Meadow Pipit photographed at Jaonneuse [JAO] on 28/1/2019 Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Meadow Pipits are one of the most widespread and common species throughout the whole of the Bailiwick. They breed in high densities in areas of maritime heath, rough grassland, coastal scrub and wherever there is any rough land. Its status has probably changed little since Smith's time and Dobson describes the Meadow Pipit as very common in the wild areas above the south coast cliffs and in the low-lying districts of the north-west and north-east. In Alderney it is described as a very common resident (Conder) and in Sark it is fairly common in open pastures and on the côtils (Rountree).

During the Guernsey Breeding Bird Survey, Meadow Pipits were recorded as breeding in 11 out of 23 tetrads. Its distribution tended to be coastal, reflecting the current availability of suitable habitat on Guernsey. It is also a common breeding species in Sark and Alderney. There are few data available on changes in numbers over the past century but it is likely that it would have bred in inland areas in Guernsey. The conversion of rough or rank grassland and scrub to intensive agricultural grasslands, residential areas or greenhouses would have excluded it from many previously suitable areas.

During spring and autumn, large numbers of Meadow Pipits pass through the islands. As it is a common species it is poorly monitored through the monthly submission of records to the archives of La Société Guernesiaise and it is only the larger flocks that tend to be reported. The figure below, which shows the distribution of those flocks reported to the Societe between 1993 and 1998, indicates two main periods of passage. One occurs in September/October and another in March. During these periods large flocks tend to be found in coastal areas, both headlands such as Pleinmont and L'Ancresse and areas of maritime heath on the south coast such as at Icart and Mont Herault. Smaller flocks also occur inland, especially on areas of bare till, golf courses, coastal heath and also fields in which livestock graze. In winter, there is little information on the distribution of Meadow Pipits within the islands although it is likely they tend to be more widespread, occur either singly or in small flocks and make more extensive use of agricultural and waste land as well as their usual coastal haunts