15.04.2024 A Purple Sandpiper at Corbiere yesterday MD A showery and blustery day, feeling colder in a strong westerly wind. The weather today looked to have blown most of the recent migrants away, or at least into cover. Seen at La Sente were 16 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 5 Little Egrets , a Blue-headed Wagtail , 9 White Wagtails , 12 Swallows , 6 House Martins and 4 Sand Martins, while at La Rocque were 141 Brent Geese and a Red-breasted Merganser . In Grouville Bay were 14 Curlews and a Whimbrel . On St Ouen's Pond were a Pink-footed Goose , a Barnacle Goose , a male Pochard , 2 Tufted Ducks , 4 Shovelers , 30 Swallows , a House Martin and 10 Sand Martins and at the Scrape were a White-fronted Goose , 2 Shelduck , 2 Teal , a male Gadwall , a Snipe , 8 Lapwings , a Wheatear , 70 Linnets and, briefly, a Sparrowhawk . In the Sandpits were 60 Sand Martins , 5 House Martins , 40 Swallows , 12 Tufted Ducks , 4 Oystercatchers and a pair of Marsh Harrier. I n St Aubin's Bay, 98 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin, also a Wheatear and in Beaumont Marsh were 2 Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails . At Pont Marquet Country Park were at least 3 singing Firecrests , a singing Goldcrest , 4 Short-toed Treecreepers , a Blackcaps , 10 Chiffchaffs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker . 2 House Martins and 2 Sand Martins were at Grands Vaux, another 3 Swallows plus 2 Tufted Duck were at Queen's Valley and in Vallee des Vaux this evening were 7 Bullfinches and a singing Firecrest .

14.04.2024 A Turnstone nearly in full Summer plumage, at Corbiere this morning MD A fair to cloudy morning, with some rain this afternoon in light northwest winds. The pick of today's migrants, seen and or heard, include a Cuckoo in Greve de Lecq Woods, the first 2 Sedge Warblers of the year, at St Ouen's Pond, 2 Male Ring Ouzels and a Serin by the German Tower at Les Landes, also Whitethroats at La Sente, in Les Ormes Valley and at Les Landes. This evening, a Black Kite was seen drifting low over La Hougue Bie towards Le Catillon, looking for a roost site, so may well be around tomorrow. Other birds at La Sente included a Green Sandpiper , 3 Little Ringed Plovers including two new arrivals this evening, , a Greenshank , 6 Yellow Wagtails and 26 White Wagtails, 20 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows, 49 dark-bellied Brent Geese were at Le Hocq and at Beaumont Marsh were 83 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 5 dark-bellied Brent Geese . A few birds seen at or passing Corbiere early on included a Shelduck , 3 Common Scoters , 3 Guillemots , 8 Fulmars , 10 Gannets , a Kittiwake , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail , 9 Purple Sandpipers , 6 Turnstones and 2 Peregrines . Another 2 Shelduck were at Petit Port. Around St Ouen's Bay, 5 Shovelers , 3 Tufted Duck , 14 Teal , a male Pochard , 30 Sand Martins , 100 Swallows , 3 Reed Warblers , 3 Wheatears , 2 White Wagtails and a Pied Wagtail were on St Ouen's Pond, another pair of Shelduck , and a Reed Warbler were at the Scrape and a Little Grebe plus a Reed Warbler were at Kempt Tower pools. In the Sandpits were a Shelduck , 20 Tufted Duck , a male Pochard , 7 Oystercatchers , a Little Grebe , a male Stonechat , a White Wagtail , 15 Sand Martins visiting nest holes and 5 Swallows . In Les Ormes Valley were a 6 Tufted Duck , 4 Coot , a Yellow Wagtail , 10 Blackcaps , 30+ Chiffchaffs , a Raven and a Marsh Harrier . Others seen at Les Landes included 12 Wheatears , a Yellow Wagtail and 8 Swallows while at Ouaisne were a pair of Little Grebes , 2 Bullfinches , 6 Blackcaps and a Dartford Warbler .

