Jersey Birds

26.06.2026 Three Black-tailed Godwits were on the Scrape for a second day, this morning, including this fine looking individual. MD After yesterday's record 39c, a much cooler day in the mid-twenties, with a west-southwest wind. On St Ouen's Pond Scrape and surrounds were 3 Black-tailed Godwits , a Common Sandpiper , 8 Lapwings with 2 chicks still, 4 Oystercatchers , 2 Grey Herons , 2 Tufted Ducks , Reed Warblers and Cetti's Warblers feeding young, 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Swifts , 10+ Sand Martins and 10 Swallows . Early morning passage past Corbiere was a little less busy than in recent days, but still involved 826 Balearic Shearwaters , 30 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Fulmars , 22 Gannets , 6 Guillemots , 5 Common Scoters , 11 Shags , 3 Cormorants , 28 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , a Kittiwake , 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 25 Great Black-backed Gulls , and 12 Swifts .

24.06.2026 . This immature Common Gull was among the multitude of birds feeding off the northwest coast at the moment, image courtesy of John Ovenden. The heatwave continues, with temperatures reaching 34c in humid air and only light winds. Shearwaters were very active from dawn this morning, and counted passing Corbiere heading north in less than three hours were 1,760 Balearic Shearwaters and 66 Manx Shearwaters. Other species passing included 13 Guillemots, 25 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 8 Cormorants , a Grey Heron, an incoming Little Egret , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls , a Kittiwake , 5 Sandwich Terns , 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 38 Great Black-backed Gulls, 42 Swifts , 3 Swallows and a single Woodpigeon . 15+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins were close in to the lighthouse rocks too. Many of the shearwaters finished up off the northwest of the Island, where they were joined by hundreds of Gulls in feeding parties, and more rafts of shearwaters were seen all the way between Guernsey and Jersey, from the paper delivery boat and others. On St Ouen's Pond Scrape this morning were 7 Lapwings , 4 Oystercatchers , a Grey Heron and a singing Sedge Warbler . Inland around the Island today at Pont Marquet were 4 Firecrests , a Goldcrest , 4 Short-toed Treecreepers , a Blackcap . a Song Thrush , a Jay and a juvenile Moorhen . In Waterworks Valley, 250 Herring Gulls were on Millbrook reservoir, a pair of Moorhen were with 2 juveniles on the valley mud pond, along with a Tufted Duck with a juvenile, and on Dannemarche reservoir were 2 Moorhens , 4 Tufted Ducks , a Short-toed Treecreeper and a Chiffchaff . Seen from Grainville cricket pitch were 2 Swifts , a White Wagtail , a Sparrowhawk and an overflying Black-headed Gull , with another 3 Swifts over Havre des Pas and 2 more Swifts over Garden Lane. In St Catherine's Woods were a White Admiral butterfly, 3 Commas , several Red Admirals and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth .

23.06.2026 This beautiful juvenile Black-headed Gull was pictured passing Corbiere lighthouse this morning. MD Another sunny and very hot day (35c) in a southeast wind. In the Sandpits in St Ouen's Bay this morning were a Pochard , 26 Tufted Ducks , a Little Grebe , 5 Little Egrets , 2 Grey Herons , 12 Black-headed Gulls , 3 juvenile and 3 adult Marsh Harriers , 105 Coot , 6 Reed Warblers , 3 Cetti's Warblers , 2 Whitethroats , a Stonechat , 3 White Wagtails , 4 Swifts , 40 Sand Martins and 2 pairs of Oystercatchers . The usual array of odd wildfowl there included 2 Barnacle Geese , a Bar-headed Goose , a Whooper Swan and 2 Black Swans . On St Ouen's Pond Scrape were a Redshank , 5 Lapwings , 2 Oystercatchers , a pair of Tufted Ducks , a female Shoveler with 6 young (on the South Canal), a Whitethroat and a Grey Heron while overhead were 9 Black-headed Gulls , 8 Swifts and a Peregrine . 2 Clouded Yellows were also seen. At Kempt Tower were a pair of Tufted Ducks with a single well grown chick, a Little Grebe , and 2 singing Whitethroats . Passing Corbiere from first light were 464 Balearic Shearwaters , 40 Manx Shearwaters , 21 Guillemots , 3 Fulmars , 16 Gannets , 29 Black-headed Gulls , 13 Mediterranean Gulls , a Kittiwake , 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 29 Great Black-backed Gulls , 12 Swifts , 13 Swallows and a White Wagtail . Later on, at Le Pulec was a feeding frenzy offshore, which included c 500 Shearwaters ( same ones as above), several hundreds of Herring Gulls and 3 Guillemots . On Les Landes this morning were a Marsh Harrier , a Peregrine , 11 Swifts , 7 Swallows , 5 Greenfinches , 10 Goldfinches , 16 Linnets and 2 Stonechats , with a flock of 35 Starlings also seen in St Ouen. At Manor Farm, Vinchelez were 13 active House Martin nests, but at Francheville Farmn no House Martins have bred this year due to the presence of a Sparrowawk . La Feverie Farm has 5 breeding House Martin nests, which is less than last year. At La Rocque were 2 Little Egrets and 9 Swifts .

