Jersey Birds

26.06.2025 The Green Sandpiper on the Scrape this morning. Image: MD A humid day with varying amounts of cloud, warm at 21c with a moderate west-southwest wind. A generally quiet day all round. Only odds and ends were passing Corbiere this morning, these including 3 Manx Shearwaters, a single Balearic Shearwater, 32 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 4 Guillemots , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Curlew , a Grey Heron and 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins . In Petit Port were 2 Shelduck and 12 Curlews which included a regular yellow flagged bird ( X05) from Poland. On the Scrape were the family of 5 Shelduck , 3 Lapwings including the now fledged juvenile, 2 young Shovelers , 2 Oystercatchers , the Green Sandpiper again and overhead, 3 Swifts , 10 Sand Martins , 2 Swallows , a Tufted Duck and a singing Skylark . On the East coast, 9 Mediterranean Gulls and 59 Black-headed Gulls were in Grouville Bay and a further 6 Mediterranean Gulls were at La Rocque. A roost of 26 Oystercatchers was at Pontac and another 141 Oystercatchers were roosting at Elizabeth Castle. Also in St Aubin's Bay, a further Mediterranean Gull , 65 Black-headed Gulls , a Little Egret and 11 Swifts were at St Aubin. Below : Thanks go to Jo Bramley for this nice clip of the Green Sandpiper on the Scrape

25.06.2025 A juvenile Lapwing on the Scrape yesterday, believed to be the only one to survive from all breeding attempts there this year. MD Another day with an overcast start, clearing to sunny conditions this afternoon, feeling warm with temperatures around 26c in light northerly wind. A visit to Les Ecrehous this morning found Common Terns there still in good numbers there, as well as a Sandwich Tern , 35 Turnstones and c 50 Oystercatchers . On Les Minquiers were 6 Common Terns , a Sandwich Tern , a Chiffchaff and a Rock Pipit Seabirds passing Corbiere early this morning included 87 Manx Shearwaters, 31 Balearic Shearwaters , a Razorbill , 16 Guillemots , 47 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 7 Cormorants , 13 Shags , 6 Mediterranean Gulls , 4 Lesser Back-backed Gulls , a Kittiwake and 21 Curlews flying off to roost. Also seen were 14 Swifts and 4 Ravens . In St Aubin's Bay, 7 Swifts were at St Aubin, 20+ Swifts and a Little Egret were at the Albert Quay and a pair of Oystercatchers with 2 juveniles were near the Elizabeth Terminal. Kestrels with fledged young were seen at Beauport, and a brief visit to Noirmont saw 3 Swifts , 11 Swallows , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , 5 Linnets , a Chiffchaff , a singing Dartford Warbler and a Buzzard . Evening update : At Petit Port were 20 Curlews , 2 Shelduck and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and on the Scrape was the Green Sandpiper again, a Grey Heron and 3 Lapwings . In the Sandpits this evening were 90 Sand Martins including many fledged young, 3 White Wagtails , 4 Swifts , 4 Grey Herons , 3 Little Grebes , 47 Tufted Ducks , 2 Pochard , 2 Shelduck , 100 Coot , 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers , 9 Oystercatchers and 4 Little Egrets .

24.06.2025 A fine male Pheasant in front of the Scrape Hide, where he had youngsters in tow today. Image MD A clear day with good visibility in a fresh westerly wind. Shearwaters were to the fore early morning at Corbiere, where 402 Balearic Shearwaters and 157 Manx Shearwaters passed heading North in the first two hours after sunrise. Also seen there were 16 Guillemots , 39 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 2 Mediterranean Gulls , 3 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Kittiwakes and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . 2 Ravens were on the headland. On the Scrape, the Green Sandpiper was still present but elusive, also the family of 5 Shelduck , and 3 adult Lapwings with one juvenile, while overhead were 2 Swifts , 30 Sand Martins , 10 Swallows and 3 Tufted Duck . At Les Landes were 2 Marsh Harriers , 2 Peregrines , 2 Kestrels , 13 Choughs , a male Stonechat , 25 Linnets , a Skylark , a pair of Dartford Warbler and 2 Swifts . A family group of Skylarks was seen at Crabbe and seen at Plemont were 4 Razorbills , a Puffin , a Guillemot , 2 Linnets and 7 Swifts . At St Aubin, Black-headed Gull numbers had risen to 48, with a Grey Heron , a Kestrel and 7 Swifts also there. A pair of Dartford Warbler with a juvenile were seen at Portelet yesterday.

23.06.2025 A beautiful Lesser Black-backed Gull in yesterday's sun at La Rosiere. Image: MD An overcast start to the day, with a period of light rain, was replaced by sunny skies this afternoon, cooler at 19c in a fresh Westerly wind. In St Ouen's Bay, the Green Sandpiper on the Scrape was joined by a Redshank this morning, and the juvenile Lapwing was still there, with one of the adult birds in close attendance, while in the Sandpits were 43 Tufted Ducks , 3 Little Grebes , a Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets , 5 Oystercatchers , 140 Coot , 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 5 Great Black-backed Gulls , a Black-headed Gull and 10 Swifts . 3 Black-headed Gulls were at La Pulente and 10 Curlews were at Petit Port. Seabirds were few and far between in today's conditions. Seen at Grosnez were 6 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Balearic Shearwaters , 13 Fulmars , 14 Gannets as well as 10 Choughs and passing Corbiere were 11 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 12 Great Black-backed Gulls and 38 Shags . 6 Ravens were on the Corbiere headland. At St Aubin today were 30 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Curlews , with 38 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Mediterranean Gulls seen there yesterday.

