Mark Lawlor's Nature Blog

1st May and the Sultans of String embarked on another Guernsey Bird Race, an endeavour that seems to result in ever-diminishing returns. We met at the usual spot of Rue des Bergers just before it got light and were rewarded with a Cuckoo calling through the darkness, although we missed the local Barn Owl. After the light appeared we moved on and, as we were passing a field-full of gulls, we almost didn’t notice that three of them were in fact Cattle Egrets, a useful species to get so early in the day. After a half-hour stroll round Pleinmont we soon realised that this was not going to be a migrant-filled day - as we had already suspected - Manx Shearwater being the most notable species seen. Marsh Harrier and Raven were added at Tielles but we could not find the Ring Ouzel that had been there the day before.

As the tide was now pretty high we moved onto the west coast bays to look for waders. The first spot we looked, below the Imperial, we picked up a Common Sandpiper flying right to left, which seemed to disturb a wagtail which flew left to right. This was the biggest surprise of the day as it was a Grey Wagtail, which alighted on the beach with a White Wagtail, a species that we rarely see here after March. Moving up to the Shingle Bank we had Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Yellow Wagtail along the shoreline. From the Claire Mare hide we were pleased to see that a couple of Teal had hung on into May.

Brent Goose was added at Fort Le Crocq and we found a Black-headed Gull at Vazon, a species which is difficult to get on the race. Turnstone was also added there and we moved on to Saumarez Park which was quite poor for the target species. So we tried another site, some wooded gardens in St. Andrews, where we quickly recorded Great Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper and Bullfinch. Next, we had a change of tactics compared to usual. Mark had organised a rib to take us to Herm to look for the auks so we went to the harbour!

After racing across the Russell in just 6 minutes, we were soon in situ behind Jethou and Herm - much better that slumming it on the Trident ferry! We soon found Puffin and Razorbill with Guillemot not far behind. The Puffins were fishing close by and we got great views. They seemed to be collected weed.

So, after doing the Herm run in less than an hour we were ahead of schedule and on 73 species before 10 o’clock. Calling in at Vale Pond we saw the Greenshank which had been there a day or so and a Snipe which was skulking in the reeds, another tricky species. Finally ticking off Moorhen and then Meadow Pipit at Jaonneuse, followed by the Little Grebe in the quarry, we headed to Grand Pre. We could not see any Sedge Warblers here but a Willow Warbler sang from the willows in the reedbed and a Sparrowhawk flew over the car park - we had hit 80 at 11:45.

Looking at the list of possible new species, it was starting to look a bit sparse, mainly because the majority were migrants which we still very thin on the ground. We tried a few spots as we made our way south-west but nothing new was appearing. We got to the Reservoir early afternoon where we knew that Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit were present - 82 species at 13:10.

There followed the longest drought we have ever had during a race. We spent time at Pleinmont where there were inexplicably no Swifts at all despite the seemingly ideal conditions, never mind a Hobby or any other migrant. We tried for the Ring Ouzel again. We searched every beach for Sanderling, every bay for a tern - any tern! We scoured every field for Jackdaw. We checked this spot and that spot and the other spot, but we kept seeing the same species. Finally after 4 hours 50 minutes without a new bird we were overjoyed to see a Grey Plover walking along Miellette beach at 6 pm.

It was now evening and we discussed what to do whilst scoffing on our traditional chippy tea. We could not see any way that we could be find another species in the daylight and the only addition would be if we searched for the owls. Should we wait a couple of hours for dusk? The consensus was “Nope!” and we knocked if off early at 83 species. A good effort but a little lower than we would have liked. We go again in 2023.

The Sultans of String forlornly wandering round Pleinmont wondering where the heck are all the Swifts!

On 3rd May I was pleased to find a nice Cuckoo along the edge of Fort Hommet headland - in exactly the same place as I had my previous patch record. I think it is an excellent spot for caterpillars. There was also a Firecrest singing in the school car park and then a couple of days later I managed to hear it through the window whilst teaching a lesson - achievement unlocked!

I went up to Pleinmont on 8th but a Yellow Wagtail was the only notable migrant, but I eventually ticked off Swift for the year - ridiculously late! On the way home I stopped to see a little gaggle of waders at Richmond corner and hoped for a rarity. There was a few Ringed Plovers, a Sanderling, a Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and, best of all, a terrific breeding-plumaged Knot. Not really a rarity but a cracker nonetheless.

Feeling liberated on 9th May, I popped out for a look around and ended up at the Claire Mare where a Little Ringed Plover was feeding right in front of the hide showing exceedingly well. There was also a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Yellow Wagtails. At one point the Little Ringed Plover crouched low, practically lying in the mud (see bottom pic) and I realised that the Marsh Harrier was patrolling just above. Looking across and the Common Sand was doing exactly the same thing - lying down in the mud. I don’t know why lying down makes them especially less visible - perhaps something to do with reducing the shadow.

