It was a quiet February, not much movement in the bird world, the regular winter visitors remained but there was no cold weather elsewhere to send more our way.
The usual early migration of small Gulls started around mid-month with good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls being seen at Petit Port and in St Ouen’s Bay, a few Common Gulls in Grouville Bay and hundreds of Black-headed Gulls making use of coastal and inland feeding opportunities.
While the large Gull movement started from the third week of the month, Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed us in good numbers and the first Caspian Gull of the year passed Corbiere on the 21st, a rare but slowly increasing migrant as their populations in Eastern Europe slowly expand westwards.
The male and juvenile Hen Harriers are still gracing us with their presents on the North coast, mostly being seen at Crabbé, where they have delighted many an observer and photographer.
On to March and the first spring migrants will start to appear, Wheatear, Swallow and Sand Martins are the first to arrive, but will they be early or late this year?
Caspian Gull – Photo Credit Mick Dryden Hen Harrier – Photo Credit Thomas Frazer
