Chris & Carol Baillie emerge from a gale-lashed Little St. John's...
Thursday 31st October
After two days of easterly gales the wind eased overnight and some modest movements of Chaffinch, Starling and Fieldfares was noticeable. Two each of Firecrest, Brambling and Chiffchaff, and singles of Golden Plover, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Kestrel and Song Thrush. Seven Stonechat.
Friday, 1 November 2019
Tuesday, 29 October 2019
29th Oct – Snow Bunting, Grey Heron & Brambling headline a windy day
Chris & Carol Baillie write:
Tuesday 29th October
"With easterly winds increasing overnight the only migrants evidently on the move were some Fieldfares first thing, but most chose to remain. A Grey Heron passed through Pondsbury and a Snow Bunting was on the track north of Threequarter Wall. A single Brambling fed among Chaffinches (175) and three Song Thrush made the best of a wind-blasted Millcombe."
Tuesday 29th October
"With easterly winds increasing overnight the only migrants evidently on the move were some Fieldfares first thing, but most chose to remain. A Grey Heron passed through Pondsbury and a Snow Bunting was on the track north of Threequarter Wall. A single Brambling fed among Chaffinches (175) and three Song Thrush made the best of a wind-blasted Millcombe."
Monday, 28 October 2019
28th Oct – Chaffinches post a season's best
The latest news from Chris & Carol Baillie:
Monday 28th October
"The switch to lively east winds and no sunshine has meant birds have either been migging visibly or down-hunkering (i.e. in flight or in cover!). The first hour saw a Millcombe bottle-neck due to three Peregrines, a Merlin and the Sparrowhawk staking out all southern air space. Chaffinch numbers were far above recent levels at 1,600 by midday, whilst Starlings at least doubled to 500. Gull numbers continue to increase, though there were no Kittiwakes to follow through on yesterday’s 500. A Woodcock survived a close encounter with the (perhaps over-ambitious) Sparrowhawk in Millcombe, and another was on the Terraces. The Little Egret added a touch of elegance to Brambles pool and two Teal (female and emerging-from-eclipse male) were on Pondsbury."
Monday 28th October
"The switch to lively east winds and no sunshine has meant birds have either been migging visibly or down-hunkering (i.e. in flight or in cover!). The first hour saw a Millcombe bottle-neck due to three Peregrines, a Merlin and the Sparrowhawk staking out all southern air space. Chaffinch numbers were far above recent levels at 1,600 by midday, whilst Starlings at least doubled to 500. Gull numbers continue to increase, though there were no Kittiwakes to follow through on yesterday’s 500. A Woodcock survived a close encounter with the (perhaps over-ambitious) Sparrowhawk in Millcombe, and another was on the Terraces. The Little Egret added a touch of elegance to Brambles pool and two Teal (female and emerging-from-eclipse male) were on Pondsbury."
Sunday, 27 October 2019
27th Oct – After the deluge...
A further update from Chris & Carol Baillie:
Sunday 27th October
"The most striking feature of the day was a very quiet initial visible migration, followed by Chaffinch flocks moving north and northwest, as were a few Siskin, and a handful of winter thrushes. Late morning saw restoration of a light migration south through the island. Four Cormorants passed north, and a Little Egret fed on flooded pools (“Lake District”) by the water tanks. In other news were two Brambling, a Lesser Redpoll, and the Merlin and Sparrowhawk. 500 Kittiwake and 110 Herring Gulls fed in the Roads. Low numbers of Meadow Pipits (12) and Linnets (6) continue. That 8 Swallows could survive recent conditions and make it to this contrastingly clear and sunny day is impressive."
Sunday 27th October
"The most striking feature of the day was a very quiet initial visible migration, followed by Chaffinch flocks moving north and northwest, as were a few Siskin, and a handful of winter thrushes. Late morning saw restoration of a light migration south through the island. Four Cormorants passed north, and a Little Egret fed on flooded pools (“Lake District”) by the water tanks. In other news were two Brambling, a Lesser Redpoll, and the Merlin and Sparrowhawk. 500 Kittiwake and 110 Herring Gulls fed in the Roads. Low numbers of Meadow Pipits (12) and Linnets (6) continue. That 8 Swallows could survive recent conditions and make it to this contrastingly clear and sunny day is impressive."