Little Ringed Plover - Claire Mare, 9 May 22

Little Ringed Plover in crouching posture - Claire Mare, 9 May 22

COMMON SANDPIPER also lying down - Claire Mare, 9 May 22

I have made a small water trough for the garden that I keep topping up and it is amazing how a reliable water source attracts the birds for drinking and bathing. These Goldfinches are now regular visitors to the garden and have become quite used to me sitting out there whilst they come down to drink and have found the Groundsel seeds to their liking.

With the Easter holiday’s arrival, this meant a few extra midweek visits to Pleinmont to look for rarities. The first visit on 10th April was quiet but a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees by the camping field was a new species for Pleinmont for me, they are certainly spreading throughout the island nowadays. Just 3 Willow Warblers and a Wheatear indicated that spring migration was definitely delayed this year. A Bar-tailed Godwit was at the Shingle Bank.

The next day things seemed similar but whilst I popped out in the afternoon the temperature weirdly changed to suddenly being very warm - from coat to T-shirt in 20 minutes. I don’t know whether it was this front that brought down some birds, but there was an arrival of birds on Rousse beach. There was a loose flock of c.20 Wheatears as well as a superb Ring Ouzel flying to and fro below the car park. In the bushes there were a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and, moving to Pulias there was another 10 Wheatears plus about the same number of White Wagtails. Offshore here a male Common Scoter bobbed around quite distantly, which had a very visible yellow splodge on the bill. It was so bright I decided to go back the next day with my ‘scope but it was no Black Scoter disappointingly.

I was again back up at Pleinmont on 12th but it was again disappointing. A single Skylark landing in a field, the first Whitethroat of the year flying across between blackthorn patches and a few Sand Martin were the most notable sightings. There was a more exciting sighting on 13th when a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew low NE over the garden - bird number 97 for the house list. A brief stop at La Societe fields at Pleinmont on 14th saw lots of wagtails feeding on the recently turned soil - about 8 Yellow and about 25 White Wagtails were present.

A glutton for punishment, I was back up at Pleinmont on 16th where, if anything, things had got worse with just 2 Wheatears to show for a couple of hours walk in the early afternoon. Well really there was 2.5 Wheatears as I discovered a half-eaten corpse lying in the grass by the cliff path. Imagine flying all the way from Africa just to get decapitated in Guernsey. I did spy both of the Choughs together for the first time, feeding low down on the cliffs near Mabel’s.

Marsh Harrier - Pleinmont, 16 Apr 22 - It’s a trap!!

WHEATEAR (DECEASED) - Pleinmont, 16 Apr 22

Since the day was the warmest of the year, I spent quite a bit of time searching for insects on the clifftops as there seemed to be a lot of activity. The jumping spider Aelurillus v-insignitus was quite common on the slopes and the red-spotted carabid beetle Panagaeus bipustulatus ran across bare ground, a new species for me. I also found three new ants and a new crane-fly amongst the rest of the critters found, using my most recent book purchases. I also spied something that I have been looking out for for ages. The blackthorn twigs on the west-facing slopes at Pleinmont are always dripping with lichens and I glanced up to see a deep orange blob amongst the cream and ivory. It was a tiny patch of the rare Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus), an uncommon and rarely seen species, but quite distinctive.

Golden-eye Lichen *(Teloschistes chrysophthalmus)* - Pleinmont, 16 Apr 22

*Aelurillus v-insignitus* - Pleinmont, 16 Apr 22

*Panagaeus bipustulatus* - Pleinmont, 16 Apr 22

On 18th April, just a week after the first-ever sighting, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew NE over the house. This time I managed to watch it land in a tree a few gardens away. There is a patch of very large trees in a large garden to the NE of the house so perhaps there is a chance that they may have a nest in there. The same day, I visited Rousse at very high tide and saw a single, and pretty late Purple Sandpiper on the lone rock as well as 2 Common Sandpipers on the shore.

On 22nd I tried a few different spots and it was quite productive. The Purple Sandpiper had relocated to Jaonneuse beach where it fed with 15 Turnstone. A Common Sandpiper was at Vale Pond, along with a singing Reed Warbler plus the 6 Canada Geese were still present. Across the car park, a group of 3 Whimbrel in Grandes Havres were my first of the year. I moved on to Rousse where I found a Tree Pipit, a Whinchat and a Yellow Wagtail all in the space of a few minutes in the grounds of the Peninsula and the adjacent gardens - all quality migrants for the patch. The Whinchat was especially showy. Rousse has been the most productive spot this spring so far for me.

On 24th I had a quick scoot round the island, starting with seeing the Rook that had turned up at Pleinmont, the first I have seen here for ages. Driving past Albecq a Marsh Harrier flew over - new for the patch for the year. Whimbrels were present on a few beaches and finally there was some hirundine passage with all three species moving east along the coast. A small flock of at least 13 Yellow Wagtails fed in the lawn area behind the tennis courts at Jaonneuse.

As usual there were lots of records in April but there was not anything really rare or even a bit rare to go see. Perhaps there will be something to find or twitch in the late spring.

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Mark Lawlor's Nature Blog

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