Photo – Snow Bunting
October is when the big numbers of northern migrants start to pass through our Island and if we are fortunate to get the correct weather conditions to encourage these birds to at least fly over us then we can get some really good spectacles.
This happened on the 24th October when an astonishing 45,343 Redwings flew out of the island over the migration watchpoint at Victoria Tower St Martin. A record number for Jersey, eclipsing the previous record of just over 16,000!
Wood Pigeons ‘not a bird people think of as migrators’ but pass over us each autumn in amazing numbers and so far, they have not disappointed.
A total of 75,630 headed off over Noirmont on the 27th with 33,680 the day after. Could 2024 be a record autumn for them?
There have been some other exciting migrants passing over with 17 Hawfinch, a Corn Bunting, a Spoonbill, 3 Great White Egret and a Woodlark passing over Victoria Tower. Over at Noirmont there have been 25 Ring Ouzel, 3 Hawfinch, 9 Merlin, a Spoonbill, 4 Great White Egret and another Woodlark.
Bird of the month though goes to the Shore Lark which spent a few days feeding near Kempt Tower in St Ouens Bay, the first one to visit the island since 2014!
The month ended with a sought after winter visitor, a Snow Bunting which was found feeding along the sea wall in Grouville Bay.
Romano da Costa