26th Oct – Wet, wet wet!
With Friday 25th seeing the island battered by severe gales from mid-day, leading to a 'splash & dash' early departure for MS Oldenburg on its last passenger-carrying service of the season, Chris & Carol Baillie report on less wild, but extremely soggy conditions the following day...
Saturday 26th October
"After yesterday's gale settled overnight, constant rain led to swollen water courses – a mountain stream from Brambles into Millcombe. Few birds at sea, and those on land hunkered down. Six of the fifty or so Chaffinches departed this afternoon. The rest remain feeding up with four Brambling and a few Goldfinch. Fourteen Siskin passed north over the Terraces, and a Lapland Bunting called overhead as skies cleared this evening. No warblers or crests, and a single Fieldfare was the only winter thrush. Also two Snipe, a Merlin and a single Kestrel."
Saturday 26th October
"After yesterday's gale settled overnight, constant rain led to swollen water courses – a mountain stream from Brambles into Millcombe. Few birds at sea, and those on land hunkered down. Six of the fifty or so Chaffinches departed this afternoon. The rest remain feeding up with four Brambling and a few Goldfinch. Fourteen Siskin passed north over the Terraces, and a Lapland Bunting called overhead as skies cleared this evening. No warblers or crests, and a single Fieldfare was the only winter thrush. Also two Snipe, a Merlin and a single Kestrel."
Friday, 25 October 2019
20th to 24th Oct – A stunning sunrise and some spectacular birding
A day of moderate to strong north-easterlies and periods of sunshine and overcast.
Highpoints of the day included a decent arrival of Chaffinch first thing (132 in Millcombe) plus two very noisy Mistle Thrush feeding on berries in upper Millcombe, a grand total of six Snow Bunting (five of which were seen together just north of Threequarter Wall) and a Jack Snipe flushed from the Molinia grass just west of Pondsbury.
Other birds of note included two Teal on Pondsbury, a lone Fulmar in the Landing Bay, one south-bound Cormorant, the male and female Sparrowhawk together in Millcombe, a Water Rail, a fly-over Golden Plover, just three Skylark, four Swallow, three Chiffchaff, five Blackcap, 26 Goldcrest, the Treecreeper, 202 Starling, four Blackbird, four Fieldfare, 10 Song Thrush, 49 Redwing, eight Robin, 11 Stonechat, a single Wheatear at Halfway Wall, 80 Meadow Pipit, a Greenfinch, 18 Goldfinch, 18 Siskin, just five Linnet and a Reed Bunting.
 |
| Redwing feeding on Hawthorn berries, Millcombe, 20 Oct © Dean Jones |
Monday 21st October
A chilly, clear and overall very pleasant day weather-wise. Birding highlights included a Long-tailed Tit feeding in the Sycamores just above the Casbah in Millcombe. A whopping 107 Fieldfare, a count which included a spectacular flock of 80 birds flying NE over the Quarries in the early afternoon, and the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, again with its head in the chicken feed box next to the farmyard.
 |
| Rose-coloured Starling with friends in the chicken coop, 21 Oct © Dean Jones |
Other birds of note included two Teal on Pondsbury, the male and female Sparrowhawk, two Water Rail, a fly-over Golden Plover, three Snipe, one Woodpigeon, a male Kestrel, a female Merlin, three Skylark, four Chiffchaff, six Blackcap, 20 Goldcrest, the Treecreeper, 250 Starling, a Ring Ouzel, 10 Blackbird, 15 Song Thrush, 70 Redwing, nine Robin, 10 Stonechat, a Pied Wagtail, two unidentified alba wagtails, 25 Meadow Pipit, 50 Chaffinch, a Greenfinch, 13 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin, eight Linnet, a single fly-over Redpoll and a Reed Bunting over Quarter Wall.
