Lundy Bird Observatory Update - 25 May 2023

Waders received decent representation today with a Dotterel seen moving north by observers stationed at SW Field and Airfield. A lone Whimbrel and two singles of Ringed Plover on the move, one of which accompanied by 2 Dunlin. A Sandwich Tern was heard in the Landing Bay and excellent coverage  saw more monthly totals smashed, this time Shag with 82 individuals recorded across the island. The immature Cormorant was seen wing-drying by Quarter Wall Pond and a adult moved along the west coast. The Kestrel pair remain very active with the male frequently bringing back Pygmy Shrews to the nest! Gentle hirundine passage totalled 10 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 254 Swallow and 307 House Martin. Spotted Flycatcher numbers matched yesterday (16) and there was a small arrival of  5 Willow and 7 Sedge Warblers along the southeast. Two Yellow Wagtail provided a splash of colour and 3 White Wagtail were logged across Millcombe, Stoneycroft and the village.

Finally, after a report of four interesting dragonfly at Pondsbury yesterday, two male Vagrant Emperor were confirmed hawking over the water, along with a Four-spotted Chaser. This is just the 4th occurrence of Vagrant Emperor for Lundy (the 3 previous records were in Sep 2015, Feb 2019 and Oct 2020). This follows on from an unprecedented influx to Devon and Cornwall in recent weeks!

Peregrine predating Starling © Richard Campey

Contributors: Joe Parker, Dennis Weir, Kerri Gorentz, Tony Taylor, Eamonn O'Donnell, Ann Taylor, Dez Higgins, Dick Coombes, Gerry Lyons, Steve Wing, Luke Marriner, Geoff Oliver, Richard Campey, Tim Jones, Tim Davis, Rich Taylor, Rebecca Taylor, Chris Baillie, Carol Baillie.

Lundy Bird Observatory Update - 24 May 2023

The prolonged settled weather welcomed another stunning push of late migrants. The clear highlight was  the strident song of a first-summer male Common Rosefinch singing in Millcombe. First picked up at 0655 by Steve Wing, the bird was backed the by vocalisations from Willow Warbler and Cuckoo. A monthly high count of 13 Common Whitethroat was recorded around Millcombe and Lower East with decent numbers still pushing through. The Goldcrest pair continue to nest build in Millcombe conifers and the Hooded Crow continues to favour Tillage Field and Water Tanks.

Another late Sand Martin trickled through, accompanied by 106 Swallow and 211 House Martin. Fours of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff across the southern valleys and copses, plus singles of female Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Sedge and Garden Warbler. 52 Starling nests were located, predominantly around the village and Spotted Flycatcher remain abundan with 16 birds still knocking around! 

A lone Ringed Plover pressed north and 2 Dunlin frequented SW Field Flash. An adult female Sparrowhawk put in a brief appearance over East Side near Quarry Cottages, 14 Gannet were logged offshore and a second-calendar year Cormorant reappeared on Pondsbury. TwoYellow Wagtail called overhead and a third was on the deck in St Helen's Field, while a single White Wagtail patrolled Lighthouse Field along with 2 female Greenland Wheatear.

First-summer Rosefinch, Millcombe © Richard Campey

Dunlin, SW Field Flash © Richard Campey

Fantastic crowd joined bird log this week. From left to right: Joe Parker, Dennis Weir, Kerri Gorentz, Tony Taylor, Eamonn O'Donnell, Ann Taylor, Dez Higgins, Dick Coombes, Gerry Lyons, Steve Wing, Luke Marriner, Geoff Oliver, Richard Campey, Tim Jones, Tim Davis, Rich Taylor, Rebecca Taylor, Chris Baillie, Carol Baillie.

Lundy Bird Observatory Update - 23 May 2023

 Gentle northerlies produced the goods on the island with strong migration being visible all day. A good passage of hirundines and Swift kept everyone out all day counting, as the wardens were able to open some nets this afternoon. Todays totals are as follows: 13 adult and 11 young Mallard, 2 adult and 7 young Teal on pondsbury. A Male Cuckoo was first seen on Quarter Wall but then made its way into Millcombe in the afternoon then into the slope net. Only the second bird to be ringed since 2009 but also the second this year! A god day for waders with a fly over Whimbrel on census, a Summer plumage Dunlin by North light were also joined by the long staying Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone, a Common Sandpiper in Aztec Bay seen was only the 3rd of the year. The male Kestrel was seen bringing food into the nest site again, and 9 Peregrine was the highest count for may. Excellent Hirundine passage today with a trickle early on but a big push come the afternoon with the Tims sitting at North light counting as the left the island, a single Sand Martin, 748 Swallow and 955 House Martin logged in 3 hours, also 138 Swift, 7 each of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Sedge Warbler. More exciting news is that we have a pair of Goldcrest in breeding condition. A staple for the last few days were the Spotted Flycatchers and today didn't disappoint with 64 being seen including 8 being ringed. What a spectacle. A female Whinchat on Quarter wall and our first Grey Wagtail of the year flew over. The Hooded Crow was still in tillage field and a Ringtail Harrier was seen briefly below quarter wall cops, probably a Hen Harrier but views were not conclusive.  

