Category
A
Status
Scarce
Breeding status
First Record
1932
Last Recorded

Coal Tit Periparus ater


Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015. Photo: © Cindy  Carre
  Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015 Photo: © Cindy Carre (visit site)

Since the first Guernsey record in 1932, Coal Tits have been an uncommon autumn migrant and winter visitor to all the major islands in the Bailiwick. It has also been recorded on Herm and also on the Casquets on 19 October 1975. (GBN,Conder). It breeds irregularly in Guernsey and may have bred in Alderney although this has not been confirmed.

Between 1969 and 1999, Coal Tits were recorded in Guernsey in all but four years, three of these in the 1990s. The series of records in the early 1970s probably refer to a small resident/breeding population added to by a small numbers of migrants each autumn. An irruption took place in 1975 ("records from all over the island" - GBN) but few stayed to breed the following year. Unfortunately details of the 1975 irruption were not documented fully in the Guernsey Bird News, hence the is a question mark on the yearly graphs. The number of records declined until 1978-1980 when a large number of birds were seen.

From the records submitted, these increased numbers were probably not due to irruptive behaviour but an increase in the breeding population as most of the records occurred during the breeding season. After 1982, the number of records fell away until the large influx in autumn 1996 where birds were reported from 10 sites. Larger numbers of birds remained throughout that winter and again in the following year, 1997, larger than average numbers were reported in autumn from four sites (Pleinmont, Heritage Walk, Le Guet, Saumarez Park). This series of records shows periods of colonization and extinction and Coal Tits have yet to maintain more than a tenuous foothold as a breeding species in Guernsey.

In the 1970s and 1980s breeding was proved at Le Guet in 1970 and 1972, at Jerbourg in 1972, at Trinity Cottages (Pleinmont) in 1979, at the Heritage Walk in 1980 and a juvenile was seen in Saints in mid-July 1970. Several other attempts were undoubtedly made and pairs or singles have been seen in suitable habitat in other years. The table below shows sites where birds have been seen between the beginning of April and the end of July. There were birds spread across a wide variety of sites between 1970 and 1982 but the total breeding population was always been under ten pairs. After this birds were only present in one site per year and it is likely that the breeding population became extinct soon after. It was not until the 97/98 irruption that birds were again seen during the breeding season.



View all photos (15)
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015. Photo: © Cindy  Carre
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015. Photo: © Cindy Carre (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 25/11/2017. Photo: ©  Rockdweller
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 25/11/2017. Photo: © Rockdweller (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Pleinmont [PLE] on 0/12/2005. Photo: © Jamie Hooper
Coal Tit photographed at Pleinmont [PLE] on 0/12/2005. Photo: © Jamie Hooper (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 21/12/2015. Photo: © Mark Guppy
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 21/12/2015. Photo: © Mark Guppy (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 25/11/2017. Photo: © Andy Marquis
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 25/11/2017. Photo: © Andy Marquis (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 25/11/2017. Photo: ©  Rockdweller
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 25/11/2017. Photo: © Rockdweller (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Jerbourg [JER] on 0/5/2009. Photo: © Christopher Mourant
Coal Tit photographed at Jerbourg [JER] on 0/5/2009. Photo: © Christopher Mourant (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 0/12/2008. Photo: © Phil Alexander
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 0/12/2008. Photo: © Phil Alexander (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Jerbourg [JER] on 27/3/2011. Photo: © Christopher Mourant
Coal Tit photographed at Jerbourg [JER] on 27/3/2011. Photo: © Christopher Mourant (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at St Peter Port [SPP] on 19/12/2021. Photo: © Mike Cunningham
Coal Tit photographed at St Peter Port [SPP] on 19/12/2021. Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015. Photo: © Cindy  Carre
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015. Photo: © Cindy Carre (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015. Photo: © Anthony Loaring
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 29/12/2015. Photo: © Anthony Loaring (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at St Peter Port [SPP] on 20/1/2022. Photo: © Mike Cunningham
Coal Tit photographed at St Peter Port [SPP] on 20/1/2022. Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 11/1/2016. Photo: © Adrian Gidney
Coal Tit photographed at Saumarez Park [SAU] on 11/1/2016. Photo: © Adrian Gidney (visit site)

Coal Tit photographed at St Peter Port [SPP] on 23/1/2022. Photo: © Mike Cunningham
Coal Tit photographed at St Peter Port [SPP] on 23/1/2022. Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)



