Jersey Birds

04.06.2025 A Skylark in St Ouen's Bay today MD A changeable day with some heavy showers during the morning and a fresh west-southwest wind. Over St Ouen's Pond this morning, probably brought down by a heavy shower, were 12 Swifts , 40 Swallows , 15 House Martins and 5 Sand Martins . Also seen there were 2 Grey Herons , 2 Lapwings , 2 Tufted Ducks and several Reed Warblers , while to the North of the Pond were another 2 Lapwings , 3 Skylarks and a Male Stonechat . Up at Les Landes were 2 Swifts , 7 Ravens , a Peregrine and a Kestrel and a pair of Shelduck was in Le Pulec Bay. Little was passing by at Grosnez this morning. Seen at Oaklands, St Peter were 2 active House Martin nests and up to 3 Swallow nests. In Fern Valley were a Buzzard , 4 Jackdaws , a Short-toed Treecreeper , 2 singing Song Thrushes , a Firecrest and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, with another Great Spotted Woodpecker seen at Longueville Manor.

03.06.2025 Guillemots at Grosnez this morning MD Although officially Summer now, today was more akin to winter with a brisk and increasing southwest wind in overcast skies and a little light rain at times and some more significant rain forecast for this evening. At Seymour in Grouville Bay this morning were 20 Ringed Plovers , 3 Dunlin , a Sanderling , 4 Turnstones and an adult Black-headed Gull . Seen passing Grosnez from first light were 3 Balearic Shearwaters , 34 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , a single Puffin feeding below the light, 30 Gannets , 33 Fulmars , 8 Cormorants , 25 Shags , 2 Kittiwakes , 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 11 Oystercatchers and 8 Swifts . Flying over Les Landes were a male Marsh Harrier , a Buzzard , 2 Peregrines , 2 Kestrels , a Raven , 5 Swallows and 20 Linnets . The family of Shelduck , including 3 young, were on the Scrape again, with 2 Tufted Ducks , a male Shoveler , 2 Lapwings , 15 Swallows and 3 House Martins also seen as well as Chiffchaffs feeding young. Evening update : In the Sandpits today were 7 Tufted Ducks , a Shelduck , 74 Coot , 7 Oystercatchers , 100+ Swifts , 50+ Sand Martins and a Cetti's Warbler . Below : This Puffin was feeding below the light at Grosnez this morning.

02.06.2025 An attractive looking Rock Pipit at La Corbiere. MD A cloudy start, becoming sunny with a light westerly wind. In St Ouen's Bay, a juvenile Grey Heron , 2 Marsh Harriers , a Kestrel , 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Skylarks were at The Pond. On the beach at La Saline 46 Oystercatchers , at Le Pulec 5 Little Egrets , a Peregrine , a juvenile Stonechat and 3 Rock Pipits . Four Swifts were feeding over St Aubin's Harbour and 2 White Wagtails were on Grainville Cricket Pitch. Evening update: from Les Ecrehous, one Whimbrel , a Curlew , a Little Egret and Sandwich Terns heard all day, but not from the Common Tern colony. A few more records from yesterday along the North Coast, 2 Razorbills at Grosnez, with a pair of Stonechats near the Castle and another Razorbill near Wolf's Caves. On Plemont Headland a pair of Stonechats with 2 young and 2 Dartford Warblers . A Whitethroat was seen between Greve de Lecq and Crabbe. On the Farmers Cricket Field at St Martin a Marsh Harrier and 3 White Wagtails and at Le Pulec a male Stonechat .

01.06.2025 A great picture of a Peregrine Falcon. MD Overcast this morning but slowly improving, with a light westerly wind. Very little to report today. A walk around Les Landes early this morning found 2 Peregrines, 2 Marsh Harriers , 20+ Linnets , 10+ Meadow Pipits , a male Stonechat, but sadly no Dartford Warblers .  In a St John's garden 9 male Blackbirds were vying for the attention of a single female!

