Birds of Guernsey (1879) by Cecil Smith

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I have not included either the Cole Tit or the Marsh Tit in this list,
as I have never seen either bird in the Islands, and have not been able
to find that they are at all known either in Guernsey or any of the
other Islands.

Professor Ansted, however, includes the Cole Tit in his list, and marks
it as occurring in Guernsey, but no other information whatever is given
about it; and there is no specimen in the Museum, as there is of both
the Great and the Blue Tits. I have not succeeded in getting a specimen
myself.

49. LONG-TAILED TIT. _Acredula caudata_, Linnaeus. French, "Masange a
longue queue."[10]--The Long-tailed Tit is certainly far from common in
Guernsey at present, and I have never seen it in the Islands myself. But
Mr. MacCulloch writes me word--"The Long-tailed Tit is, or at least was,
far from uncommon. Probably the destruction of orchards may have
rendered it less common. The nest was generally placed in the forked
branch of an apple-tree, and so covered with grey lichens as to be
almost indistinguishable. I remember, in my youth, finding a nest in a
juniper-bush."

It is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Guernsey and Sark. There is, however, no specimen now in the Museum.

I am very doubtful as to whether I ought to include the Bearded Tit,
_Panurus biarmicus_ of Linnaeus, in this list. There are a pair in the
Museum, but these may have been obtained in France or England. One of
Mr. De Putron's men, however, described a bird he had shot in the reeds
in Mr. De Putron's pond in the Vale, and certainly his description
sounded very much as if it had been a Bearded Tit; but the bird had been
thrown away directly after it was shot, and there was no chance of
verifying the description.

50. WAXWING. _Ampelis garrulus_, Linnaeus. French, "Jaseur de Boheme,"
"Grand Jaseur."--As would seem probable from its occasional appearance
in nearly every county in England, the Waxwing does occasionally make
its appearance in Guernsey as a straggler. I have never seen it myself,
but Mr. MacCulloch writes me word--"I have known the Bohemian Waxwing
killed here on several occasions, but have not the date."

An interesting account of the nesting habits of this bird, and the
discovery of the nests and eggs by Mr. Wolley, was published by
Professor Newton in the 'Ibis' for 1861, and will be found also in
Dresser's 'Birds of Europe.' and in the new edition of 'Yarrell,' by
Professor Newton.

It is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Guernsey; and there is one specimen in the Museum.

51. PIED WAGTAIL. _Motacilla lugubris_, Temminck. French, "Bergeronette
Yarrellii."[11]--The Pied Wagtail has probably been better known to
some of my readers as _Motacilla Yarrellii_, but, according to the
rules of nomenclature before alluded to, _Motacilla lugubris_ of
Temminck seems to have superseded the probably better-known name of
_Motacilla Yarrellii_.

For some reason or other the Pied Wagtail has grown much more scarce in
Guernsey than it used to be; at one time it was common even about the
town, running about by the gutters in the street, and several were
generally to be seen on the lawn at Candie. But this last summer--that
of 1878--I did not see one about Candie, or indeed anywhere else, except
one pair which were breeding near the Vale Church; and when there in
November, 1875, I only saw one, and that was near Vazon Bay. Mr.
MacCulloch has also noticed this growing scarcity of the Pied Wagtail,
as he writes to me--"Of late years, for some reason or other, Wagtails
of all sorts have become rare." In the summer of 1866, however, I found
the Pied Wagtail tolerably common.

It is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Guernsey and Sark.

52. WHITE WAGTAIL. _Motacilla alba_, Linnaeus. French, "Lavendiere,"
"Hoche-queue grise," "Bergeronette grise."--The White Wagtail is still
scarcer than the Pied, but I saw one pair evidently breeding between
L'ancresse Road and Grand Havre. The White Wagtail so much resembles
the Pied Wagtail, that it may have been easily overlooked, and may be
more common than is generally known.

The fully adult birds may easily be distinguished, especially when in
full breeding plumage, as the back of the Pied Wagtail is black, while
that of the White Wagtail is grey. After the autumnal moult, however,
the distinction is not quite so easy, as the feathers of the Pied
Wagtail are then margined with grey, which rather conceals the colour
beneath; but if the feathers are lifted up they will be found to be
black under the grey margins. The young birds of the year, in their
first feathers, cannot be distinguished, and the same may be said of the
eggs.

The White Wagtail is included in Professor Ansted's list, but marked as
only occurring in Guernsey. There is no specimen either of the Pied or
White Wagtail in the Museum.

