31.12.2024 To finish the year, a nice view of the ringtail Hen Harrier at Crabbe today. MD
A brighter day today, but with a fresh Southerly wind making it feel cold.
At St Ouen's Pond, and in the fields behind it were a male Hen Harrier, 6 Marsh Harriers, a Merlin, 19 Teal, 4 Pochard, 15 Shovelers, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Herons, 35 Lapwings, 5 Snipe, 3 Water Rails, 5 Cormorants, 94 Skylarks, 15 Meadow Pipits, a Water Pipit, 50 Stock Doves and 30 Chaffinches. At Sands were 14 Ringed Plovers, 11 Sanderlings and 12 Dunlin. Seen from Le Pulec were 8 Gannets, 100+ auk sp, 15 Kittiwakes, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 7 Little Egrets, a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail and 30 Rock Pipits.
On Mont Matthieu were another 67 Skylarks, 22 Redwings, 25 Meadow Pipits, 50 Chaffinches, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Stonechats, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 2 Shovelers, a Tufted Duck and 2 Snipe. At Crabbe this morning were the ringtail Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel, 200+ mixed finches, including Chaffinches, Linnets and Goldfinches, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Stonechats, a Raven and a Chough.
Passing Corbiere in ninety minutes this morning were 16 Brent Geese, a Common Scoter, 58 Razorbills, 35 Guillemots, 28 Shags, 31 Gannets, 22 Kittiwakes, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 24 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Seen at La Sente this morning were 2 Wigeon, 20 Grey Herons, 3 Redshanks, 40 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Pied Wagtails, a Song Thrush and 2 Ravens. On Grouville Common were 30 Redwings. On Grands Vaux reservoir were 12 Tufted Ducks, 8 Redwings and a Chiffchaff. At St Aubin were 32 Redshanks and a Little Egret and on Beaumont Marsh were 7 Shovelers and 2 Teal.
Today's Vallee des Vaux list included a Barn Owl, 4 Bullfinches, 4 Redwings, 3 Firecrests, 2 Goldcrests, 28 Ravens and at last light, 6 Woodcocks.
A Happy New Year to all our readers and a big thanks to all our contributors, who make this news item possible.
Mick
07.07.2026 Sedge Warbler at the Scrape yesterday. MD A fine and hot day (30c) in light winds. The glut of shearwaters off the West coast continued today, with an estimated 2000 - 3000, mainly Balearic Shearwaters , feeding off Le Pulec with gulls. Seen passing Corbiere and heading in that direction were 389 Balearic Shearwaters , 13 Manx Shearwaters , 7 Guillemots , 57 Gannets , 7 Cormorants , 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 6 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Black-headed Gulls . Also seen were a Curlew heading South and 2 Swifts . In Petit Port Bay were 26 Curlews and a Whimbrel and at Le Pulec were 22 Curlews . Around St Ouen's Pond were 2 Grey Herons , a Common Sandpiper , a Sedge Warbler , 2 Whitethroats , 2 pairs of Stonechats feeding young and many pairs of Reed Warblers doing likewise. On the Scrape, the 2 Lapwings were still present with their chick, also 2 Oystercatchers and a White Wagtail and around Kempt Tower were a little Grebe , 2 Stonechats , a singing Whitethroat , several pairs of Reed Warblers and a family of 5 Swallows . At La Haule in St Aubin's Bay were 230 Black-headed Gulls , 25 Mediterranean Gulls, including 5 juveniles, and at St Aubin were 4 Redshanks . A Stonechat was on Beauport Common and a Dartford Warbler was at Gorselands. At Crabbe this morning were 4 Swifts , 2 Swallows , 2 Dartford Warblers , 3 Whitethroats , 2 Ravens , 2 Peregrines and good numbers of Linnets . In St Catherine's Woods were 2 Firecrests , 4 Short-toed Treecreepers , a Bullfinch , 8 House Martins , 5 Swallows and Moorhens on a second brood of 2 chicks. Back to yesterday evening when, in La Braye Sandpits were 220 Coot, 48 Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebes , 6 Swifts , an estimated 60 Sand Martins and 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers .
