E N J O Y | S P R I N G W I L DLIFE WAT CH
e f i l d l i W g n i Spr Watch With spring on its way the weather starts to get warmer and the days longer so it’s an ideal time to get outdoors enjoy our Island and see what spring wildlife you can spot. Here are a few suggestions to get you started…
MARSH HARRIER
SKYLARK
Marsh harriers are nowadays a common sight in Jersey, thanks to the recovery of the continental populations. At present there are around 20 breeding pairs, and although they only nest in Jersey’s main reedbeds, they can be seen hunting above fields of any Parish. In the autumn some of our harriers go south, whilst others stay and are joined by harriers coming from the north, bumping up the numbers. In spring, local breeding pairs re-unite at their territories and perform the most spectacular courtship aerobatics, for which all harrier species are known for.
Small yet fierce, this sparrow-size lark is known for its powerful courtship songs performed so high in the sky one can’t sometimes even see them. This song used to be heard along the Jersey coast, but nowadays there are just over a dozen pairs of Skylark left in the Island, and most of them are out of reach, at the Airports’ grounds.
The best place in Jersey to see these aerial displays is without a doubt at St Ouen’s Pond and the neighbouring habitats in St Ouen’s Bay, where over a dozen pairs perform to defend their territories and to reinforce the bond with their mate. The aerial displays often involve the male gaining height and calling loudly as he starts to tumble down in a series of spirals and pitches. The female will often join him half way down and often clasp talons with him. These actions are important rehearsals of the elaborate food-passing manoeuvres that will be necessary later, when she is busy incubating or rearing chicks and depends on his provision of food. The Common Buzzard is another raptor seen in this area; although of similar size to the harrier, its tail is much shorter and its wings much rounder and stockier, whereas the harriers are long and narrow – and of course their aerial displays will be second to none.
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There are two, sometimes three pairs outside the Airport, holding territories at the Sand Dunes. The chances of finding them are better than you might think, thanks to their loud and characteristic song, which they sing for many minutes above the western half of the Dunes or along the sea-wall. Meadow pipits, which are much more common, can be mistaken for Skylarks, because they look similar and also like to perform songflights. Their song is a simple and repetitive series of ‘peeppeep-peep’ whilst the Skylark’s is a loud, elaborate and poignant song, with many syllables and barely any repetitions. Also, pipits will be hovering at 10-30 feet, whilst the Skylarks go much higher in the sky. Such displays of stamina end with a quick glide to the ground, legs hanging below, in what is known as ‘parachuting’. So, if you happen to be walking by the Dunes or the seawall anywhere between La Pulente and El Tico, or maybe just having a coffee at Le Braye, you might just be bestowed with the beautiful, unique song of the Skylark pouring down from high above. Enjoy the singing, and good luck spotting the little tenor.