View database records (252)
Coal Tit Les Fontenelles, Forest 22/1/1994 1
Coal Tit Trinity 25/9/1996 1
Coal Tit Pleinmont 7/10/1996 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 16/10/1996 21/10/1996 1-2
Coal Tit Herm 23/10/1996 7
Coal Tit Steam Mill Lane, STM 27/10/1996 2
Coal Tit Heritage Walk 30/10/1996 1
Coal Tit Heritage Walk 2/11/1996 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 18/11/1996 30/11/1996 1-5
Coal Tit Trinity 30/11/1996 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 2/12/1996 6/12/1996 2
Coal Tit Val des Terres 8/12/1996 1
Coal Tit Damouettes Lane 11/12/1996 31/12/1996 2-3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 1/1/1997 29/1/1997 1-2
Coal Tit Mare de Carteret 9/2/1997 1
Coal Tit Upland Road 10/2/1997 1
Coal Tit Le Guet 13/2/1997 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 20/2/1997 22/2/1997 2-3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 9/3/1997 19/3/1997 2
Coal Tit Pleinmont 26/10/1997 29/10/1997 1-4
Coal Tit Heritage Walk 7/11/1997 25/11/1997 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 12/11/1997 30/11/1997 2-4
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 2/12/1997 28/12/1997 1-4
Coal Tit Heritage Walk 5/12/1997 12/12/1997 1-2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 1/1/1998 31/1/1998 2-3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 5/2/1998 12/2/1998 1-2
Coal Tit Le Guet 22/2/1998 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 2/3/1998 12/3/1998 2
Coal Tit Pleinmont 6/4/1998 2
Coal Tit Collings Road 25/11/1998 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 1/2/1999 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 19/11/2001 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 1/1/2002 1
Coal Tit Foulon 3/2/2002 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 9/3/2002 1
Coal Tit Herm 20/6/2003 1
Coal Tit Trinity 16/11/2003 1
Coal Tit Trinity 21/11/2003 1 - 2
Coal Tit Herm 9/10/2005 4
Coal Tit Trinity 14/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Pleinmont 15/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Pleinmont 15/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 18/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Portelet 18/10/2005 3
Coal Tit Fort Saumarez 18/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Pezeries 19/10/2005 24/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Heritage Walk 20/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Portelet 21/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Portinfer 21/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Rue de Valniquets 22/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Pleinmont 22/10/2005 3
Coal Tit Pleinmont 23/10/2005 4
Coal Tit Damouettes Lane 23/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Portinfer 27/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Heritage Walk 27/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Portelet 28/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Portelet 29/10/2005 2
Coal Tit Portelet 29/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Trinity 30/10/2005 1
Coal Tit Pleinmont 31/10/2005 4
Coal Tit Trinity 1/11/2005 1
Coal Tit Route Isabelle 3/11/2005 28/11/2005 max2
Coal Tit Portelet 11/11/2005 3
Coal Tit Grande Lande, SSV 12/11/2005 17/11/2005 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 19/11/2005 3
Coal Tit Rue du Closel, VAL 20/11/2005 1
Coal Tit Dell Nursery 21/11/2005 2
Coal Tit Candie Gardens 24/11/2005 1
Coal Tit Grande Lande, SSV 25/11/2005 30/11/2005 1
Coal Tit Sous L'Eglise 26/11/2005 3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 27/11/2005 1
Coal Tit Dell Nursery 28/11/2005 3
Coal Tit Pezeries 7/12/2005 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 9/12/2005 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 10/12/2005 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 18/12/2005 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 31/12/2005 2
Coal Tit Rue Cohu 1/1/2006 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 1/1/2006 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 2/1/2006 2
Coal Tit Grande Lande, SSV 26/1/2006 1
Coal Tit Grande Lande, SSV 19/2/2006 26/2/2006 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park 1/3/2006 31/3/2006 1
Coal Tit Herm 2/4/2006 2
Coal Tit Jerbourg [JER] 5/10/2010 p
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 7/12/2010 2
Coal Tit Jerbourg [JER] 27/3/2011 1
Coal Tit Jerbourg [JER] 27/3/2011 1
Coal Tit Portelet [PET] 17/9/2011 1
Coal Tit Le Vauquiedor 4/2/2012 1
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 18/10/2012 1
Coal Tit Icart [ICA] 28/10/2012 1
Coal Tit Icart [ICA] 28/10/2012 1
Coal Tit Saints [SAI] 29/10/2012 2
Coal Tit Heritage Walk [HEW] 6/11/2012 1
Coal Tit Heritage Walk [HEW] 6/11/2012 3
Coal Tit Route de Carteret 6/11/2012 1
Coal Tit Heritage Walk [HEW] 6/11/2012 1
Coal Tit Heritage Walk [HEW] 6/11/2012 1
Coal Tit Route de Carteret 6/11/2012 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Marais Nord/Vale Marais [NOR] 14/11/2012 1
Coal Tit Candie Gardens [CAG] 1/12/2012 1
Coal Tit RONDE CHEMINEE[St Sampsons] 7/2/2013 1
Coal Tit st martins pine forest 10/2/2013 2
Coal Tit Pine Forest, STM [PFS] 10/2/2013 2
Coal Tit St Martins Pine Forrest 11/2/2013 1
Coal Tit Jerbourg [JER]pine forest 11/2/2013 2
Coal Tit Jerbourg [JER] PINE FOREST 12/2/2013 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 13/2/2013 2
Coal Tit (Continental) Bas Capelles [BAS] 1/1/2015 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Bas Capelles [BAS] 1/1/2015 1
Coal Tit Grande Rue St Mar 17/4/2015 1
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 12/9/2015 1
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 20/10/2015 3
Coal Tit (Continental) Pezeries [PEZ] 20/10/2015 3
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 24/10/2015 1
Coal Tit Portelet [PET] 24/10/2015 2
Coal Tit (Continental) Vaux de Monel [MON] 24/10/2015 1
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 24/10/2015 1
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 24/10/2015 2
Coal Tit Vaux de Monel [MON] 24/10/2015 5
Coal Tit (Continental) Pezeries [PEZ] 24/10/2015 12
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 24/10/2015 c.12
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 26/10/2015 1
Coal Tit Pezeries [PEZ] 26/10/2015 1
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 27/10/2015 P
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 27/10/2015 P
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 30/10/2015 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Pezeries [PEZ] 31/10/2015 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Portelet [PET] 31/10/2015 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Rocquaine [ROC] 31/10/2015 3
Coal Tit St Anne, Alderney 14/12/2015 1