06.07.2026 The juvenile Black Redstart which was at Corbiere this morning. MD Early morning fog soon cleared to a fine and very warm day in light winds. A short seawatch from Corbiere this morning saw 209 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters , 6 Guillemots , 2 Fulmars , 10 Gannets , and 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , while on the headland were a juvenile Black Redstart , 7 Rock Pipits and 2 Choughs . The feeding patch at the north end of St Ouen's Bay was very active again with gulls and shearwaters and on St Ouen's Beach were 50 Great Black-backed Gulls, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 17 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Mediterranean Gulls . Roosting at Petit Port were 19 Curlews . At St Ouen's Pond were 4 Grey Herons, 3 Tufted Ducks , 2 Oystercatchers , 15 Swifts , 12 Sand Martins and 6 Swallows and on the Scrape were 2 Lapwings , still with a fast-growing chick, 2 Oystercatchers , 3 Shovelers , a Sedge Warbler , 5 juvenile Reed Warblers , a male Stonechat and 2 further Swifts . This morning, at St Aubin, were 32 Black-headed Gulls , 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Redshanks and 13 Swifts were seen over St Catherine's. Below: A Golden-ringed Dragonfly on the path to the Scrape Hide this morning. MD
05.07.2026 Female and juvenile Shovelers on the South Canal. MD Another cool and overcast morning, giving way to a fair afternoon in a west-northwest wind. Gulls are returning to the Island, post breeding now and in Grouville Bay today were 43 Mediterranean Gulls , c100 Black-headed Gulls and also, a Sandwich Tern . In St Ouen's Bay were 74 Great Black-backed Gulls , 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 41 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls , and 11 Herring Gulls . Offshore in St Ouen's Bay, the feeding patch was busy again with hundreds of Gulls , Shearwaters , Auks and Gannets seen. Another quiet morning off Corbiere saw 30 Balearic Shearwaters , 10 Manx Shearwaters , 57 Gannets , 4 Fulmars , 16 Guillemots , 17 Shags , 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 27 Great Black-backed Gulls , 6 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Black-headed Gulls pass in three hours. 20 Curlews were at Petit Port. In St Aubin's Bay were 42 Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull , 3 Redshanks and 7 Swifts . At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were a Grey Heron, a Lapwing , 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Swifts , 10+ Sand Martins and 10 Swallows . A family of 4 Stonechats was on Les Blanches Banques. On the north of the Island, a Chough , a singing Blackcap , a Chaffinch and a Blue Tit family were seen near St Mary's Church, while at Les Platons were a Peregrine , 3 Ravens , a Dartford Warbler and a Swallowtail butterfly and at Victoria Tower were another 3 Swallowtails .
04.07.2026 Green Sandpiper on the Scrape this morning. MD An overcast morning with light drizzle and a cloudy afternoon in a cool (18c) west-northwest wind. Shearwaters were around in good numbers offshore in St Ouen's Bay this morning, with an estimate 1000 mainly Balearic Shearwaters joining many gulls feeding there.In contrast, only 23 Balearic Shearwaters and 7 Manx Shearwaters passed Corbiere early on. Others seen there included an inbound Great White Egret heading North, a Common Scoter , 8 Guillemots , 2 Razorbills , 22 Gannets , 2 Fulmars , 12 Black-headed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull , 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 32 Great Black-backed Gulls . Also seen was a pod of c10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins , 3 Ravens and a Marsh Harrier . 17 Curlews were in Petit Port Bay. On Les Ecrehous this afternoon were c200 Common Terns including varying sized chicks, 6 Turnstones and 2 Gannets . At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were 2 juvenile and one female Shovelers , 2 Lapwings with a half-grown chick, 4 Oystercatchers , a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Heron and 2 Stonechats , with 3 Swifts overhead. Over St Catherine's breakwater were 9 Swifts . Below : Thanks to John Overton for this video of some of the many feeding gulls and shearwaters in St Ouen's Bay, looking south towards Corbiere.
03.07.2026 Adult Peregrine passing Corbiere. MD A fine day, warmer at 23c in a southeasterly wind, Counts from Corbiere this morning included 144 Balearic Shearwaters , 44 Manx Shearwaters , 23 Guillemots , 4 Fulmars , 54 Gannets , a Common Sandpiper , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 23 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Sandwich Terns , a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier . Roosting at Petit Port were 22 Curlews , including a regularly visiting Polish flagged bird, a Mediterranean Gull , 7 Black-headed Gulls , and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The usual feeding patch west of L'Etacq held several hundreds of Balearic Shearwaters, Herring Gulls , Black-headed Gulls and Gannets . On St Ouen's Beach were 16 Great Black-backed Gulls , 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 9 Black-headed Gulls , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 8 Sandwich Terns and 13 Herring Gulls , but at Plemont just one Razorbill was seen. At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were a Lapwing with a juvenile bird, 2 Oystercatchers , 3 Grey Herons , a fledged juvenile Marsh Harrier and 4 Swifts . At La Rocque were 46 Black-headed Gulls , 10 Mediterranean Gulls and a Sandwich Tern and at St Aubin were 52 Black-headed Gulls , a Mediterranean Gull and a Redshank . Seen at Grands Vaux reservoir were 2 Grey Herons , and a Sparrowhawk , with a fledged juvenile Marsh Harrier seen in Grouville Marsh.
02.07.2026 Marsh Harrier near Kempt Tower. Image: MD A morning of overcast skies and some hill fog, becoming fair this afternoon in a strong westerly wind. A quieter morning at Corbiere, saw 94 Balearic Shearwaters , 63 Manx Shearwaters , 16 Guillemots , 8 Fulmars , 36 Gannets , a Common Scoter , 3 Cormorants , 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull passing in three hours. 3 Ravens and 2 Choughs visited the headland. Most of the recent visiting waders at the Scrape had departed by this morning, leaving only the local breeding Oystercatchers and 3 Lapwings with one half-grown chick still in situ. Also at the Scrape were a male Teal , a female Shoveler and 2 Tufted Ducks there, with 15 Swifts , 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Black-headed Gull flying over. On St Ouen's Beach were an adult Yellow-legged Gull , 7 Black-headed Gulls , 30 Great Black-backed Gulls and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls . In the Sandpits were 28 Tufted Ducks, 5 Little Egrets , a Grey Heron , 2 Little Grebes, 6 Oystercatchers , c150 Coot and good numbers of Sand Martins . On Grands Vaux reservoir were a Grey Wagtail and 2 Grey Herons . A Map butterfly was seen on the southern edge of Grouville Marsh.
