Category
A
Status
Common
Breeding status
First Record
Last Recorded

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus


Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion
  Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0 Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

As with the Meadow Pipit, the status of Rock Pipits in the Bailiwick has changed little over the past century. It can be found on all the main islands and also breeds on many of the smaller islets, including Les Burons and L'Etac de Serq in Sark and several of the larger Humps off Herm. During the Guernsey Breeding Bird Survey, Rock Pipits were slightly more widespread than Meadow Pipits, ocurring in 13 out of 23 squares. Birds occur all round the islands, both in low-lying sandy areas and also on in areas of cliffland.

In winter, Rock Pipits congregate on piles of rotting vraic on tidelines, areas of short rabbit-grazed coastal turf and in the few areas of sand-dunes remaining on the islands. Numbers appear to rise in winter and ringing has shown that large numbers can pass through one site. This influx of birds is due to migrants from further north arriving in the islands as it is unlikely that all the birds seen in winter could all be local resident birds.



View all photos (16)
Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion
Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier
Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier (visit site)

Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier
Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier (visit site)

Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier
Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Bellegreve Bay on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion
Rock Pipit photographed at Bellegreve Bay on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier
Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Fort Le Crocq on 21/10/2009. Photo: © Mark Lawlor
Rock Pipit photographed at Fort Le Crocq on 21/10/2009. Photo: © Mark Lawlor (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Vazon Bay on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion
Rock Pipit photographed at Vazon Bay on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion
Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion
Rock Pipit photographed at Pleinmont on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier
Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Vazon Bay on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion
Rock Pipit photographed at Vazon Bay on 0/0/0. Photo: © Paul Hillion (visit site)

Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier
Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Pulias headland on 26/11/2005. Photo: © Barry Wells
Rock Pipit photographed at Pulias headland on 26/11/2005. Photo: © Barry Wells (visit site)

Rock Pipit photographed at Fort Le Crocq on 4/3/2009. Photo: © Mark Lawlor
Rock Pipit photographed at Fort Le Crocq on 4/3/2009. Photo: © Mark Lawlor (visit site)

Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier
Rock Pipit. Photo: © Steve Levrier (visit site)

 


View database records (14)
Rock Pipit Bellegreve Bay 14/11/1993 10
Rock Pipit Chouet 25/2/1994 7
Rock Pipit L'Eree 9/11/1994 10/11/1994 1
Rock Pipit Fort Le Crocq 31/8/1995 8
Rock Pipit L'Eree 12/11/1995 1
Rock Pipit Perelle 29/12/1995 20+
Rock Pipit Chouet 22/9/1996 6
Rock Pipit Rocque Poisson 17/11/1996 1
Rock Pipit Bellegreve Bay 13/1/1997 6
Rock Pipit Town Harbour 3/7/1997 4
Rock Pipit Pleinmont 10/8/1997 3
Rock Pipit Perelle 22/1/1998 1
Rock Pipit Town Harbour 2/5/1998 18/5/1998 2
Rock Pipit Town Harbour 8/7/1998 2