Guernsey
Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands, lying in the English Channel close to the Normandy coast. The island combines a gently rolling agricultural interior with wooded valleys, sheltered bays and dramatic rocky cliffs, particularly along the south coast. Its coastline includes reefs, small offshore islets and extensive intertidal habitats exposed by a large tidal range. Guernsey has a mild oceanic climate, with relatively warm winters, cool summers and frequent maritime winds.
Overview
Guernsey is particularly rewarding for seabirds and migration. The south-coast cliffs support Northern Fulmar, European Shag, Peregrine Falcon and breeding seabirds, while headlands provide productive seawatching for shearwaters, skuas, gannets and auks. Spring and autumn migration can bring diverse passerines, waders and occasional rarities from both continental Europe and farther afield. Nearby islands add much of the region's birding interest: Alderney has important Northern Gannet colonies on Les Etacs and Ortac, while Sark and Herm provide additional coastal habitats. Guernsey itself is compact and easy to explore by road or on foot, though reaching the smaller islands depends on ferries and weather conditions.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Herring Gull Larus argentatus | 40.2% | 26.0% | 42.6% | 48.5% | 43.0% | 50.2% | 60.6% | 45.3% | 49.3% | 32.3% | 23.9% | 24.4% | 36.8% |
| Carrion Crow Corvus corone | 39.0% | 31.1% | 43.9% | 55.4% | 45.9% | 45.2% | 46.6% | 39.2% | 42.7% | 23.6% | 25.5% | 27.0% | 41.3% |
| Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes | 38.3% | 27.0% | 31.6% | 60.6% | 58.2% | 50.9% | 47.2% | 32.0% | 36.2% | 20.4% | 24.2% | 32.7% | 38.1% |
| European Robin Erithacus rubecula | 38.1% | 39.5% | 36.0% | 57.8% | 45.3% | 43.4% | 31.4% | 25.1% | 25.1% | 28.7% | 38.4% | 40.0% | 46.7% |
| Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus | 33.5% | 19.8% | 30.2% | 47.9% | 43.4% | 47.0% | 51.4% | 40.8% | 34.5% | 23.5% | 16.7% | 19.9% | 26.8% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 33.5% | 24.0% | 28.3% | 48.7% | 46.3% | 49.4% | 52.5% | 39.5% | 19.3% | 13.3% | 19.6% | 27.1% | 33.5% |
| Eurasian Coot Fulica atra | 28.7% | 35.7% | 29.2% | 47.1% | 42.3% | 21.9% | 10.5% | 28.5% | 20.1% | 27.8% | 24.6% | 29.9% | 26.3% |
| European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis | 28.2% | 22.8% | 20.8% | 41.4% | 42.0% | 36.9% | 44.6% | 39.2% | 25.2% | 13.0% | 17.1% | 21.1% | 13.8% |
| Great Tit Parus major | 28.1% | 29.7% | 33.3% | 50.4% | 43.4% | 33.9% | 13.6% | 15.1% | 16.4% | 16.8% | 21.8% | 26.6% | 36.7% |
| Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | 27.7% | 21.6% | 16.8% | 47.4% | 43.2% | 36.5% | 47.4% | 23.1% | 11.4% | 11.9% | 14.5% | 25.7% | 33.1% |