March 2026

Asian Hornet - Grand Pre, 21 Mar 26

I have thought it a little surprising that, if we are being invaded by Asian Hornets here on Guernsey, how come I never ever saw any? That changed last Autumn however, when I had 2 sightings in the garden, and then on 21st March this spring, when I was wandering around the Grand Pre, and I noticed an absolute unit of a queen just sitting there on an Alexanders leaf, soaking in the sun. An incredible beast, it had no intention of moving, and had probably just come out of hibernation. This meant I could take loads of pictures and also meant that I could pot it up and “take it out of circulation”. Maybe these few sightings mean that they are spreading more widely, and they will become more of a menace very soon. But the local Asian Hornet team are apparently doing a great job and perhaps they can be kept in control.

Asian Hornet - Grand Pre, 21 Mar 26 - showing the weird indented eyes

Asian Hornet - Grand Pre, 21 Mar 26

There was a period of warm weather and southerly winds early in the month, so I got the moth trap out again on both 7th and 9th March, and it did very well. I am trying to get the trap out earlier in the year in ‘26 since I have my new set-up which is a much easier job to get it out in the evenings. Over these two nights I had some rarer species for me, such as a Tawny Pinion, 4 Oak Beauties (I’d only had 2 ever before this year), and only my second, and a new species for the garden, Acleris literana (Lichen Tortix). The southerly airflow brought a few migrants - 2 Pearly Underwings, a Rush Veneer and a Silver Y.

Tawny Pinion - garden, 7 Mar 26

Oak Beauty - garden, 7 Mar 26

Acleris literana (Lichen Tortrix) - garden, 7 Mar 26

As for the birds, it was the usual March activity of waiting for migrants to arrive. The first sign of these was on 9th March with a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in the pines on Ft Hommet headland. The first Wheatear was at Pulias on 11th but I didn’t see a Sand Martin until 27th. A count of 8 Purple Sandpipers at Jaonneuse on 22nd was a pretty good total, but the month passed without any unexpected birds seen.

Purple Sandpipers - Jaonneuse, 22 Mar 26

Cattle Egrets - Kings Mills, 24 Mar 26 - part of a flock of 22 birds on the way to work early one morning

Candlesnuff fungus - Belvedere, 14 Mar 26

Physconia distorta - Belvedere, 14 Mar 26

Belvedere Light, 14 Mar 26 - this beacon on top of the cliffs by Fort George can be used to find the correct line into St. Peter Port harbour

Chloe - the small doggo with the loud voice