Late-spring rarities

The annual Devon Birds day-trip charter of the Oldenburg took place on Sunday 18th May. For a full report by Jon Turner see http://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/devon_bird_news and scroll down to the corresponding date. Highlights included the Black Guillemot in the Landing Bay, two Turtle Doves (sadly now qualifying for rarity status on Lundy), a typically elusive female-type Golden Oriole and a Short-toed Lark – the latter found by Jon on the track near Quarter Wall and subsequently photographed by Phil Abbott (see the excellent pic posted on the Devon Birds website on 19th May).

Alan Rowland, on the island for the past week, confirms that two Turtle Doves were already present on Saturday 17th May and that at least one was still around on Friday 23rd.

Razorbill with one orange/yellow foot

I saw this individual near St Philip's Stone (F5 to be exact) this morning. It didn't appear to be part of a pair. One to look-out for.

Black Guillemot photos

Andy Jayne writes: “I've attached a few pics of the Black Guillemot by the jetty on the morning of Saturday 10th May. It was most obliging. On one occasion it actually flew up and perched on the jetty for a moment.”

Friday 9th May 2014 - Black Guillemot for 3rd year running!

Andy Jayne reports that a Black Guillemot was seen in the Landing Bay on 9th May, making three consecutive springs that this striking species has occurred in Lundy waters.

Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th May 2014

A text received from Andy Jayne reports "All very quiet" on the migration front, with a brief glimpse of a Turtle Dove on 6th and a single Whimbrel on 7th being his most notable sightings.

Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd May 2014

Chris Baillie has sent through the following summary of his three-day trip to the island:

"Good numbers of shearwaters and a group of 14 Sandwich Terns on the outward crossing. The Merlin mentioned by Richard Campey remained throughout, and I flushed a Sparrowhawk from by the Blue Door on the 3^rd. I heard Water Rail on 1^st and 2^nd, the latter at night from St John’s Valley. A Whimbrel passed the West Side on the 2^nd , when there was a thin but steady trickle of Barn Swallows during the afternoon (300/hour departing North End). Wheatears included a few migrants (one being a Greenland female) but were mostly pairs on territory. Warblers were mostly not moving much – two Sedges, one Garden, a few Blackcaps, Willows and Chiffs. A Lesser Redpoll was in the Tent Field on the 3^rd, and Guillemots did a widespread early exodus from Jenny’s – the ledges seemed very empty compared to the two previous days. The crossing back had fewer Manxies than on the 1^st (or visible from the island on 2^nd), and a Bonxie passed close mid-channel."

Monday 5th May

Andy Jayne reports a Hawfinch, a female Black Redstart along the Terrace, and a probable 1st summer Iceland Gull along the East Side.

Images from 24 April - 1 May 2014

Some images from my recent week long trip to Lundy (by Richard Campey):

Skylark in South-West Field

 Meadow Pipit in Brick Field

 Hen Harrier, male, being mobbed by a Raven over The Stonecrusher (high up, heavy crop - on photo not bird !)

 Adult male Northern Wheatear by Quarter Wall

 Peregrine from The Terraces

 Common Whitethroat in Upper Millcombe Valley

 Goldfinch in Millcombe Valley

 Jackdaw in  Tillage Field

 Starling in High Street

 Northern Wheatear South End

 Linnet by Rocket Pole

 Male Reed Bunting by Brambles