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February 2005 News
| Still 4 Marsh Harriers at St Ouen's Pond and also 2 hunting at Grouville Marsh. At St Ouen's Pond yesterday 50+ Shovelers, 15+ Pochards, 150+Lapwing, 100+ Redwings and Songthrush, plus a single Fieldfare. The Black-tailed Godwit is still at Grouville Marsh, thanks to Andy Koester for the picture. |
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| Latest news. The recent spell of cold weather and snow, has so far failed to bring any good birds to the Island, but perhaps this weekend. On to the records and up to 4 Mandarin Ducks were at Grouville Marsh on the 16th, with 2 on Grands Vaux Reservoir on the 24th. 40 Shovelers were on St Ouen's Pond on the 23rd, with a further 6 at Grouville Marsh and 14 Pochards were also seen at the Pond. In Grouville Bay, 30+ Black Scoter, 3 Common Eiders, 50+ Great-crested Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe, with 3 Little Grebes reported in the Sandpits, plus a further 2 on Grands Vaux Reservoir. A Bittern is still at St Ouen's Pond along with 4 Marsh Harriers and another female has been seen in the east of the island. 2 Merlins were seen near Grands Vaux on the 24th and a Peregrine at Les Lande du Ouest on the 23rd. On to waders and 38 Golden Plovers were spotted in a field at the bottom of Jubilee Hill on the 24th. Lapwings have dispersed, during the cold weather and a flock of 236 were feeding behind St Ouen's Pond on the 18th, with a further 30 seen at Les Landes. Good numbers of Sanderling are still around with flocks of 90 at La Saline and similar numbers in Grouville Bay. 2 Purple Sandpipers were at La Rocque on the 13th and a single was spotted at L'Etacq on the 12th. On the 13th 400 Dunlin were at La Rocque and Greenshank numbers remain constant at 23. 2 Jack Snipes were seen at night on the 13th at St Ouen's Pond and the Black-tailed Godwit is still at Grouville Marsh. Up to 10 Sandwich Terns are present in Grouville Bay now and similar numbers of Common Gull. A roost of 4 Short-eared Owls have been in Vallee des Vaux since the 3rd and were last seen on the 18th. Kingfishers have been seen at La Rocque, Havres de Pas, Jersey Zoo, Petit Port and St Catherine's Bay. Up to 10 Black Redstarts are still here, with individuals seen in St Helier, La Collette (3), La Rocque, Le Pulec and Havres des Pas. Fieldfares on the other hand are very scarce with only 2 seen this month, but Redwings are still pletifull and they were heard moving at night on the 18th. Still no Brambling, Siskin or Bearded Tit reports this year. Long-eared Owl picture from Romano da Costa. |
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| The monthly Brent Geese Count took place on sunday. St Catherine to Gorey 28
Gorey to Le Hurel 18
Le Hurel to La Rocque 312
La Rocque to Le Hocq 200
Le Hocq to Green Island 89
Green Island to La Collette 32
Rec site to Bel Royal 0
Bel Royal to Bel Croute 167
Petit Port to Le Braye 25
Le Braye to Le Pulec 100 Total 974 including 33 pale bellied. Also seen 19 Great-crested Grebes in St Catherine's Bay plus 17 in St Aubin's Bay and 2 Purple Sandpipers at La Rocque. |
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| Starting on the 11th, 23 Greenshanks and a Spotted Redshank behind the dam at Queen's Valley Reservoir. 12th, Spotted Redshank still at Queen's Valley along with 100+ Redwings and a Kingfisher. 46 Shovelers, 35 Teal and a male Wigeon at St Ouen's Pond. A single Purple Sandpiper at L'Etacq. 13th, 40 Teal, 202 Curlew and the Black-tailed Godwit at Grouville Marsh. 2 Purple Sandpipers at La Rocque. 41 Shovelers, 20+ Teal, 16 Pochards and a male Wigeon at St Ouen's Pond. |
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| Seawatching at La Coupe:- on the 3rd, 17 Red-throated Divers, 25+ Razorbills and a Woodcock. 6th, 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 5 Gannets. 7th, 458 Shags in 90 minutes, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Gannet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Brent Goose, 10 Razorbills. |
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| A male Velvet Scoter was seen yesterday and again today in Grouville Bay, along with 20 Common Scoters, 25 Great Crested Grebes, 100+ Red-breasted Mergansers, 10+ Sandwich Terns and a Peregrine Falcon. 3 Purple Sandpipers were spotted at La Rocque on the high tide, along with 2 Black Redstarts behind the sea wall and 20 Great Crested Grebes are present in St Aubin's Bay, near Bel Royal. In the west of the island, 5 Marsh Harriers are still at St Ouen's Pond, along with 47 Shovelers, 34 Teal and a single Black Redstart at Le Pulec. |
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