22.06.2026 Guillemot with young off the northwest coast, image courtesy of John Ovenden JO A scorching day, reaching 34c in clear skies and an easterly breeze. A sign of the times today was the first returning Green Sandpiper , seen on the Scrape. On St Ouen's Pond were 3 Tufted Ducks , a Grey Heron , 2 Little Egrets , 5 Swifts , 2 Sand Martins , and the usual Cetti's Warbler and Reed Warblers . It was a busy morning off the West coast and seen passing Corbiere were 620 Balearic Shearwaters, 78 Manx Shearwaters , 21 Guillemots , 38 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 13 Shags , 29 Mediterranean Gulls , 51 Black-headed Gulls , 6 Kittiwakes , 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 54 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns , 64 Swifts , 17 Swallows and 15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins moving East along the South coast. A Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine were on the headland and good numbers of butterflies over the sea included a Clouded Yellow and several Red Admirals . In Petit Port Bay were 4 Curlews with the usual Oystercatchers , but recent lack of sightings of Shelduck may mean they have all headed off now.

21.06.2026 Many thanks to John for this image of an immature Puffin to the north of Grosnez this week, presumably born last year and not necessarily in Jersey! Image: JO fine and hot day (28c), in a light easterly wind, with the forecast of much hotter days to come this week. Early passage past Corbiere included 121 Balearic Shearwaters , 29 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Guillemots , 36 Gannets , 3 Cormorants , a Mediterranean Gull , a Kittiwake , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 35 Great Black-backed Gulls , 126 Swifts , a White Wagtail and 3 Woodpigeons . A Marsh harrier and 3 Ravens also flew by. 5 Curlews were in Petit Port Bay. Later in the morning, a feeding frenzy off of Le Pulec involved 720 Balearic Shearwaters , 16 Manx Shearwaters , a Fulmar , a Mediterranean Gull and several hundreds of Herring Gulls . On the Scrape field at St Ouen's Pond were 7 Lapwings ( 5 juveniles), but the female with her new brood of 4 chicks was keeping a low profile. 2 Swifts and a Grey Heron flew over there. At St Aubin were 18 Swifts , 12 Black-headed Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull . Extra reports from yesterday included 15 Swifts , 2 White Wagtails and a Clouded Yellow butterfly at the Farmer's cricket ground in St Martin.

20.06.2026 Lapwings are having a good breeding season this year. With only a couple of pairs on the Island, they have raised 5 juveniles which are now happily flying with the adults. The real bonus today was the first sighting of a second brood of 4 chicks on the Scrape field, with the juvenile birds joining in with the adults to mob passing predators. Fingers are now being re-crossed! MD There was a cloudy start to the day, slowly clearing to fine conditions by this afternoon. There was plenty of activity offshore at Corbiere this morning with rafts of feeding Balearic Shearwaters added to passing birds to total at least 750 birds. Also seen were 17 Manx Shearwaters , 20 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 30 Gannets , 10 Cormorants , 33 Shags , 46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 60 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Kittiwakes , an adult Mediterranean Gull , a Sandwich Tern , 91 Swifts , 22 Woodpigeons , 2 Peregrines off the sea, a female Marsh Harrier, and a Buzzard . A loose pod of c25 Bottle-nosed Dolphins moved slowly south and a few Common Dolphins were seen further to the north. At the Scrape this morning, as well as the Lapwings , were the pair of Oystercatcher , a Skylark , Tufted Ducks with three chicks, also a second pair, a Marsh Harrier and a Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. Kestrels were active near to Plemont and another pair of Kestrels were with 3 fledged young at Beauport. At the pond in Waterworks valley was another pair of Tufted Ducks with 3 young. An Oystercatcher was seen feeding on the grass verge near Hunt Brothers at La Collette, oblivious to the passing traffic.

