Tree Pipit photographed at Bas Capelles on 22/4/2012 Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Smith describes Tree Pipits as a "very numerous summer visitant to all the Islands, breeding in great numbers in the parts suited to it". He describes it nesting in gorse bushes. As Dobson points out, Tree Pipits tend to nest on the ground and it may be that he was mistaking this species for Meadow Pipits. Interestingly a similar pattern is found in the Jersey literature and de Gruchy, who is usually a very reliable observer, refers to it as a common summer visitor. Dobson also refers to B.W. Tucker who saw birds in Alderney in summer. It may be that these observers were mistaken but each was familiar with Meadow Pipits

Tree Pipits are now a regular spring and autumn migrant to all the islands. It has probably been overlooked in recent years but regular records are received from all the major islands the Bailiwick. The numbers passing through in spring and autumn have probably declined over the last century - in 1920 it was described as a common migrant in Alderney (Dobson). In Britain, its range has contracted markedly in the intervening period (Gibbons et al. 1994) and the number of migrants recorded in the islands could be expected to drop.

As with many migrants, the number of birds recorded is lower in spring than autumn. In spring, the birds start moving through the islands in the second week of April and passage continues through to the third week in May. In autumn, the first birds are recorded in the third week in August but the majority of records occur during September. Between 1993 and 1999, there were a scattering of records in October but there are older records of birds in November (Dobson).

Most birds are seen on coastal headlands on the west coast, especially Pleinmont. In recent years, records have come from a wider variety of areas showing that this species is more widespread than previously thought. Birds have been recorded in inland areas such as the Reservoir and the Talbot Valley, in agricultural land around Le Coudré and also the south coast. The majority of records are fly-overs identified by call and are of single birds or pairs.