13.04.2024 A Cetti's Warbler by the path at Kempt Tower pools today MD It was a second warm day, although becoming overcast this afternoon, in a light southerly wind. Spring migrants continued to trickle in despite the clear conditions and new today was a Hoopoe near La Moye Point, a Cuckoo calling near to Grouville Marsh, 2 Ring Ouzels at Grosnez and a second Iberian Wagtail , this time at La Sente, but no Grashopper Warblers were recorded. Other birds at La Sente this morning included 11 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , Yellow Wagtail , 4 White Wagtails and 2 Greenshanks . In Grouville Marsh through the morning were 5 Marsh Harriers , 4 Buzzards ,2 Grey Herons , a Sparrowhawk , a Reed Warbler , 4 singing Cetti's Warblers , 15 Chiffchaffs , 10 Blackcaps , 2 Bullfinches , 2 Swallows and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker . At Corbiere and La Rosiere were 2 Wheatears , 6 Yellow Wagtails overflying, a Willow Warbler , 2 Dartford Warblers , 2 pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 2 Ravens and 2 Peregrines . 8 Common Scoter passed by offshore. In Petit Port Bay were 3 Shelduck , 93 Oystercatchers , 2 Turnstones and 2 Little Egrets . In St Ouen's Bay, at the Scrape, were 4 Teal and a male Shoveler, while on the north side of St Ouen's Pond were 2 Wheatears, 2 Sand Martins and 5+ singing Reed Warblers. At the Kempt Tower pools were 5 Tufted Duck , a singing Little Grebe, a Reed Warbler , 10+ Chiffchaffs and 3 singing Cetti's Warblers . Around Les Landes were 8 Wheatears , a male Stonechat , a White Wagtail, 6 Choughs and 2 Buzzards , with 2 Manx Shearwaters , a Kittiwake and a Guillemot passing by at Grosnez. At other locations, a Common Sandpiper and 5 Tufted Duck were on Grands Vaux reservoir and at Beaumont Marsh were 104 pale-bellied Brent Geese , 9 dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Wheatear . Evening update : A second Cuckoo for the day was at Rue du Pont in Trinity this evening and 3 Brent Geese were in the Old Harbour in St Helier. At the Scrape were 24 Teal , 4 Shovelers , 2 Shelduck , 4 Snipe , 50+ Swallows and 20 Sand Martins.

On a day with good numbers of migrants, few of them were Yellow Wagtails . This one was at La Sente recently RdC A fair to fine day and becoming warm at 19c in a southeast wind. Migrants started to appear in better numbers today with the iconic first Cuckoo in St Mary's Valley at Greve de Lecq. Grasshopper Warblers were heard or seen in a hedge just east of St Peter's Valley, at the North Canal at St Ouen's Pond and in Grouville Marsh where it sat up sunning itself! Ring Ouzels were seen near the radio tower at Corbiere and at Grosnez and a probable Wryneck was on the headland at Petit Plemont, but too distant to be confirmed. Wheatears were in good numbers with 6 to the North of St Ouen's Pond, 5 on Petit Plemont, 2 at the model aircraft site at Les Landes, 2 on Les Blanches Banques, 2 at Beaumont, one at Sands. one at Gorsleands and, no doubt, many more around the Island. Reed Warblers were in song at St Ouen's Pond, Kempt Tower and Grouville Marsh. Early morning passage past Corbiere involved a Manx Shearwater , 10 Guillemots , a Razorbill , a Red-throated Diver , a Common Scoter , 10 Fulmars , 40 Gannets , 2 Brent Geese , and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , with a Purple Sandpiper , a Turnstone , 2 Ravens and 2 Peregrines also seen. At La Sente were a Shelduck , a Common Gull, 6 Cattle Egrets , 5 Little Egrets and 7 White Wagtails, 2 Brent Geese were at Greve d'Azette while at Beaumont Marsh were 36 Brent Geese, 2 Blackcaps , a Short-toed Treecreeper and a Sparrowhawk . Counts from St Ouen's Pond and Scrape included 10 Teal , a White-fronted Goose, 8 Lapwings and a Snipe and at Kempt Tower were 8 Tufted Duck , 2 2 Willow Warblers , and 10+ Blackcaps . Along the Northwest coast were 21 Razorbills , 3 Guillemots , a Puffin , a female Stonechat , a Peregrine and a Buzzard flying in off the sea at Greve de Lecq. Seen at Greenfield in Trinity were 2 Ravens , 3 Swallows and 3 House Martins on a day when hirundines were surprisingly scarce. A Skylark was in song at Noirmont, where a pair of Stonechat and a Swallow were also seen.