22.06.2025 A young Herring Gull doing wing stretches in the safety of La Rosiere today. Image: MD An overcast and cool-feeling morning gave way to a brighter afternoon, with winds now back in the West. A Green Sandpiper was on the Scrape this morning with the Shelduck family still present there but little else of note. Yesterday evening, the Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose re-appeared there after some time without any sightings of them. 2 Puffins were seen carrying food off the north-west coast this morning, while odds and ends passing Corbiere included 3 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Balearic Shearwaters , 5 Guillemots , 37 Gannets , a Fulmar , 3 Mediterranean Gulls , 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Curlew , a Grey Heron , a family of 4 Swallows, a newly fledged Blackbird , 5 Linnets and 2 Ravens . At or over La Rosiere, as well as the breeding Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls breeding there included a female Marsh Harrier , 4 Choughs , 4 Jackdaws , 4 Ravens , 2 Swifts and 2 Swallows and nearby, on the Railway Walk were 3 singing Chaffinches and a Jay .

21.06.2025 One of our locally bred and colour-ringed Marsh Harriers paid a brief visit to the lighthouse rock at Corbiere this morning and was rapidly repelled by breeding Oystercatchers there. Image MD Some showery spells this morning cleared to another fine and warm day ( 29c) with a brisk south-easterly wind. Counts from Corbiere before the showers arrived included 21 Manx Shearwaters , 3 Balearic Shearwaters , 5 Guillemots , 31 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 6 Cormorants , 22 Mediterranean Gulls , 9 Black-headed Gulls , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 24 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Grey Heron , 4 Little Egrets , a Curlew , 2 Ravens , 2 Choughs and the local Marsh Harrier , with 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins passing eastwards. Yesterday's Green Sandpiper was not seen on the Scrape this morning, but present were the family of 5 Shelducks , 2 adult Lapwings with their juvenile which was wing flexing today and looks close to fledging ( fingers crossed).Also seen on the Scrape of flying over were 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Pochard and 8 Swallows . At Gorselands were 2 pairs of Dartford Warblers and a new pair of Stonechats and at the Desalination Plant were 4 Ravens . A Little Egret was in Rozel Bay.

20.06.2025 Curlews at Petit Port. Image: MD A mainly fine day, very hot at 31c in a fresh Easterly wind There are some hints of return migration starting to appear now, including a Green Sandpiper on the Scrape today. In the Sandpits were 3 Little Grebes , the male Wigeon , 14 Tufted Ducks , 132 Coot , 8 Oystercatchers , a Black-headed Gull, 4 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets , 50+ Sand Martins and a Cetti's Warbler . At Corbiere, small gulls are starting to show up with 20 Mediterranean Gulls and 20 Black-headed Gulls seen there this morning, also 3 Sand Martins , 4 Swallows and 48 Swifts passing overhead. Other birds passing Corbiere included 4 Manx Shearwaters , 2 Balearic Shearwaters , 8 Guillemots , 50 Gannets , a Fulmar , 5 Cormorants , 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 38 Great Black-backed Gulls with 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins seen offshore moving East. On the Ecrehous were a Whimbrel , a Curlew and 5 Swifts seen passing overhead this afternoon.

19.06.2025 This White Wagtail was a brief visitor to Corbiere this morning Image: MD A sunny and hot day, with temperatures reaching 29c in a fresh Easterly wind. There was a good level of activity at and passing Corbiere this morning. Seen passing offshore was a flock of 45 Common Scoters, a Shelduck , 92 Balearic Shearwaters , 23 Manx Shearwaters , 10 Guillemots , a Razorbill , a Fulmar , 35 Gannets , 7 Cormorants , 2 Roseate Terns , 6 Sandwich Terns , 6 distant t ern sp , 5 Kittiwakes , 14 Mediterranean Gulls , 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 32 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Curlew . Moving overhead there were 11 Swifts , 15 Swallows , a White Wagtail, 5 Linnets , 3 Peregrines including an intruding immature bird which was rapidly escorted off the premises and 2 Choughs . 9 Curlews roosted at Petit Port. Seen from the GaP Hide at the Sandpits were 4 Pochard , 20 Tufted Ducks, 40+ Mallards , c100 Coot , a Grey Heron , 4 Little Egrets, 11 Great Black - backed Gulls and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . On Les Ecrehous yesterday were a Whimbrel , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Little Egrets , a few Sandwich Terns and 100+ Common Terns , with 4 Sandwich Terns also seen there today.

18.06.2025 An adult Grey Heron receiving the full Lapwing welcome on the Scrape today. Image: MD Hill fog and poor visibility spoiled the start of the day, but readily cleared to fine and warm conditions by mid morning, with winds from the east-northeast. Seen through the morning murk at Corbiere were 16 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 5 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 39 Gannets , 5 Cormorants , 9 Swifts , 2 Swallows , a Grey Heron , 2 Peregrines and 4 Ravens . The vegetation in front of the Scrape Hide has been trimmed, allowing a clearer view of the water and confirming that there was little on it! Seen there was the family of Shelduck including 3 juveniles, a Grey Heron , 2 Oystercatchers , 6 Lapwings including one large, and 2 very small young and overhead were a flight of 7 Ravens , 30 Sand Martins , 10 Swallows , 3 Swifts and the usual Marsh Harriers and Buzzards . A Skylark was in full song near the Scrape car park. At Le Pulec were 11 Curlews , a pair of Shelduck , a Little Egret and 2 Swallows while on the Blanches Banques were 4 Dartford Warblers and a Linnet carrying food. 2 Puffins and 2 Razorbills were seen at Plemont as well as 4 Swifts and this afternoon, 15 Swifts were over Beauport. On the North coast a Stonechat with a juvenile and a juvenile Meadow Pipit were at Wolf's Caves and at B & Q on St John's Road was an alba Wagtail .