25.08.2025  Common Sandpiper  by the Scrape Hide.  Image:  MD


It was a clear and very warm day at 26c, maybe the last for a while given the forecast for this week. Winds were moderate south-easterly.


Seen from Noirmont this morning were a Honey Buzzard, an Ortolan Bunting with flew over calling but did not land, 24 Swifts, 36 Sand Martins, 4 House Martins, 205 Swallows, 2 Yellow Wagtails and on the ground, 2 Wheatears, a Whitethroat a Chiffchaff and 2 Dartford Warblers. Among the local birds were two flocks, totalling 32 Ravens, 2 Buzzards including one pale bird, a male Marsh Harrier and 2 Sparrowhawks. Also passing were 58 Black-headed Gulls, 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Mediterranean Gulls  and 62 Sandwich Terns.


At St Ouen's Pond, from first light were 15 Willow Warblers, 12 Reed Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, 10 Cetti's Warblers, a Water Rail, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a White Wagtail, 60 House Martins, a Sand Martin, 25 Swallows, an overflying Greenshank, 2 Marsh Harriers and a hunting Peregrine. In the Sandpits were 15 Tufted Ducks, with 2 young birds also being released from care there too, a Pochard, 18 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Common Sandpipers, 200+ Coot, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  On Mont Matthieu were 2 Willow Warblers, a Firecrest, 4 Choughs and a selection of hirundines. In St Ouen's Bay were 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, 85 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 50 Great Black-backed Gulls, 20 Mediterranean Gulls  and 140 Black-headed Gulls.  On the Scrape at St Ouen's Pond were 2 Ruff, a Redshank , 2 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears.


Up at Les Landes were 3 Whinchats, 9 Wheatears, a Willow Warbler and 6 Stonechats, on Plemont were 2 Stonechats and a Dartford Warbler.  In Petit Port Bay were a juvenile Caspian Gull, 320 Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern, 64 Mediterranean Gulls, a Common Gull and a Redshank.


75 Sandwich Terns and 3 Redshanks were seen at Le Hocq, while at St Aubin were 14 Redshanks.


This morning, up to 20 Swifts were feeding over Samares and this afternoon, an anting party over Red Houses included 40 Black-headed Gulls and 8 Mediterranean Gulls.


Evening update: The skies over Le Bourg were filled with feeding Swifts this evening, involving many hundreds of birds. On Beauport Common were a Whinchat, a Stonechat, a Redstart, a Sparrowhawk and in a nearby garden was a Willow Warbler.

A Maize field in Trinity held 15 House Martins, a Grey Heron, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Ravens and 500+ Swallows in a roost.




