Pied Wagtail photographed at Claire Mare [CLA] on 22/4/2011 Photo: © steve levrier (visit site)

Smith wrote that the Pied Wagtail was 'tolerably common' in the summer of 1866 and describes both Pied (M. a. yarelli) and White (M. a. alba) as breeding and also a common winter visitor. The situation has changed slightly and the Pied Wagtail is now a rare breeding bird but is still a common passage migrant and winter visitor.

For such a common bird, Pied Wagtails are poorly recorded in Guernsey and we have little information on the timing of migration or the numbers passing through the islands. Since 1993 birds have been recorded in every month of the year. From the limited data available, the pattern of migration is of small numbers of birds arriving back in the islands in August and September. The main migration of birds takes place in October and flocks of 50+ birds on fields, especially those which are grazed, are not uncommon. Most records are from coastal areas, especially Pleinmont, but this probably reflects observer bias to these areas rather than any true preference. Both White M. a. alba and Pied Wagtails M. a. yarelli are common. The bulk of the White Wagtail migration takes place in April/May and July to September as they move through the islands enroute to/from breeding areas in northern Europe/Iceland and wintering areas in southern Europe and North and West Africa.

From late-November onwards migration ceases and birds take up winter territories. These can occur almost anywhere but they are especially common in coastal areas and Pied Wagtails, along with Rock Pipits, are a feature of sea walls in winter and also large gardens, industrial estates and car parks. Most, if not all, birds in winter are Pied rather than White Wagtails. Although they tend to occur singly during the day, Pied Wagtails roost communally in large flocks. Over the past 30 years various roost sites have been used including industrial estates, reedbeds (such as La Claire Mare, Dell Nursery, Vale Marais etc.) and also the Town Harbour where birds roost under upturned boats or under boat coverings. The latter roost has been used since 1996 at least and continues to this day. Numbers vary both seasonally and between years but 10-300 birds regularly use these roosts. Numbers start to build up in early November and these presumably include many migrants. It continues over the winter and breaks up in February. Without regular counts we have little information about how numbers change over the winter. One exceptional count was of 1,000 birds on 2 November 1996. Three days later, on 5 November, only 200 were present.

Return passage starts in February and continues throughout March, April and May. Both Pied and White forms are regularly recorded later on and often occur in flocks of Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. These small flocks (up to 20 birds) can be seen anywhere where there is an abundance of insects available and piles of rotting vraic at the tops of beaches are an ideal habitat for this species. Drying up puddles and areas of farmland are also favoured habitats during spring migration.

Very few birds remain to breed. White Wagtails first bred at the Braye Road in 1985 and, in the late 1990s, a pair bred there almost annually. [NEED MORE DETAILS ON RECENT BREEDING RECORDS]