11.04.2024 Skylark on the southwest coast MD An overcast and sometimes misty morning, becoming sunny this afternoon in light southwest winds. Off La Rocque and in Grouville Bay on this morning's rising tide were 3 Great Northern Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes , 128 dark-bellied Brent Geese , 2 Shelducks , 2 Guillemots , 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Common Scoters, 3 Sandwich Terns, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits , 3 Grey Plovers , a Redshank , 4 Curlews , a Whimbrel , 29 Turnstones , a Peregrine , a Yellow Wagtai l and a White Wagtail . At La Sente through the morning, were a Ruff , 2 Little Ringed Plovers , 22 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 5 Cattle Egrets , 3 Little Egrets , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 18 Yellow Wagtails, 18 White Wagtails , 4 Swallows , 4 House Martins , a Willow Warbler , a Jay and 2 Ravens . An Iberian Wagtail was with three Yellow Wagtails by the Wetland Centre this morning, the third year running that this race has appeared at St Ouen's Pond. Also seen from the Wetland centre, were 7 Shelduck , 16 Shovelers , a pair of Oystercatchers , a Water Pipit , 3 Reed Warblers and a Stonechat and 2 Choughs , 2 Reed Warblers and a Willow Warbler were seen to the North of the Pond. A White-fronted Goose and 15 Teal were on the Scrape, while at Kempt Tower were another 2 Reed Warblers , 2 Wheatears , a Yellow Wagtail , a pair of Stonechats and an overflying Common Sandpiper . At Les Landes were 3 Stonechats , a pair of Marsh Harriers and good numbers of Meadow Pipits and at the Airport were a Skylark and a Willow Warbler . 20 Purple Sandpipers were at Corbiere. Along the North coast, at Sorel early on were 2 Wheatears , a Yellow Wagtail , a White Wagtail , a Swallow , 62 Linnets , 14 Goldfinches , 9 Meadow Pipits and 5 Chiffchaffs . In St Aubin's Bay, 108 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese were at the Gunsite, 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at St Aubin and 5 dark-bellied Brent plus a Wheatear were at Beaumont Marsh. Widespread scattered reports for today include a Willow Warbler and a Swallow in Mourier Valley, another Willow Warbler at Grands Vaux, a Buzzard , a Sparrowhawk and 2 Choughs over Midvale Road in St Helier and a pale-phase Buzzard at La Moye.

10.04.2024 The current Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose at the Scrape, seen here today, seem to have developed an attraction to each other. Oh dear MD A band of rain crossed the Island mid-morning in what was otherwise a dry and cloudy day, feeling cold in a southwest wind. It was a quiet day, given the date, following on from yesterday's storms. At St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were a Pink-footed Goose , a Barnacle Goose , a Brent Goose , 8 Teal , a pair of Shelduck , 10 Shovelers , 2 Black-headed Gulls , a Snipe , 25 Swallows , 4 Sand Martins, 4 House Martins , 2 Wheatears , a Reed Warbler , a pair of Stonechat and 50+ Linnets . Very little was seen passing Corbiere first thing with just 3 Manx Shearwaters , 8 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 2 Fulmars , 13 Gannets , 1 Kittiwake , 2 pairs of Shelduck , 6 Cormorants , 22 Shags , a Sandwich Tern , 2 Swallows and 41 Crows seen and with 18 Purple Sandpipers and a Turnstone roosting there. At La Sente were 31 dark-bellied Brent Geese , a pale-bellied Brent Goose , a pair of Shelduck , 10 Cattle Egrets , 6 Little Egrets , a Lesser Black-backed Gull , 17 White Wagtails , 4 Yellow Wagtails , 15 Swallows , 2 Sand Martins and 20 House Martins . In Beaumont Marsh were 99 pale-bellied Brent Geese , 26 dark-bellied Brent Geese , 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Little Egret . In St Catherine's Bay were 4 Sandwich Terns , a Great Crested Grebe , 2 Guillemots , a pair of Ravens , also a pair of Tufted Duck in the small pond by the Lifeboat Station. Evening update: At Sorel were 4 Swallows and a Sand Martin and on Grands Vaux reservoir, a Grey Heron . In Grouville Bay were a Black-headed Gull and 73 Oystercatchers.

09.04.2024 A nice male Gadwall on the Scrape today MD A stormy night and morning today with squally showers in a westerly F7 gusting to F9, improving later with a slightly reduced wind Observers and birds were popping in and out of La Sente through the day and combined totals of birds seen included 130 Brent Geese , a pair of Shelduck , 6 Cattle Egrets , 5 Little Egrets, a Little Ringed Plover , 19 Curlews , a Yellow-legged Gull , a Black-headed Gull , 2 Blue-headed Wagtails, 6 Yellow Wagtails , 15 alba Wagtails including at least three White Wagtails , and a good selection of hirundines including at least 20 Swallows and 9 Sand Martins . 2 Shelduck were seen in Grouville Bay this afternoon, perhaps the La Sente birds and at Le Saie in St Martin were 3 Sandwich Terns and 25 Oystercatchers . The latest Hoopoe report was of one in a garden at Handois. In St Catherine's Woods were numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps , unusually, a Cetti's Warbler and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker . Seabirds were in short supply at a stormy Corbiere this morning, counts there including 35 Gannets , 20 Fulmars , 13 Guillemots , a Razorbill , 4 Cormorants , 5 Kittiwakes , 31 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , also 2 Peregrines . Seen from the Scrape Hide at St Ouen's Pond were a male Wigeon , a male Gadwall , a pair of Shelduck , 4 Brent Geese , 5 Great Black-backed Gulls , 21 Sand Martins , 3 Swallows and 30 Linnets . At Beaumont Marsh were 6 Brent Geese , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 3 Pied Wagtails and another Peregrine . A Linnet was in song by the Steam Clock in St Helier. Evening update : At Grands Vaux reservoir were 13 House Martins , a Sand Martin , 3 Swallows and 2 Ravens and 3 House Martins had returned to their breeding site at Le Fevevre this afternoon.