Non-avian news featured 11 Portuguese Man o’war, 10 of which unfortunately had washed up along the shore of the Landing Bay (see photo below).
 |
| Portuguese Man o'War, Landing Bay, 21st Oct © Dean Jones |
Tuesday 22nd October
An absolutely glorious day complete with clear skies, a stunning sunrise and next to no wind – perfect conditions for the newly arrived ringing team to get their mist-nets up and some truly superb visual migration, particularly during the first few hours of the morning.
Highlights from this spectacular day of birding include a Cetti’s Warbler caught and ringed in Millcombe in the afternoon, possibly the same bird that was found by Andy Jayne & Tim Jones by Millcombe Pond on October 14th. Three Jackdaws (a Lundy rarity) were also briefly present on the main track near Quarter Wall first thing. A rather late Lesser Whitethroat was found in the brambles next to the Timekeeper's Hut in the afternoon, two Yellow-browed Warbler were in Millcombe (one of which was caught and ringed) and the fourth Lapland Bunting of the year flew over Middle Park in the early morning, closely followed by two fly-over Snow Bunting!
Other birds of note include a lone female Teal on Pondsbury, the female Sparrowhawk, 2 Water Rail, a fly-over Golden Plover, a single Snipe, a single Lesser Black-backed Gull, one Woodpigeon, a female Merlin, 30 Skylark, a late Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, two House Martin, seven Chiffchaff, 13 Blackcap, 25 Goldcrest, the Treecreeper (caught and ringed in Millcombe), 203 Starling, a Ring Ouzel, 40 Blackbird, 25 Fieldfare, 10 Song Thrush, 100 Redwing, a single Mistle Thrush in Millcombe, six Robin, three Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, a White Wagtail in Barton Field, six unidentified alba wagtails, 100 Meadow Pipit, 200 Chaffinch, four Brambling, a Greenfinch, 19 Goldfinch, 56 Siskin, 19 Linnet, two fly-over Redpoll and a Reed Bunting over Millcombe.
 |
| Sunrise over Millcombe, 22 Oct © Dean Jones |
 |
| Cetti's Warbler, Millcombe, 22 Oct © Dean Jones |
Wednesday 23rd October
Another fantastic day of birding and clear/calm conditions. The undoubted highlight of the day was the occurrence of a Little Bunting in the shelf of a mist-net in Millcombe mid-morning, the 20th record for the island and the 7th to be ringed – a spectacular start to the day!
Following the star bird, birders on the island were also blessed with some spectacular numbers of Chaffinches. A very conservative estimate of 1,000 birds passed Lundy during the day, along with some good numbers of Siskin (100) and a smattering of Brambling (one of which was trapped and ringed). Additionally the first Woodcock of the year was seen, flushed from the path below the Ugly whilst checking the slope mist-net. Nearby a female Bullfinch spent most of the day flying around Millcombe – the second of the year following a stunning male at the top of the valley on January 5th. A Yellow-browed Warbler was busily feeding in Quarter Wall Copse in the afternoon. The first Black Redstart of the autumn was also seen, bobbing away upon the roof of Government House in the evening. A very late female Common Redstart was trapped and ringed in Millcombe and the fifth Lapland Bunting of the autumn shot over St John’s in the early afternoon.
Other birds of note on this glorious autumn day included a single Fulmar, a Manx Shearwater calling in the early hours, the female Sparrowhawk, three Water Rail in Millcombe, a fly-over Golden Plover, one Woodpigeon, a Merlin, nine Skylark, six Swallow, a late Willow Warbler on the Terrace, seven Chiffchaff, 20 Blackcap, the Lesser Whitethroat again near the Terrace, a Firecrest (caught and ringed in Millcombe), 26 Goldcrest, the Treecreeper, 285 Starling, a Ring Ouzel in Upper Millcombe, 40 Blackbird, 30 Fieldfare, four Song Thrush, 250 Redwing, 20 Robin, six Stonechat, two Grey Wagtail having a rest on the roof of the Radio Room, two Pied Wagtail, 31 Meadow Pipit, three Brambling, three Greenfinch, nine Goldfinch, three Linnet and a single Reed Bunting.
 |
| Little Bunting, Millcombe, 23 Oct © Ellie Zantboer |
Thursday 24th October
A rather dim and overcast start to the day but slighter warmer despite the winds picking up overnight and the lack of morning sunshine.
