) auks , 89 Gannets , 35 Fulmars , 34 Shags , 68 Kittiwakes , 33 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Common Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull . A Peregrine and a Raven also passed by. A Harbour Porpoise moved West mid-morning. At Le Pulec were 4 Curlews , 3 Little Egrets and 4 Pied Wagtails . Seen from the Wetland Centre this morning were 71 Teal , 37 Shoveler , 4 Tufted Ducks , 2 Little Grebes , 170 Lapwings , a Water Pipit and 2 Stonechats . A Bittern was seen from the Scrape Hide ( three are believed to be present at the moment ), and the Snow Bunting was showing well at Kempt Tower and at the Pools there, were a Chiffchaff , a Cetti's Warbler, a Marsh Harrier and a Grey Heron . In St Ouen's Bay were 39 Mediterranean Gulls , 47 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3 Black-headed Gulls . 40 Mediterranean Gulls which were roosting on the football pitch at the Airport at first light may be the same as above. At Sands were 39 Ringed Plovers , 17 Dunlin and 3 Sanderling . At Petit Port and Le Grouet were 24 Curlews , a Shelduck , 11 Brent Geese , 12 Grey Plovers , 2 Purple Sandpipers , 40 Turnstones , 6 Little Egrets and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls . In Vert Rue on the St Ouen/St Peter bounderies was fields with hundreds of Chaffinches , a Sparrowhawk , c 250 Stock Doves and 2 Choughs which flew over. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming at Les Creux Manor and a Stonechat was on Beauport Common. In Beaumont Marsh were 24 Black-headed Gulls, a Cattle Egret, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron , 15 Meadow Pipits and 3 Pied Wagtails . On the East of the Island, at La Sente, were 250 Brent Geese , the Greylag Goose , 2 Teal , 27 Grey Herons , 41 Cattle Egrets , 5 Little Egrets , 4 Common Gulls , 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 30 Redwings . A Kingfisher was in Queen's Valley and another Kingfisher was seen in the Old Harbour in St Helier.