31.05.2025 Marsh harriers are very active at St Ouen's Pond, this male was photographed by Mick Dryden. Cloudy with fog patches especially in the west of the Island, some sunny periods this afternoon. Wheatears are only an occasional breeding species, so a male and female seen at Plemont today was of interest, however late migrants can still be seen into June. Also at Plemont today, 4 Razorbills and a Guillemot on the sea, with 4 Swifts , a Marsh Harrrier and a Peregrine overhead. It was a case of as you were at the Scrape, the Shelduck family are still intact, Oystercatchers were chasing everything in sight so must still have young and a Sedge Warbler was displaying to the south of the Pond. Three adult Shelducks were roosting at Petit Port and 2 Stonechats were near the Gap hide entrance, at Le Braye Sandpit. Yesterday in the Sandpit a drake Pochard and a Common Sandpiper .

29.05.2025 Black-winged Stilts on the Scrape this morning. TP Cloudy with sunny periods in a light to moderate westerly wind. Starting in St Ouen's Bay: a pleasant surprise at the Scrape this morning in the form of a pair of Black-winged Stilts , which were still present late afternoon. Other birds seen there were the Shelduck family with 3 young, 3 Lapwings , a pair of Oystercatcher with one chick in the nest, and a White Wagtail. In Le Braye Sandpit a Hobby chasing 50+ Sand Martins, 24 Tufted Ducks, a Grey Heron , a male Marsh Harrier and singing Cetti's Warbler. At Kempt Tower ponds Reed Warblers were nest building and at La Pulente a pair of Shelduck . On Beauport Common a pair of Stonechats and at La Rosiere a flock of 21 Choughs . At Millbrook, in St Aubin's Bay a flock of 91 Carrion Crows were roosting on the beach this morning. Finally At Le Hocq a Peregrine , a single Ringed Plover and a Little Egret .

28.05.2025 The drake Shelduck bathing on the Scrape today. TP Overcast and drizzle this morning clearing by lunchtime. Afternoon update: An hours sea watch at Corbiere was disappointing with just 2 Manx Shearwaters and 3 Choughs seen. Round at Petit Port a Grey Heron and a pair of Stonechats , the Shelduck family were not seen this morning. On the Scrape the Shelducks were still present but only with 3 young, also seen a pair of Oystercatchers , a Lapwing and a White Wagtail. 10 Swifts were over St Ouen's Pond. A Little Grebe was heard near Kempt Tower. A White wagtail was carrying food at Parade Gardens, St Helier.

27.05.2025 The resident Bar-tailed Godwit at Petit Port yesterday. TP  Rain and drizzle this morning, the odd shower this afternoon, with a fresh westerly wind. The pair of Shelduck were still at Petit Port this morning but the chicks were not seen. Shelduck pairs were also seen at La Pulente and on the Scrape where they still had 4 young. Over St Ouen's Pond in the drizzle this morning were 40 Swallows, 40 House Martins and 20 Sand Martins . A walk around Val de La Mare Reservoir found 2 singing Songthrush , plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs plus a male Cetti's Warbler . In Grouville Bay this afternoon were 24 Ringed Plovers , 18 Sanderling , 7 Turnstones and a Whimbrel . The female Hawfinch is still visiting a garden feeder near Crabbe.

26.05.2025 a Reed Warbler MD  Mainly sunny with a fresh westerly wind In Le Braye Sandpit 18 Tufted Ducks , 6 Oystercatchers and a Little Grebe , on Les Blanches Banques a Whitethroat . Seen from the Wetland Centre this morning were 3 Tufted Ducks , 2 Grey Herons , 40 Swifts , 40 Swallows , 10 House Martins , a Cettis's Warbler , several Reed Warblers , a singing Whitethroat and a Stonechat . Near Kempt Tower, a Shoveler , 3 Tufted Ducks , 2 Grey Herons and a singing Whitethroat . At Petit Port on the high tide a pair of Shelducks with 2 small young, a single Bar-tailed Godwit and a male Stonechat. 6 Swifts were seen on St Catherine's Breakwater. Evening update a female Hawfinch photographed on a garden feeder near Crabbe.