All in all, today was much quieter bird-wise with most of yesterday’s thrushes and finches moving off in the clear and relatively calm overnight conditions. Highlights included a Little Egret on Pondsbury in the early afternoon and the female Bullfinch again – this time outside Bramble Villas on the now foliage-devoid Sycamores. Herring Gull numbers also made a massive jump up today (total 140) with multiple flocks moving north along the east coast throughout the morning – perhaps moving in anticipation of tomorrow's storms!
Other birds of note included the female Sparrowhawk, two Water Rail in Millcombe, five Golden Plover (the highest count of the autumn so far), a Woodcock, one Snipe, 16 Kittiwake, two Lesser Black-backed Gull, a female Kestrel, a Merlin, five Skylark, four Swallow, three Chiffchaff, eight Blackcap, two Firecrest (one caught and ringed in Millcombe), 17 Goldcrest, the Treecreeper, 230 Starling, 13 Blackbird, six Fieldfare, four Song Thrush, 17 Redwing, 10 Robin, two Black Redstart, three Stonechat, one Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtail, just 10 Meadow Pipit, 170 Chaffinch, three Brambling, two Goldfinch, 11 Siskin, three Linnet, a Snow Bunting and a single Reed Bunting.
Report composed of sightings from Chris & Carol Baillie, Zoë Barton, James Booty, Sam Bosanquet, Rob Duncan, Paul Goodwin, Mark & Jo Harris, Dean Jones, Dan Zantboer, Ellie Zantboer and Justin Zantboer.
Sunday, 20 October 2019
16th to 19th Oct – More action-packed days and a potential 'first' for the island!
Wednesday 16th October
The day started bright but with a stiff and distinctly chilly WNW wind, which gradually eased during the day, when broken cloud gave long sunny intervals and pin-sharp light in the afternoon.
Post-dawn migration was much quieter than Tuesday 15th, with 75 minutes on Castle Hill from 07.30 hrs yielding <100 Meadow Pipit, a dozen Linnet and a handful each of Redwing and Chaffinch. Three House Sparrow appeared to be leaving the island quite high to the SE, though we couldn't rule out the possibility that they turned back at some point.
From mid-morning onwards, the East Side afforded shelter for passage hirundines, including 200 Swallow, 15 House Martin and a single late Sand Martin. Small flocks of Siskin flying south (totalling some 90 birds) were also a feature, alongside a steady trickle of Skylark (30) and Meadow Pipit (400 logged, including foraging/resting flocks on top of the island).
Numbers of grounded migrants were well down on 15th, though two Ring Ouzel remained (singles in Millcombe and along the Terrace), together with a scattering of Redwing (25), Song Thrush (12), Blackcap (6), Chiffchaff (9) and Goldcrest (12). Notable sightings included two Teal (Pondsbury), two Merlin in the northern half of the island, a Willow Warbler, a Firecrest, the Treecreeper, the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling (feeding in the chicken run again), six Reed Bunting and a lone Snow Bunting calling in flight over Tibbetts.
The calmer seas and clear light afforded excellent conditions later in the day for watching seabirds feeding and moving off the East Side, with consolidated totals comprising: three Common Scoter, three Manx Shearwater, 54 Gannet, 15 Shag, 140 Kittiwake, two Mediterranean Gull, an adult Black-headed Gull, an adult and 1st-w Common Gull, a Bonxie, a pale-phase Arctic Skua and 200 auk sp.
