Lundy Bird Observatory - Recent sightings

Greenland Wheatear on the Airfield. ©Richard Campey

A quieter day on the island but some migrants are still pushing through the cooler wind. A survey at Jenny’s Cove resulted in 79 Puffins, 559 Razorbills, 641 Guillemots and 44 Fulmars spotted on the cliffs. Visible migration was quite strong with 2 Rooks attempting to migrate out from the NW and a passage of hirundines again. On the way back, a Yellow Wagtail was in Barton’s Field feeding with the horses, more ‘Greenland’ Wheatears were noted on the Plateau including a flock of 14 noted near Pondsbury this afternoon (no rings seen so undoubtably new in). At Pondsbury itself a small flock of Mallard and a pair of Grey herons were seen! In the Village, 2 Collared Doves were seen by the Camping Field.

Ringing

A late night resulted in birds being caught on the Airfield after midnight. This included a nice small catch of ‘Greenland Wheatear’ with some of these storing a large quantity of fat and muscle.

Not many sightings today. However, the highlights included a Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler singing in Millcombe, a second Cuckoo in Quarter Wall Copse and a Redpoll species flying around Millcombe. The Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin remained on the Lower Lighthouse Field. There was no sign of any Orioles, Herons, Shrikes etc today.

Ringing

Bar-tailed godwit caught and ringed on nocturnal surveys. ©Thomas Weston

A busy morning with roughly ~50 birds caught in Milcombe including a small fall of migrant warblers. A nocturnal survey resulted in a nice mix of species caught before midnight. The Bar-tailed Godwit was only the 2^nd ever ringed on the island with the previous record being in 1979.

Big migration day with lots of Lundy scarcities about today....Ring Ouzel on the Old Hospital. ©Thomas Weston

Census counts this morning were completed in beautiful weather again today. There were a few highlights including a male Ring Ouzel who was around Rocket Pole before alighting, circling, gaining height and heading high North out of view; a Rook flew low South past Quarter Wall; a Yellow Wagtail in Barton’s Field and a Greenfinch. Other totals included 2 Mallards, 5 Woodpigeons, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 7 Herring Gulls, 3 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 163 Razorbills, single Fulmar, 2 Shag, single male Sparrowhawk, pair of Kestrels, 3 Peregrine, 33 Carrion Crow, 4 Ravens, 9 Skylarks, 10 Sand Martins, 24 Swallows, 10 House Martins, 7 Blackcap, 4 Sedge Warblers, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 13 Wrens, 58 Starlings, 10 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 8 Robins, 14 Wheatears, female Stonechat, 7 Dunnocks, 11 House Sparrows, 4 Pied Wagtail, single Tree Pipit, 11 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinch, 46 Linnets and 11 Goldfinches.

Bar-tailed godwit in Lower light. ©Myra Allen

Little Ringed Plover in Lower Lighthouse Field. ©Myra Allen

Other birds seen outside of census included a showy Ring Ouzel female at Quarry Cottages/Old Hospital, the Canada Goose remained on Pondsbury; a Grey Wagtail came in off at the Quarrys and went North; an adult Night heron remained in Millcombe; a Siberian Chiffchaff was trapped and ringed in Millcombe; a male Pied Flycatcher was seen in St Helen’s Field (4 seen across the island yesterday); a decent passage of hirundines with 3 Swifts, 294 Swallows, 8 Sand martins and 9 House martins seen in half an hour; and the standout highlights in Lower Lighthouse Field where a Bar-tailed godwit, the first Grey Heron of the year, 2 Ringed Plovers and the islands 8^th Little ringed Plover.

A sunny Saturday with a slight Northernly breeze. This inspired the first big Swallow movements of the year with an amazing 1444 birds moving North through the island from about 1pm onwards. The Swallows were joined by both House Martins, Swallows and even 9 Swifts, the latter the first for the year. Migration was strong today with a ‘new in’ Bar-tailed Godwit looking very dapper in its summer plumage, as well as a Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler seen in Millcombe.

Some of the scarce species today included 3 Jackdaws who decided to undertake a circuit of the island before presumably leaving to the South later; a pair of Buzzards arrived on the East coast and departed off the West as they circled and gained height; the Canada Goose remained on Pondsbury; and the Golden Oriole remained in Millcombe.

The sunny weather has inspired a great selection of photos to be taken. Here are just a few from today, enjoy…