53. GREY WAGTAIL. _Motacilla melanope_, Pallas. French, "Bergeronette
jaune."--The Grey Wagtail is by no means common in the Islands, though
it may occasionally remain to breed, as I have seen it both in Guernsey
and Sark between the 21st of June and the end of July in 1866, but I
have not seen it in any of the Islands during the autumn. It is,
however, no doubt an occasional, though never very numerous, winter
visitant, probably more common, however, at this time of year than in
the summer, as I have one in winter plumage shot in Guernsey in
December, and another in January, 1879, and there is also one in the
Museum in winter plumage.

Professor Ansted includes it in his list, and marks it as occurring in
Guernsey and Sark.

54. YELLOW WAGTAIL. _Motacilla raii_, Bonaparte. French, "Bergeronnette
flaveole."--As far as I have been able to judge the Yellow Wagtail is
only an occasional visitant on migration. A few, however, may sometimes
remain to breed. I have one Channel Island specimen killed in Guernsey
the last week in March. Mr. MacCulloch, however, writes me word that in
some years they--_i.e._, Yellow Wagtails--are not very uncommon, but of
late, for some reason or other, Wagtails of all sorts have become rare.
He adds--"I am under the impression that we have more than one Yellow
Wagtail." It is, therefore, possible that the Greyheaded Wagtail, the
true _Motacilla flava_ of Linnaeus, may occasionally occur, or in
consequence of the bright yellow of portions of its plumage the
last-mentioned species--the Grey Wagtail--may have been mistaken for a
second species of Yellow Wagtail. I have not myself seen the Yellow
Wagtail in either of the Islands during my summer visits in 1866, 1876,
or 1878; so it certainly cannot be very common during the
breeding-season, or I could scarcely have missed seeing it.

Professor Ansted has not included it in his list, and there is no
specimen at present in the Museum.

55. TREE PIPIT. _Anthus trivialis_, Linnaeus. French, "Pipit des
arbres," "Pipit des buissons."--A very numerous summer visitant to all
the Islands, breeding in great numbers in the parts suited to it. In the
Vale it was very common, many of the furze-bushes on L'Ancresse Common
containing nests. The old male might constantly be seen flying up from
the highest twigs of the furze-bush, singing its short song as it
hovered over the bush, and returning again to the top branch of that or
some neighbouring bush. This continued till about the middle of July,
when the young were mostly hatched, and many of them flown and following
their parents about clamorous for food, which was plentiful in the Vale
in the shape of numerous small beetles, caterpillars, and very small
snails. The young were mostly hatched by the beginning of July, but I
found one nest with young still in it in a furze-bush about ten yards
from high water-mark as late as the 27th of July, but the young were all
flown when I visited the nest two days afterwards. The Tree Pipits have
all departed by the middle of October, and I have never seen any there
in November.

The Tree Pipit is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, but no letters
marking the distribution of the species amongst the Islands are given.
There is no specimen of this or either of the other Pipits in the
Museum.

56. MEADOW PIPIT. _Anthus pratensis_, Linnaeus. French, "Le cujelier,"
"Pipit des pres," "Pipit Farlouse."--The Meadow Pipit is resident and
breeds in all the Islands, but is by no means so numerous as the Tree
Pipit is during the summer. I think, however, its numbers are slightly
increased in the autumn, about the time of the departure of the Tree
Pipits, by migrants.

It is included by Professor Ansted in his list, but marked as occurring
only in Guernsey.

57. ROCK PIPIT. _Anthus obscurus_, Latham. French, "Pipit obsur," "Pipit
spioncelle."--Resident and numerous, breeding amongst the rocks and
round the coast of all the Islands. It is also common in all the small
outlying Islands, such as Burhou, and all the little rocky Islands that
stretch out to the northward of Herm, and are especially the home of the
Puffin and the Lesser Black-backed Gull. On all of these the Rock Pipit
may be found breeding, but its nest is generally so well concealed
amongst the thrift samphire, wild stock, and other seaside plants which
grow rather rankly amongst those rocks, considering how little soil
there generally is for them and what wild storms they are subject to,
that it is by no means easy to find it, though one may almost see the
bird leave the nest.

The Bock Pipit is included in Professor Ansted's list, but marked as
only occurring in Guernsey. All the Rock Pipits I have seen in the
Channel Islands have been the common form, _Anthus obscurus_; I have
never seen one of the rufous-breasted examples which occur in
Scandinavia and the Baltic, and have by some been separated as a
distinct species under the name of _Anthus rupestris_.

