Boat to Sark and day around the island on horse and cart!! Gannet 30+ Fulmar 20+ LBBG 100+ GBBG 4 H Gull 20+ Shag 50+ Cormarant 1 Guillemot 20+ Peregrine 1 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Song Thrush 4 Meadow Pipit 20+ Blackcap 30+ Chiffchaff 20+ Whitethroat 3+ Swallow 18+ House Martin 8+
The island is a beautiful place, with very clean air, no road vehicles and lots of interesting areas for migrants if I had moer time to search about. Almost every bush had a singing warbler in it and plenty of hirundines were flying over in search of more northern lands. Glad we made the trip over to experience it, but think I'll try and get a few days there next time.
Sorrell Point Having heard that Sorrell Point offered an interesting migrant area and with several Ring Ouzel having been sighted in previous days I visited here early morning (730-900). Unfortunetely I didn't find them, but a few Dartfords made up for it. Dartford Warbler 2 Whitethroat 4 Chiffchaff 2 Shag 8 Fulmar 12 Oystercatcher 4
Brelades Bay I went out sea kyaching with the wife from Brelades Bay to the east towards St Hellier. Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Buzzard 3 Oystercatcher 18+ Turnstone 2 Shag 20+ Cormarant 1
Back to Crabbe later, where I caught up with another ST Treecreeper, a female Marsh Harrier and 3 Chiffchaff from my friends garden .
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Tuesday 26th of April 2011 06:53:19 PM
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Tuesday 26th of April 2011 06:53:40 PM
St Ouen's Pond & Scrape Shoveller 4 Pochard 1 Teal 10 Marsh Harrier 6+ Lapwing 6 Wood Sandpiper 2 Snipe 6 Bearded Tit 3 Reed Warbler 3+ Sedge Warbler 8+ Cetti's Warbler 2+ Chiffchaff 5+ Wheatear 2 (one very orange, poss northern, but other bird not nearby to compare size) Yellow Wagtail 1
Les Mieles Quarry This location houses the only Sand Martin colony on the Channel Islands, so is an important place in that respect. Tufted Duck 4 Pochard 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Sand Martin 60+
This is a fabulous 'zoo', which has a real emphasis on the conservation status of species it keeps and has many programmes of reintroduction across the world. It is also a centre for training international conservation techniques to natives of areas that species are being sent back to, in order to aid the survival. A really great place, with Gibbons and Howler Monkeys, to Pitta's and Pink Pigeons.
Just got back from a week away in Jersey, cracking place!? I've been over there 5-6 times over the last 10 years and always pick up something of interest. The following threads are from my travels around the island (mainly around the West) over the last week:
Crabbe 18/04 (mostly seen from my friends land):
White Wagtail 4 Chiffchaff 4 Blackcap 6 Stock Dove 30+ Meadow Pipit 2 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 2 Buzzard 6
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Monday 25th of April 2011 07:43:55 PM
Over the weekend I added several other birds, Cattle Egret in aa with a field of Jersey Cows near where I was staying with friends in Crabbe, cracking little bird with a lovely yellow cap. Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers in most areas of the island.
St Ouens Pond (small lake really), had up to 8 Marsh Harriers, Little Grebe, Teal, Shoveller, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 100 plus Sand Martin, 30 plus Swallows, Black Swan (released many years back obviously), 13 Ruff, 4 Lapwing and a Snipe.
Found both Peregrine and Raven nests on the north east coast in Crabbe. GN and BT Divers close up off the coast at St Catherines Breakwater (harbour) and off Grouville Bay both on the west coast, with 250 Brent Geese, 5 GC Grebes, RB Merganser, 4 greenshank, 40+ BT Godwits, 40+ Oystercatchers and Redshanks by the dozen.
If I had had more time for birding then I could have added Slav and BN Grede, RT Diver, Common Scoter, Common and Arctic Tern, Yellow Wag, Green Sandpiper, Firecrest, Hoopoe, Zitting Cisticola (or Fan-tailed Warbler) and others including the lovely Dartford Warbler, which I have seen the last couple of years.
Also of interest are the large numbers of other gems: Sand Lizards, Swallowtail butterflies and other warmer clime specialities. Worth trip over if you like a quiet time on coastal areas, only cost me £50 including taxes for return flights.
Over in Jersey this weekend. Yesterday afternoon had Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, Swallow and Chiffchaff from my friends garden in Crabbe in the NW of the island.
This morning had 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Swallow, 6 Stock Dove, a Red Squirrel and a Kestrel. Was looking for the Cattle Egret down the road, but the cows were being milked so must be hiding somewhere!?
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