by Michael Dryden 24 February 2026
24.02.2026 A male Marsh Harrier enjoying today's sun at St Ouen's Pond MD At last, a dry and even sunny day, feeling very mild (13c) in the clear skies. Winds were moderate from the south-southeast. Seen in two hours passing Corbiere, were a Common Scoter , 174 Razorbills , 36 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 16 Gannets , 8 Cormorants , 31 Shags , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , 30 Great Black-backed Gulls , 3 Kittiwakes and 9 Curlews , while in Petit Port Bay were 4 Brent Geese , 2 Purple Sandpipers , 57 Turnstones , 14 Grey Plovers , 140 Oystercatchers and 9 Mediterranean Gulls . At St Ouen's Pond were 35 Shoveler , 8 Pochard , 4 Tufted Duck , a Little Grebe , 3 Grey Herons , a single Lapwing , 6 Marsh Harriers and 2 Buzzards . In the backfields there, were 150 Brent Geese and 120 Stock Dove s. Around Kempt Tower and pools were the Snow Bunting, a singing Skylark , a Little Grebe , 4 Tufted Duck , a pair of Marsh Harrier , a flock of 22 Goldfinches and a Peacock butterfly . In Beaumont Marsh were 380 Brent Geese, a Curlew , 3 Little Egrets and 9 Pied Wagtails , while at St Aubin were 30 pale-bellied Brent Geese , one dark-bellied Brent, and 20 Redshanks . Another 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the beach in St Brelade's Bay. At La sente were 2 Shelduck , 2 Shoveler , 10 Grey Herons , 12 Little Egrets , 41 Cattle Egrets , 19 Common Gulls , 55 Black-headed Gulls , 64 Redshanks and 6 Greenshanks . At La Ferme farm were 21 Redwings , 5 Song Thrushes , 56 Chaffinches , 2 Grey Wagtails , a Pied Wagtai l, a singing Firecrest , a singing Chiffchaff , a Jackdaw and a Raven . also another Peacock butterfly. In the cider orchard near Trinity Church were 7 Fieldfares , 2 Redwings , 5 Chiffchaffs , 2 Goldcrests and a Firecrest and on Rue du Moulin de Bas were 4 Redwings , a Fieldfare , 3 Chiffchaffs , a Goldcrest , a singing Firecrest and another Peacock butterfly. At Les Augerez in St Peter was a flock of 150 Starlings and in St Peter's Technical Park was a Grey Wagtail. Another singing Firecrest and 3 Blackcaps were in Vallee des Vaux. Extras for yesterday : a Dartford Warbler was at Archirondel and a Kingfisher was in Queen's Valley.
by Michael Dryden 23 February 2026
23.02.2026 A pair of pale-bellied Brent Geese at St Aubin this morning. MD A dry but cloudy to overcast day, mild at 13c in a southwest wind. Firstly, a significant record from a garden in Gorey, which a Common Rosefinch has been visiting for the last few days, this only the fifth record of the species for Jersey. St Aubin's Bay was popular today, with birds reported from there including 20 Great Crested Grebes, 77 Black-headed Gulls and 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, and around the St Aubin end of the bay, 19 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Black-headed Gulls, 29 Redshanks and 6 Turnstones . In Beaumont Marsh were 370 Brent Geese , 190 Black-headed Gulls , 17 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 5 Little Egrets , 25 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Heron , a Curlew , 17 Jackdaws and 2 Buzzards . Near the ferry ramps at the Elizabeth Harbour was a female Black Redstart . In La Rocque Harbour first thing were 2 Great Northern Divers , 2 Black-necked Grebes , a Great Crested Grebe , 6 Red-breasted Mergansers , 55 Curlews and several hundreds of Sanderlings and Grey Plovers . Another 3 Red-breasted Mergansers were near Le Hurel Slip. At La Sente were 210 Brent Geese , 7 Greenshanks , 55 Redshanks , 41 Cattle Egrets, 6 Little Egrets, 21 Common Gulls , 255 Black-headed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , a Wigeon and 2 Shovelers . The Snow Bunting was still present near Kempt Tower today and on St Ouen's Pond were 189 Brent Geese , 21 Lapwings , 2 Little Grebes , 3 Grey Heron s, 3 Tufted Duck , 26 Shovelers and the usual Marsh Harriers . 31 Great Black-backed Gulls were in St Ouen's Bay. Buzzards were seen cleaning out a former nest near St John's Village and in Vallee des Vaux were 3 Siskins , 3 Blackcaps and a singing Firecrest .
by Michael Dryden 22 February 2026
22.02.2026 A great image of a Black-throated Diver at La Rocque courtesy of Romano RDC
by Michael Dryden 21 February 2026
21.02.2026 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are returning in numbers now, with 52 passing Grosnez this morning. Image: One in company with a Herring Gull today. MD
by Michael Dryden 20 February 2026
20.02.2026 Common Gulls are often anything but common in Jersey, but good numbers are around, mainly off the East coast, at the moment. This winter plumaged adult is seen here flying over Grouville Bay today. Image: MD
by Michael Dryden 19 February 2026
19.02.2026 One of many adult Gannets which are around the Island at the moment, this one seen here passing Grosnez MD
by Michael Dryden 18 February 2026
18.02.2026 One of the Great Northern Diver s currently scattered around the south-east corner, image courtesy of Romano RDC
by Michael Dryden 17 February 2026
17.02.2026 Goldcrest at Pont Marquet today. Image: MD
by Michael Dryden 16 February 2026
16.02.2026 A cute Fulmar passing Grosnez this morning. Image: MD
by Michael Dryden 15 February 2026
15.02.2026 Female Red-breasted Merganser at close quarters, La Rocque Harbour, with thanks to Romano for the image RDC
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