58. SKY LARK. _Alauda arvensis_, Linnaeus. French, "Alouette des
champs."--Mr. Metivier, in his 'Dictionary,' gives Houedre as the local
Guernsey-French name of the Sky Lark. As may be supposed by its having a
local name, it is a common and well-known bird, and is resident in all
the Islands. I have not been able to find that its numbers are much
increased by migrants at any time of year, though probably in severe
weather in the winter the Sky Larks flock a good deal, as they do in
England. The Sky Lark breeds in all the Islands, and occasionally places
its nest in such exposed situations that it is wonderful how the young
escape. One nest we found by a roadside near Ronceval; it was within
arm's length of the road, and seemed exposed to every possible danger.
When we found it, on the 15th of June, there were five eggs in it,
fresh, or, at all events, only just sat on, as I took one and blew it
for one of my daughters. On the 19th we again visited the nest; there
were then four young ones in it, but they were so wonderfully like the
dry grass which surrounded the nest in colour that it was more difficult
to find it then than when the eggs were in it, and except for the young
birds moving as they breathed I think we should not have found it a
second time. A few days after--July the 3rd--there was very heavy rain
all night. Next day we thought the Sky Larks must be drowned (had they
been Partridges under the care of a keeper they would have been), but as
it was only one was washed out of the nest and drowned; the rest were
all well and left the nest a few days after. So in spite of the exposed
situation close to a frequented road, on a bit of common ground where
goats and cows were tethered, nets and seaweed, or "vraic," as it is
called in Guernsey, spread for drying, dogs, cats, and children
continually wandering about, and without any shelter from rain, the old
birds brought off three young from their five eggs.

The Sky Lark is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list as occurring only
in Guernsey and Sark. It is, however, quite as common in Alderney and
Herm. There is no specimen in the Museum.

59. SNOW BUNTING. _Plectrophanes nivalis_, Linnaeus. French, "Ortolan
de neige," "Bruant de neige."--The Snow Bunting is probably a regular,
though never very numerous, autumnal visitant, remaining on into the
winter. It seems to be more numerous in some years than others. Mr. Mac
Culloch tells me a good many Snow Buntings were seen in November, 1850.

Mr. Couch records one in the 'Zoologist' for 1874 as having been killed
at Cobo on the 28th of September of that year. This seems rather an
early date. When I was in Guernsey in November, 1875, I saw a few flocks
of Snow Buntings, and one--a young bird of the year--which had been
killed by a boy with a catapult, was brought into Couch's shop about the
same time, and I have one killed at St. Martin's, Guernsey, in November,
1878; and Captain Hubbach writes me word that he shot three out of a
flock of five in Alderney in January, 1863.

Professor Ansted mentions the Snow Bunting in his list as occurring in
Guernsey and Sark, and there is a specimen at present in the Museum.

60. BUNTING. _Emberiza miliaria_, Linnaeus. French, "Le proyer," "Bruant
proyer."--The Bunting is resident in Guernsey and breeds there, but in
very small numbers, and it is very local in its distribution. I have
seen a few in the Vale. I saw two or three about the grounds of the
Vallon in July, 1878, which were probably the parents and their brood
which had been hatched somewhere in the grounds.

It is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list as occurring only in
Guernsey. There is one specimen in the Museum.

61. YELLOW HAMMER. _Emberiza citrinella_, Linnaeus. French, "Bruant
jaune."--The Yellow Hammer, though resident and breeding in all the
Islands, is by no means as common as in many parts of England. In
Alderney perhaps it is rather more common than in Guernsey, as I saw
some near the Artillery Barracks this summer, 1878, and Captain Hubbach
told me he had seen two or three pairs about there all the year. In
Guernsey, on the other hand, I did not see one this summer, 1878. I
have, however, shot a young bird there which certainly could not have
been long out of the nest. I have never seen the Cirl Bunting in any of
the Islands, nor has it, as far as I know, been recorded from them,
which seems rather surprising, as it is common on the South Coast of
Devon, and migratory, but not numerous, on the North Coast of
France;[12] so it is very probable that it may yet occur.

The Yellow Hammer is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as
occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There are also a pair in the Museum.

62. CHAFFINCH. _Fringilla caelebs_, Linnaeus. French, "Pinson
ordinaire," "Grosbec pinson."--- The Chaffinch is resident, tolerably
common, and generally distributed throughout the Islands, but is nowhere
so common as in England. In Guernsey this year, 1878, it seemed to me
rather to have decreased in numbers, as I saw very few,--certainly not
so many as in former years,--though I could not find that there was any
reason for the decrease.

It is, of course, mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, but by him only
marked as occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There is only one--a
female--at present in the Museum.

