Open viewing at Plémont

Wednesday 25 June 2014

Binoculars are being eagerly trained on the north coast for the first sighting of a rare bird setting up home.

Local birdwatchers are hopeful that Manx shearwaters may be trying to breed near Plémont, after a recent survey showed the seabird had been rooting around for potential nesting sites

Manx shearwaters are shy, burrowing seabirds - related to fulmars, petrels and albatrosses - that spend most of their life at sea. When they do land it is to dig a burrow – preferably on an inaccessible cliff - and to lay one egg. Like that other burrowing seabird, and possible new neighbour, the puffin, shearwaters like to keep themselves to themselves by avoiding human contact and predators such as rats, cats and dogs.

Nor are they doting parents to their single offspring, as parents only visit nests during the darkest nights, to avoid gulls and other sea birds.

Once threatened by extinction, Manx shearwaters are making a comeback thanks to rat eradication projects which have restored breeding colonies in the Isle Man and others locations in the British Isles.

The closest colonies to Jersey are in the Isles of Scilly and Brittany, although in recent years, shearwaters have successfully nested in Sark and Jethou.

Local twitchers are hoping that having the potential of Plémont as a desirable residence, it won’t be long before they pop across the water and set up home to raise a family.