19.06.2026 A close up of a Balearic Shearwater off of Jersey's West coast, with thanks to John Ovenden for the image. JO It was another morning spoiled by fog, but with a fine afternoon following, winds light from the northwest. Seen through the murk at La Rocque this morning were a Whimbrel , 10 Curlews , 65 Oystercatchers , 6 Grey Herons , 4 Little Egrets, 2 Swallows and a House Martin , also a Hummingbird Hawkmoth on the harbour wall. A further 67 Oystercatchers , a Grey Heron and another Whimbrel were at le Hocq. At Fountain Lane were 3 singing Reed Warblers and 2 singing Cetti's Warblers . At Rue des Pres were 9 singing Reed Warblers , 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and a Marsh Harrier . Swifts featured again, with 42 over Vallee des Vaux, 3 at St Catherine's and 12 over Red Houses this afternoon. Odds and ends at St Ouen's Pond Scrape included a female Shoveler , 2 Oystercatchers and 2 juvenile Lapwings .

18.06.2026 Our Shelducks seem to have had a bad breeding season this year, and the pair that produced 4 young near L'Etacq lost them all in a short space of time after hatching. MD Three seasons in one day, with a clear start, thick fog for a period of the morning, heavy rain as a trough passed through, and warm sunshine this afternoon. Between the foggy periods and the rain arriving, birds passing Corbiere included 214 Swifts, 157 Balearic Shearwaters , 9 Manx Shearwaters, 9 Fulmars , 34 Gannets , 5 Cormorants , 2 Little Egrets from the south, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Kittiwake , 38 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Sandwich Tern and 12 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . Up to 4 Ravens were on the headland. At St Ouen's Pond were 2 Swifts , 20 Sand Martins , 10 Swallows , 3 Grey Herons , a Tufted Duck and a male Stonechat , with 7 Lapwings in the Scrape field. In Grouville Marsh were 2 Grey Herons , also a possible Cattle Egret .

17.06.2026 A migrant immature Peregrine passing over Corbiere this morning MD A cloudy morning gave way to a fine afternoon, feeling warm at 22c in a light west-southwest wind. Some visible migration was in place over Corbiere this morning, notably 517 Swifts in three hours, 20 Sand Martins , a single Swallow , a White Wagtail and a Stonechat . Offshore were 89 Balearic Shearwaters , 12 Manx Shearwaters , 9 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 2 Fulmars , 15 Gannets , 7 Cormorants , 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 34 Great Black-backed Gulls . Off L'Etacq was a feeding patch with up to 300 Balearic Shearwaters with local Gulls and a single Puffin was seen off of Grosnez. Seen from Mont Felard were 2 Swifts , a Swallow and 4 Red-billed Choughs and at Sandybrook were 10 Long-tailed Tits . Non-bird sightings today included 10+ Purple Hairstreaks on Mont les Vaux, a White-lettered Hairstreak at Val de la Mare, several Elephant Hawk Moths and a Privet Hawk Moth on Mont Felard and a Painted Lady at Corbiere. Evening update : A visit to Les Minquiers saw 1 Whimbrel , 12 Turnstones , a Sandwich Tern and 2 Painted Lady butterflies. In the Sandpits early this evening were a Redshank , a pair of Shelduck , 8 Oystercatchers , 28 Tufted Ducks , a male Pochard , a male Wigeon , 100 Coot , 5 Little Egrets, 60 Sand Martins including good numbers of young, 2 White Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats , a Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Warbler with fledged young. 4 Ravens were in the Desalination plant area at La Rosiere.