63. BRAMBLING. _Fringilla montifringilla_, Linnaeus. French, "Pinson
d'Ardennes." "Grosbec d'Ardennes."--The Brambling can only be considered
an occasional autumn and winter visitant, and probably never very
numerous. I have never seen the bird in the Channel Islands myself. I
have, however, one specimen--a female--killed in Brock Road, Guernsey,
in December, 1878, and I have been informed by Mr. MacCulloch that he
had a note of the occurrence of the Brambling or Mountain Finch in
January, 1855. It cannot, however, be looked upon as anything more than
a very rare occasional straggler, by no means occurring every year.

It is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Guernsey and Sark. There is no specimen at present in the Museum.

64. TREE SPARROW. _Passer montanus_, Linnaeus. French, "Friquet."--The
Tree Sparrow breeds, and is probably resident in the Islands. Up to this
year, 1878, I have only seen it once myself, and that was on the 7th of
June, 1876, just outside the grounds of the Vallon in Guernsey. From the
date and from the behaviour of the bird I have no doubt it had a nest
just inside the grounds. I could not then, however, make any great
search for the nest without trespassing, though I got sufficiently near
the bird to be certain of its identity. This year, 1878, I could not see
one anywhere about the Vallon, either inside or outside the grounds. I
saw, however, one or two about the Vale, but they were very scarce. I
have not myself seen the Tree Sparrow in any of the other Islands.

It is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Sark only. I have not seen a specimen at Mr. Couch's, or any of the
other bird-stuffers, but there is one in the Museum and some eggs, all
of which are probably Guernsey.

65. HOUSE SPARROW. _Passer domesticus_, Linnaeus. French, "Moineau
domestique," "Grosbec moineau."--The House Sparrow is very numerous
throughout the Islands, abounding where there are any buildings
inhabited by either man, horses, or cattle. In the gardens near the town
of St. Peter's Port, in Guernsey, it is very common, and does a
considerable amount of mischief. It is, however, by no means confined to
the parts near the town, as many were nesting in some ilex trees near
the house we had on L'Ancresse Common, although the house had been empty
since the previous summer, and the garden uncultivated; so food till we
came must have been rather scarce about there. As the wheat is coming
into ear the Sparrows, as in England, leave the neighbourhood of the
town and other buildings and spread themselves generally over the
country, for the purpose of devouring the young wheat while just coming
into ear and still soft. In Alderney, owing probably in a great measure
to the absence of cottages, farm-buildings, and stables at a distance
from the town, and also perhaps owing to the absence of hedges, it is
not so numerous in the open part, and consequently not so mischievous,
being mostly confined to the town, and to the buildings about the
harbour-works. The young wheat, however, is still a temptation, and is
accordingly punished by the Sparrows.

The House Sparrow is mentioned by Professor Ansted in his list, but no
letters are given marking the general distribution over the Islands,
probably because it is so generally spread over them. The local
Guernsey-French name is "Grosbec," for which see Metivier's
'Dictionary.'

66. HAWFINCH. _Coccothraustes vulgaris_, Pallas. French, "Grosbec."--The
Hawfinch or Grosbeak, as it is occasionally called, is by no means
common in Guernsey, and I have never seen it there myself, but I have a
skin of one killed in the Catel Parish in December, 1878; and Mr.
MacCulloch informs me it occasionally visits that Island in autumn, but
in consequence of its shy and retiring habits it has probably been
occasionally overlooked, and escaped the notice of the numerous gunners
to whom it would otherwise have more frequently fallen a victim. The
bird-stuffer and carpenter in Alderney had one spread out on a board and
hung up behind his door, which had been shot by his friend who shot the
Greenland Falcon, in the winter of 1876 and 1877, somewhere about
Christmas. I know no instance of its remaining to breed in the Islands,
though it may occasionally do so in Guernsey, as there are many places
suited to it, and in which it might well make its nest without being
observed. As it seems increasing in numbers throughout England, it is by
no means improbable that it will visit the Channel Islands more
frequently. The Hawfinch is included in Professor Ansted's list, and by
him marked as occurring only in Guernsey. There are two specimens in the
Museum.

67. GREENFINCH. _Coccothraustes chloris_, Linnaeus. French, "Grosbec
verdier," "Verdier ordinaire."--The Greenfinch is a common resident, and
breeds in all the Islands, but is certainly not quite so common as in
England. It is more numerous perhaps in Guernsey and Sark than in
Alderney; it is also pretty common in Jethou and Herm.

It is included in Professor Ansted's list, but only marked as occurring
in Guernsey and Sark. There is no specimen in the Museum.