Coal Tit Rue des Bergers [BER] 18/12/2015 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 21/12/2015 3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 26/12/2015 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 29/12/2015 4
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 29/12/2015 c4+
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 31/12/2015 6+
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 1/1/2016 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 1/1/2016 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 1/1/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 1/1/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 1/1/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 1/1/2016 3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 1/1/2016 2
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 6/1/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 11/1/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 13/1/2016 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 13/1/2016 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 16/1/2016 3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 16/1/2016 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 20/1/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 20/1/2016 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 20/1/2016 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 21/1/2016 1
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 21/1/2016 2
Coal Tit (Continental) Vaux de Monel [MON] 22/1/2016 1
Coal Tit La Vassalerie, STA [VAS] 24/1/2016 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 2/2/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 15/2/2016 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Essex Farm 18/3/2016 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 4/4/2016 1
Coal Tit South Coast Cliffs 10/4/2016 2
Coal Tit (Continental) Foulon [FOU] 16/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Barrackmaster's Lane 16/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Barrackmaster's Lane 16/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Essex Farm 17/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Vale Pond [VAL] 19/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 21/11/2017 4+
Coal Tit (Continental) Essex Farm 21/11/2017 2
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 21/11/2017 4
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 21/11/2017 4-5
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 22/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 22/11/2017 2
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 24/11/2017 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 24/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 25/11/2017 2+
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 25/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 25/11/2017 3
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 26/11/2017 3+
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 29/11/2017 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 2/12/2017 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 2/12/2017 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 8/12/2017 2
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 24/2/2018 1+
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 24/2/2018 2
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 25/2/2018 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 25/2/2018 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 25/2/2018 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 26/2/2018 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 26/2/2018 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Saumarez Park [SAU] 26/2/2018 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Foulon [FOU] 16/3/2018 1
Coal Tit Longis Common - ABO Daily Census 11/4/2018 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Les Adams [LDM] 12/4/2018 1
Coal Tit Reservoir [RES] 21/4/2018 1
Coal Tit Saumarez Park [SAU] 4/1/2019 1
Coal Tit Havilland Hall [HAH] 5/1/2019 1
Coal Tit Havilland Hall [HAH] 5/1/2019 1
Coal Tit Pleinmont [PLE] 9/3/2019 1
Coal Tit Fermain [FER] 11/7/2021 1
Coal Tit Barrackmaster's Lane 17/10/2021 2
Coal Tit Vaux de Monel [MON] 22/10/2021 1
Coal Tit St Anne 8/11/2021 4
Coal Tit Essex Farm 8/11/2021 1
Coal Tit Vau de Saou, Alderney 8/11/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) Portelet [PET] 8/11/2021 1
Coal Tit Alderney Community Woodland 9/11/2021 6
Coal Tit St Anne 10/11/2021 2
Coal Tit Alderney 10/11/2021 2
Coal Tit ruette des haizes 15/11/2021 15/11/2021 2
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 17/11/2021 1
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 18/11/2021 1
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 18/11/2021 2
Coal Tit St Anne 29/11/2021 1
Coal Tit St Anne 7/12/2021 1
Coal Tit Bas Capelles [BAS] 18/12/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 19/12/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 19/12/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 20/12/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 20/12/2021 1
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 21/12/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 21/12/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 21/12/2021 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 5/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 5/1/2022 1
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 11/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 11/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 11/1/2022 1
Coal Tit Reservoir [RES] 13/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 13/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 13/1/2022 1
Coal Tit Reservoir [RES] 16/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 18/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 18/1/2022 1
Coal Tit Undisclosed Location 21/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 23/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 23/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 24/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 24/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 30/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 30/1/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 7/2/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 7/2/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 8/2/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 8/2/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 10/2/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 10/2/2022 1
Coal Tit Le Guet [GUE] 23/2/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port 6/3/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) St Peter Port [SPP] 6/3/2022 1
Coal Tit (Continental) The Nunnery, Alderney 22/3/2022 6