01.07.2026 . A Common Sandpiper on the Scrape this morning MD A fair to cloudy day in a moderate west-northwest wind. This morning's offerings at St Ouen's Pond and Scrape included the 2 Black-tailed Godwits , a Greenshank , a Common Sandpiper , 2 Oystercatchers , 3 adult Lapwings with one chick, a male Teal , a female Shoveler , a Grey Heron and at least 5 Swifts . Seen from Corbiere in three hours this morning were 243 Balearic Shearwaters , 18 Manx Shearwaters , 8 Fulmars , 29 Gannets , 21 Guillemots , 4 Cormorants , 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Black-headed Gulls , 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 12 Great Black-backed Gulls , also a Marsh Harrier. Roosting in Petit Port Bay were 18 Curlews and 60 Oystercatchers . Seen at Le Pulec were 4 Little Egrets , 14 Cormorants , 6 Oystercatchers , an adult and a juvenile Stonechat and a Grey Seal . At St Aubin were 32 Black-headed Gulls and 11 Swifts and at the Gunsite were 8 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Mediterranean Gulls . A single Curlew was in St Brelade's Bay. On Grouville Common were 2 singing Cirl Buntings . Below : Especially for those not fortunate enough to catch up with the one day visiting Lesser Yellowlegs , on St Ouen's Pond Scrape on the 29th, a short video with many thanks to Jo Bramley !
30.06.2026 A super picture of yesterday's Lesser Yellowlegs. RdC Some welcome rain early on, then mainly fine and sunny. A few more records from yesterday evening, a ringing session in Le Braye Sandpit found, 56 Tufted Ducks , 11 Little Egrets , 4 Grey Herons , 130 Coot, 2 Little Grebes , 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier , 4 Black-headed Gulls , a Common Sandpiper , 5 White Wagtails including 3 young, a Whitethroat and 60 Sand Martins including good numbers of fledged young. At the Scrape, St Ouen's Pond a Green Sandpiper . This morning at the Scrape, 2 Black-tailed Godwits are still with us, a Common and a Green Sandpiper , 5 Lapwings with just one chick, a Little Ringed Plover, a pair of Oystercatchers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Black-headed Gulls , a Peregrine with one of the Shoveler chicks and a Reed Warbler with 3 fledglings. The Lesser Yellowlegs has not been seen so far today. At St Ouen's Pond, a pair of Little Grebes with 2 large juveniles and Tufted Ducks with 3 small young, 3 Swifts were overhead. Roosting on the beach were 13 Lesser and 18 Great Black-backed Gulls , 11 Black-headed Gulls, plus an adult Yellow-legged Gull .
29.06.2026 . A for the record shot of the Lesser Yellowlegs seen today on the Scrape, if accepted it will be a first for Jersey. TP Sunny periods this afternoon, light westerly winds. Passing Corbiere this morning were 220 Balearic Shearwaters , 10+ Manx Shearwaters , 2 Fulmars , 4 Mediterranean Gulls , 2 Black-headed Gulls , 2 Kittiwakes , 12 Guillemots and 12 Gannets . At St Ouen's Pond, 3 Grey Herons , 5 Tufted Ducks , 30 Swallows , 16 Sand Martins and 7 Swifts . On the Scrape 2 Black-tailed Godwits , a Lesser Yellowlegs , 2 L apwings with one small young and a Peregrine Falcon . At St Aubin, 60 Black-headed Gulls and 5 Swifts . At Mont au Pretre a Swift and a Sparrowhawk . Late yesterday at Petit Port 65 Oystercatchers, and 21 Curlew . .
28.06.2026 . A Lapwing at the Scrape, St Ouen's Pond. MD A weak cold front at lunchtime brought a little rain, leaving the Island in a cooler westerly air stream. Two very well hidden Quails were still calling at 0430 this morning at Le Coin du Boulivot. At the Scrape, St Ouen's Pond, the two Black-tailed Godwits were still present along with just two Lapwings and a Grey Heron . At La Rocque this morning c100 Black-headed Gulls , 15 Curlew and a Grey Heron . In Grouville Bay at low water 73 Black-headed Gulls , 11 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Little Egrets . Four Curlews were on the beach at St Aubin and 21 Curlews were roosting at Petit Port this afternoon along with 65 Oystercatchers . Peregrine Falcons were seen at Les Landes, near Wolfs Caves, near Crabbe and at Sorel. Stonechats were found at Le Pulec, Mourier Valley and Sorel Point.