68. GOLDFINCH. _Carduelis elegans_, Stephens. French, "Chardonneret,"
"Grosbec chardonneret."--The Goldfinch is resident in and breeds in all
the Islands. In Guernsey I was told a few years ago that it had been
much more numerous than it then was, the bird-catchers having had a good
deal to answer for in having shortened its numbers. It is now, however,
again increasing its numbers, as I saw many more this year (1878) than I
had seen before at any time of year. There were several about the Grand
Mare, and probably had nests there, and I saw an old pair, with their
brood out, at St. George on the 5th of June, and soon after another
brood about Mr. De Putron's pond, where they were feeding on the seeds
of some thistles which were growing on the rough ground about the pond.
I have also seen a few in Alderney; and Captain Hubbach writes me word
that the Goldfinch was quite plentiful here (Alderney) in the winter of
1862 and 1863. But he adds--"I have not seen one here this year." So
probably its numbers are occasionally increased by migratory flocks in
the winter.

Professor Ansted includes the Goldfinch in his list, but marks it as
occurring only in Guernsey and Sark. There is no specimen in the Museum.

69. SISKIN. _Carduelis spinus_, Linnaeus. French, "Tarin," "Grosbec
tarin."--The Siskin can only be looked upon as an occasional, accidental
visitant--indeed, I only know of one instance of its occurrence, and
that is recorded by Mr. Couch at p. 4296 of the 'Zoologist' for 1875 in
the following words:--"I have the first recognised specimen of the
Siskin; a boy knocked it down with a stone in an orchard at the Vrangue
in September." This communication is dated November, 1874. I have never
seen the Siskin in any of the Channel Islands myself, and Mr. MacCulloch
writes me word--"I have never heard of a Siskin here, but, being
migratory, it may occur." I see, however, no reason to doubt Mr.
Couch's statement in the 'Zoologist,' as the bird was brought into his
shop. He must have had plenty of opportunity of identifying it, though
he does not tell us whether he preserved it. There can, however, be no
possible reason why the Siskin should not occasionally visit Guernsey on
migration, as it extends its southern journey through Spain to the
Mediterranean and across to the North-western Coast of Africa; and the
Channel Islands would seem to lie directly in its way.

The Siskin, however, is not mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, and
there is no specimen at present in the Museum.

70. LINNET. _Linota cannabina_, Linnaeus. French, "Linotte," "Grosbec
linotte."--The Linnet is resident and the most numerous bird in the
Islands by far, outnumbering even the House Sparrow, and it is equally
common and breeds in all the Islands. The Channel Islands Linnets always
appear to me extremely bright-coloured, the scarlet on the head and
breast during the breeding-season being brighter than in any British
birds I have ever seen. Though the Linnet is itself so numerous, it is,
as far as I have been able to ascertain, the only representative of its
family to be found in the Channel Islands; at least I have never seen
and had no information of the occurrence of either the Lesser Redpole,
the Mealy Redpole, or the Twite, though I can see no reason why each of
these birds should not occasionally occur.

The Linnet is included in Professor Ansted's list, but marked by him as
only occurring in Guernsey and Sark; and there is a specimen in the
Museum.

71. BULLFINCH. _Pyrrhula europaea_, Vieillot. French, "Bovreuil
commun."--Miss C.B. Carey, in the 'Zoologist' for 1874, mentions a
Bullfinch having been brought into Couch's shop in November of that
year, and adds--"This bird is much more common in Jersey than it is
here." Miss Carey is certainly right as to its not being common in
Guernsey, as I have never seen the bird on any of my expeditions to that
Island, nor have I seen it in either of the other Islands which come
within my district.

Professor Ansted includes the Bullfinch in his list, but oddly enough
only marks it as occurring in Guernsey and Sark, although Mr. Gallienne,
in his remarks published with the list, says--"The Bullfinch
occasionally breeds in Jersey, but is rarely seen in Guernsey," so far
agreeing with Miss Carey's note in the 'Zoologist,' but he does not add
anything about Sark. There is no specimen in the Museum.

72. COMMON CROSSBILL. _Loxia curvirostra_, Linnaeus. French,
"Bec-croise," "Bec-croise commun."--The Crossbill is an occasional
visitant to all the Islands, and sometimes in considerable numbers, but,
as in England, it is perfectly irregular as to the time of year it
chooses for its visits. Mr. MacCulloch writes me word--"The Crossbill is
most uncertain in its visits. Many years will sometimes pass without a
single one being heard of. When they do come it is generally in large
flocks. I have known them arrive in early autumn, and do great havoc
amongst the apples, which they cut up to get at the pips. Sometimes they
make their appearance in the winter, seemingly driven from the Continent
by the cold."

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