Thursday 17th October
A strong and gusty southerly wind put paid to any thoughts of standing on Castle Hill to monitor visible migration. Although there were small numbers of Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch and Siskin on the move, they were wisely keeping low down in the lee of the East Side as they battled into the headwind. Conditions remained pretty blowy all day, but the wind gradually veered to the SW, and heavy showers developed in the afternoon.
The highlight of the day was the discovery of a first-winter Barred Warbler feeding (together with a small group of Blackcaps) on blackberries, initially just south of the Terrace and later on a bramble clump in the middle of the Terrace Heligoland Trap willow thicket. Whilst enjoying the Barred Warbler, observers were also treated to sightings offshore of a Manx Shearwater, at least four Mediterranean Gulls (still a scarce, if increasingly regular, species for the island), a Bonxie and a juvenile Pomarine Skua, alongside feeding Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks.
Other notable records included a single Cormorant, a Stock Dove (in flight off the Ugly), two Merlin, a male Kestrel, a Common Redstart (Terrace/quarries), Ring Ouzel (Terrace), the Treecreeper, the juv Rose-coloured Starling, the third Lapland Bunting of the autumn (calling as it flew S past Old House South and the Church) and a Snow Bunting over the Terrace.
Friday 18th October
A really wild day of weather, with the southwesterlies that were already pretty boisterous at dawn getting stronger and gustier during the day and blowing in a rash of showers, some of which were of almost tropical intensity, bringing a mix of huge raindrops, hailstones and the odd rumble of thunder.
The West Side and plateau were completely blown out, meaning that observations were restricted to the East Side, with the sea getting the most attention as observers crammed into the small shelter on the Ugly. An early expedition to the Terrace to try and relocate the Barred Warbler ended in cold and soggy failure, though there were sufficient sunny intervals to tempt the bird out, had it still been present.
Seawatching yielded five Manx Shearwater, an adult & 2nd-w Mediterranean Gull, a 1st-w Common Gull, 3 Bonxies, and a pale-phase Arctic Skua, among the commoner species. Tim Davis found a Short-eared Owl that briefly flew out over the Landing Bay and dropped back into cover below the Beach Road, whilst a Brambling was seen near Blue Bung.
Sighting of the day – and potentially one of the sightings of the year – came late in the afternoon when Martin Elcoate photographed a very pale, sandy wheatear with a prominently contrasting black alula, which appears to be a strong candidate for Lundy's (and indeed Devon's) first Isabelline Wheatear. What was almost certainly the same bird whipped past Martin, James Diamond, Dean Jones and Tim Jones standing on the Ugly at just after 14.00 hrs (almost taking Martin's head off in the process!), and was very briefly seen again in flight on the other side of the valley near Hanmers a few minutes later, by Dean and Tim. However, it was not until after 16.30 hrs that Martin encountered it on the Beach Road just below the Goat Path, when he was able to snatch a few photos, including the one below. The bird flew up the sidelands and appeared to land somewhere below Hanmers, but in failing light and deteriorating weather conditions could not be relocated by Martin, Tim or James (who had quickly responded to a text message from Martin).
Saturday 19th October
A complete change of weather brought a dry day of light WNW winds and blue skies, enabling birds and birders alike to bask in long sunny spells, making it feel positively summery in the shelter of the East Side.