08.04.2024 Male Marsh Harrier at the Scrape this morning MD A cold feeling day in an increasing southeast wind, with some showery rain. Migrants continue to trickle onto the Island and today the first Reed Warblers of the year were heard at St Ouen's Pond and at Kempt Tower. Also at St Ouen's Pond and Scrape were 19 Shovelers , 12 Teal , a male Gadwall , a male Wigeon , 6 Tufted Duck , 2 Snipe , 8 Lapwings , a pair of Oystercatchers , 25+ Swallows , 11 Sand Martins , 5 House Martins , 2 Wheatears , 160 Linnets and a Peregrine . Also at Kempt Tower were 2 pairs of Little Grebe , 2 Tufted Duck , 2 Wheatears and a Swallow . At La Sente this morning were a pair of Shelduck , 8 Cattle Egrets , 9 Little Egrets , 81 Brent Geese , a Blue-headed Wagtail , 4 Yellow Wagtails , 6 White Wagtails , a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Greenshanks . 200 Brent Geese were at La Rocque. This evening, at La Sente were 1 Pied Wagtail, 31 White Wagtails , 5 Yellow Wagtails , 2 Blue-headed Wagtails , 4 Yellow Wagtails , a Common Gull , 15 Sand Martins, 25 House Martins and 30 Swallows , with a further 25 Cattle Egrets arriving. a Curlew and a Little Ringed Plover flying over. On the North coast, a little early morning passage at Sorel included 80 Linnets , 49 Goldfinches , 17 Meadow Pipits and a White Wagtail with 2 Ravens, 30+ Choughs and a Peregrine also seen. At Plemont were 20 Fulmars , 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Ravens . 3 Wheatears were at Sorel this evening and a Ring Ouzel was seen on Mont Grantez. A late record for last Saturday, 6th April was a Hoopoe feeding in a garden in St John's Village, for thirty minutes before flying off.

07.04.2024 This beautiful male Wheatear was at Corbiere yesterday and again this morning MD A dry and mild day with mainly clear conditions in a fresh south-southwest wind La Sente featured strongly in todays sightings, although yesterday's Red-rumped Swallow was not among them. The first Swift of the year was seen there, ten days earlier than the expected first day. Also seen were 45 Brent Geese , 2 Shelduck , 47 Cattle Egrets , 2 Greenshanks , a Little Ringed Plover , a Dunlin , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 4 Blue-headed Wagtails , a Yellow Wagtail, 9 White Wagtail s, 6 Swallows , 8 House Martins and 30 Linnets . By way of contrast, Grouville Marsh was almost devoid of new birds with counts there this morning including a Swallow , a Sand Martin , 2 Blackcaps , 10 Chiffchaffs , 4 Cetti's Warblers , 2 Bullfinches , a Sparrowhawk , a pair of Marsh Harriers , 4 Buzzards , 12 Jackdaws and 2 Teal . A Whimbrel was seen at La Rocque. Seen at or passing Corbiere this morning were a Black-throated Diver sitting offshore, 41 Manx Shearwaters , 9 Fulmars , 44 Gannets , 35 Guillemots , 8 Razorbills , a Common Scoter , 6 Sandwich Terns , a Ringed Plover , 8 Purple Sandpipers , a Wheatear , a White Wagtail , 6 Swallows , 3 House Martins and 2 Peregrines . 2 Skylarks were seen nearby. 5 Brent Geese were in Petit Port Bay. Elsewhere, a Grey Heron was in St Peter's Valley, a Willow Warbler was at Egypt, 2 Swallows passed White Rock at Rozel, 2 Swallows had returned to their nesting sites at Surville Manor and in Vallee des Vaux were a House Martin , a Swallow , 4 Bullfinches , 3 Blackcaps , 2 Ravens and a Sparrowhawk . 6 Sandwich Terns were at the Gunsite in St Aubin's Bay.