Redstart photographed at Pleinmont [PLE] on 20/8/2011 Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)

Redstarts are a regular spring and autumn migrant to all the islands in the Bailiwick and their status has changed little over the past century (Dobson).

The first migrants arrive in late March and passage peaks in mid-April. The last birds are recorded in first two weeks of May. As with many migrants, the numbers recorded in spring are erratic. In some years less than 10 birds will be reported but, when falls occur, tens of birds can be recorded in one area.

More birds are reported in autumn and the passage period is more protracted than in the spring. The first returning birds are found in the second half of August or at the beginning of September. Most birds move through in September but there are reports from October in most years and exceptionally even into the first part of November. Whilst on passage birds are to be found almost anywhere with suitable cover. Most records come from coastal headlands including Pleinmont, Fort Saumarez and Jerbourg. Inland records are not uncommon and birds are regularly recorded in gardens, wooded valleys and along the edges of fields.