Although there was no immediate pulse of visible migration after dawn, things got going a bit more as the morning wore on, with combined totals of 50 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 25 Skylark, two Grey Wagtail, five alba wagtail, 120 Meadow Pipit, 25 Chaffinch, a Brambling, 30 Goldfinch, 30 Siskin and 40 Linnet, as well as a passing flock of 8 Cormorant, by early afternoon. It was also quickly evident that there had been a significant overnight arrival of grounded migrants, notably Goldcrests, which were all over the place as they filtered south, 150 being a very conservative estimate. Also to be seen were 15 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 150 Redwing and 40 Robin, whilst a high count of 16 Dunnock also suggested a small influx. Other notable records included a single Yellow-browed Warbler in Millcombe (giving prolonged, close-range views at times) plus a second bird calling in bracken below the Timekeeper's Hut, a Willow Warbler in bracken along the Lower East Side Path, five Ring Ouzel (one in Millcombe and four around the Terrace/quarries), a Fieldfare in Barton Field, the Treecreeper in Millcombe, the Rose-coloured Starling (still feeding in the chicken run), a Reed Bunting and a Snow Bunting. The undoubted highlight was a Quail, only the third on Lundy in the last decade and the first autumn record since 1989, flushed from the Lower East Side Path above White Beach during the late morning.
Compiled from sightings by Tim Davis, James Diamond, Martin Elcoate, Andy Jayne, Dean Jones, Tim Jones, David Oddy, and Mark & Julia Webber.
The day started bright but with a stiff and distinctly chilly WNW wind, which gradually eased during the day, when broken cloud gave long sunny intervals and pin-sharp light in the afternoon.
Post-dawn migration was much quieter than Tuesday 15th, with 75 minutes on Castle Hill from 07.30 hrs yielding <100 Meadow Pipit, a dozen Linnet and a handful each of Redwing and Chaffinch. Three House Sparrow appeared to be leaving the island quite high to the SE, though we couldn't rule out the possibility that they turned back at some point.
From mid-morning onwards, the East Side afforded shelter for passage hirundines, including 200 Swallow, 15 House Martin and a single late Sand Martin. Small flocks of Siskin flying south (totalling some 90 birds) were also a feature, alongside a steady trickle of Skylark (30) and Meadow Pipit (400 logged, including foraging/resting flocks on top of the island).
Numbers of grounded migrants were well down on 15th, though two Ring Ouzel remained (singles in Millcombe and along the Terrace), together with a scattering of Redwing (25), Song Thrush (12), Blackcap (6), Chiffchaff (9) and Goldcrest (12). Notable sightings included two Teal (Pondsbury), two Merlin in the northern half of the island, a Willow Warbler, a Firecrest, the Treecreeper, the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling (feeding in the chicken run again), six Reed Bunting and a lone Snow Bunting calling in flight over Tibbetts.
The calmer seas and clear light afforded excellent conditions later in the day for watching seabirds feeding and moving off the East Side, with consolidated totals comprising: three Common Scoter, three Manx Shearwater, 54 Gannet, 15 Shag, 140 Kittiwake, two Mediterranean Gull, an adult Black-headed Gull, an adult and 1st-w Common Gull, a Bonxie, a pale-phase Arctic Skua and 200 auk sp.
 |
| Treecreeper, Millcombe, 16 Oct 2019 © Dean Jones |
Thursday 17th October
A strong and gusty southerly wind put paid to any thoughts of standing on Castle Hill to monitor visible migration. Although there were small numbers of Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch and Siskin on the move, they were wisely keeping low down in the lee of the East Side as they battled into the headwind. Conditions remained pretty blowy all day, but the wind gradually veered to the SW, and heavy showers developed in the afternoon.
The highlight of the day was the discovery of a first-winter Barred Warbler feeding (together with a small group of Blackcaps) on blackberries, initially just south of the Terrace and later on a bramble clump in the middle of the Terrace Heligoland Trap willow thicket. Whilst enjoying the Barred Warbler, observers were also treated to sightings offshore of a Manx Shearwater, at least four Mediterranean Gulls (still a scarce, if increasingly regular, species for the island), a Bonxie and a juvenile Pomarine Skua, alongside feeding Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks.
