Jersey

Last month I went to Jersey for the day, for no other reason than I had never been. I can report that it is very pleasant, and also that I saw more posh cars in a single place than I think I have ever seen. I had no agenda, no plan, I just went for a very long walk in beautiful weather. Heading east from the airport I circled the far perimeter of the runway, walking through the small village of St Peter's before heading into the countryside and down towards the sea at St Ouen's Bay. Somewhere around here a Chough flew over, not a bird that was on my radar, and there were lots of Buzzards in the air as well as a pair of Raven.

I checked out Val de la Mare, and then walked around the back of Les Mielles Nature Reserve before having a look at Saint Ouen's Pond and scrape. Skylark were singing by the beach, reminding me of the patch. Not reminding me of home was my first Wheatear of the year. They were on their way! Albeit that I've still only seen just the one on home turf.

I checked out Val de la Mare, and then walked around the back of Les Mielles Nature Reserve before having a look at Saint Ouen's Pond and scrape. Skylark were singing by the beach, reminding me of the patch. Not reminding me of home was my first Wheatear of the year. They were on their way! Albeit that I've still only seen just the one on home turf.

The pond held lots of Shoveler and a Water Pipit, and there were several hunting Marsh Harrier. On the massive sandy beach a handful of Oystercatcher fed. On distant rocks I could see a Little Egret and some Cormorant were bobbing about. The nearby Scrape was probably the most productive area, with some Wigeon, Lapwing, a flock of Brent Geese and, bizarrely, a Pink-footed Goose with a Barnacle Goose. Hmmm. Cetti's called from the reeds.

I returned to the airport from the other direction, essentially I had just walked a big anti-clockwise loop over the course of about six hours. I saw 53 species which I thought was pretty decent, I'd been expecting about 35. Altogether a very nice day. The island is very pretty, a patchwork landscape of small fields and hedgerows, lots of nice houses (and cars...), lovely views almost everywhere, and a terrific beach on the west side. I didn't get to St Helier or anywhere on the eastern side.