Other notable records included a single Cormorant, a Stock Dove (in flight off the Ugly), two Merlin, a male Kestrel, a Common Redstart (Terrace/quarries), Ring Ouzel (Terrace), the Treecreeper, the juv Rose-coloured Starling, the third Lapland Bunting of the autumn (calling as it flew S past Old House South and the Church) and a Snow Bunting over the Terrace.
 |
| First-winter Barred Warbler, Terrace Trap thicket, 17 Oct 2019 © Dean Jones |
Friday 18th October
A really wild day of weather, with the southwesterlies that were already pretty boisterous at dawn getting stronger and gustier during the day and blowing in a rash of showers, some of which were of almost tropical intensity, bringing a mix of huge raindrops, hailstones and the odd rumble of thunder.
The West Side and plateau were completely blown out, meaning that observations were restricted to the East Side, with the sea getting the most attention as observers crammed into the small shelter on the Ugly. An early expedition to the Terrace to try and relocate the Barred Warbler ended in cold and soggy failure, though there were sufficient sunny intervals to tempt the bird out, had it still been present.
Seawatching yielded five Manx Shearwater, an adult & 2nd-w Mediterranean Gull, a 1st-w Common Gull, 3 Bonxies, and a pale-phase Arctic Skua, among the commoner species. Tim Davis found a Short-eared Owl that briefly flew out over the Landing Bay and dropped back into cover below the Beach Road, whilst a Brambling was seen near Blue Bung.
Sighting of the day – and potentially one of the sightings of the year – came late in the afternoon when Martin Elcoate photographed a very pale, sandy wheatear with a prominently contrasting black alula, which appears to be a strong candidate for Lundy's (and indeed Devon's) first Isabelline Wheatear. What was almost certainly the same bird whipped past Martin, James Diamond, Dean Jones and Tim Jones standing on the Ugly at just after 14.00 hrs (almost taking Martin's head off in the process!), and was very briefly seen again in flight on the other side of the valley near Hanmers a few minutes later, by Dean and Tim. However, it was not until after 16.30 hrs that Martin encountered it on the Beach Road just below the Goat Path, when he was able to snatch a few photos, including the one below. The bird flew up the sidelands and appeared to land somewhere below Hanmers, but in failing light and deteriorating weather conditions could not be relocated by Martin, Tim or James (who had quickly responded to a text message from Martin).
 |
| Candidate Isabelline Wheatear, Beach Road, 18 Oct © Martin Elcoate |
Saturday 19th October
A complete change of weather brought a dry day of light WNW winds and blue skies, enabling birds and birders alike to bask in long sunny spells, making it feel positively summery in the shelter of the East Side.
Although there was no immediate pulse of visible migration after dawn, things got going a bit more as the morning wore on, with combined totals of 50 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 25 Skylark, two Grey Wagtail, five alba wagtail, 120 Meadow Pipit, 25 Chaffinch, a Brambling, 30 Goldfinch, 30 Siskin and 40 Linnet, as well as a passing flock of 8 Cormorant, by early afternoon. It was also quickly evident that there had been a significant overnight arrival of grounded migrants, notably Goldcrests, which were all over the place as they filtered south, 150 being a very conservative estimate. Also to be seen were 15 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 150 Redwing and 40 Robin, whilst a high count of 16 Dunnock also suggested a small influx. Other notable records included a single Yellow-browed Warbler in Millcombe (giving prolonged, close-range views at times) plus a second bird calling in bracken below the Timekeeper's Hut, a Willow Warbler in bracken along the Lower East Side Path, five Ring Ouzel (one in Millcombe and four around the Terrace/quarries), a Fieldfare in Barton Field, the Treecreeper in Millcombe, the Rose-coloured Starling (still feeding in the chicken run), a Reed Bunting and a Snow Bunting. The undoubted highlight was a Quail, only the third on Lundy in the last decade and the first autumn record since 1989, flushed from the Lower East Side Path above White Beach during the late morning.
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler, Millcombe, 19 Oct 2019 © Martin Elcoate |
 |
| Common and Rose-coloured Starlings, chicken run, 19 Oct 2019 © Martin Elcoate |
Compiled from sightings by Tim Davis, James Diamond, Martin Elcoate, Andy Jayne, Dean Jones, Tim Jones, David Oddy, and Mark & Julia Webber.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)