Ringing totals:

Sedge Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 3, Spotted Flycatcher 10, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 3, Linnet 2, Goldcrest 2, Goldfinch 2, Swallow 1, Cuckoo 1

Whinchat vs Spotted Flycatcher Luke Marriner

Meadow pipit vs Cuckoo Luke Marriner

Spotted Flycatcher Luke Marriner 

Lundy Bird Observatory update– Monday 22 May 2023

A sunny day with a strong northerly breeze produced a good fall of migrants on the island today, enjoyed by all birders and guests. Today's totals are as follows: 7 adult Mallard still looking after 4 young (this number is getting smaller by the day!), 18 Swift, a single Racing Pigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 10 Woodpigeon, 18 Oystercatcher, another fly-over Ringed Plover (possibly the same as yesterday), 56 Kittiwake, 22 Great Black-backed Gull, 298 Herring Gull (with a bit of a marked movement up the East Side) and 83 Lesser Black-backed Gull (no counts of auks on this windy day). There were 4 Storm Petrels heard at the Battery last night. The male Kestrel was very active today – but not the female, which hopefully means she is sat on the nest – and 4 Peregrine were noted. The Hooded Crow was still present in Tillage Field. Two late Sand Martin were seen early on, and 142 Swallow and 351 House Martin were logged throughout the day, as were 5 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and 12 Common Whitethroat. But by far the highlight for all islanders was the marked increase in Spotted Flycatchers; though not quite Portland numbers (200+) by Lundy standards a count of 42 was very welcome, 9 of which were feeding together on the Barton Field fence. However, rarity wise the birds of the day go to the Tims when they had two male Crossbill in Millcombe early on feeding in the pines before moving off north. No Sign of the Purple Heron today!

 

Pair of Crossbill © Tim Jones

Peregrine and Lesser Black-backed Gull © Richard Campey

Spotted Flycatcher © Richard Campey 

Lundy Bird Observatory Update - 21 May 2023

The island received excellent coverage today with 15 birders joining today’s 8PM bird log in the Tavern. Hirundine passage began around midday and gradually built momentum through the afternoon. Counts saw birds moving north along a broad front totalling 17 Swift, 271 Swallow, 344 House Martin. The increased coverage also ensured numerous highest monthly counts were broken, including 61 Shag across the coast, 22 Raven (fledged young at Benjamin’s Chair, Middle Park and Long Roost), 75 Starling busily feeding young, five Spotted Flycatcher and 4 Willow Warbler across Millcombe and Quarter Wall Copse, 91 Wheatear and 13 Rock Pipit. A Ringed Plover was heard over Quarter Wall and two Collared Dove braved the island, including a bold individual settling at the North End, dangerously close to numerous Peregrine territories. A single male Teal remained on Pondsbury, along with the Purple Heron and second calendar-year Cormorant. The second Song Thrush continued for a second day, but no sign of a mate for the long-staying Millcombe male and the Hooded Crow was logged in Tillage Field early morning.

Hooded Crow, Tillage Field © Richard Campey

Contributors: Joe Parker, Luke Marriner, Chris & Carol Baillie, Richard Campey, Tim Jones, Tim Davis, Tony & Ann Taylor, Rich & Rebecca Taylor, Mary Cadogon, Geoff Oliver, Dennis Weir, Eamon O'Donnell.

Lundy Bird Observatory Update - 20 May 2023

The Purple Heron was observed successfully hunting, reducing the Pondsbury stock by a small fish, accompanied by a second calendar-year Cormorant also successfully feeding. The immature Cormorant was later seen at the North End with a second adult individual. A single Purple Sandpiper and two Turnstone were feeding on the North End and corvids were well represented with 14 Raven (including three recently fledged young at Benjamin’s Chair) and the Hooded Crow still commuting between Water Tanks and Tillage Field. Reasonable Swallow passage with 547 departing the North End for Wales along with 12 Swift and 183 House Martin. Millcombe featured four Spotted Flycatcher, seven Chiffchaff and singles of Willow and Sedge Warbler. An additional Spotted Flycatcher graced Quarter Wall Copse, two Yellow Wagtail were moving south mid morning and 39 Puffin were logged off North End. The upcoming forecast for the week ahead looks ideal! Surely a subalpine is on the cards…

Puffin, North End © Richard Campey

Contributors: Joe Parker, Luke Marriner, Chris & Carol Baillie, Tim Jones, Tim Davis, Tony & Ann Taylor, Steve Wing, Geoff Oliver, Dennis Weir, Eamon O'Donnell, Kerri Lornez.

Lundy Bird Observatory Update - 19 May 2023

Little materialised despite promising conditions first thing. Ringing in Millcombe mustered a one of the three singing Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff and singles of Swallow, Whitethroat and re-trap Dunnock. Two Spotted Flycatcher occupied the top of the Valley and the Kestrel pair are frequently recorded around Quarter Wall Copse. Surprise record of the day goes to a late Ring Ouzel along the East Sidelands south of Brazen Ward, reported by a guest. Two Cormorant were logged, involving an immature on Pondsbury and a bird tracking south along Benjamin's Chair. The long-staying Purple Heron was recorded at both Pondsbury and Punchbowl Valley and the Hooded Crow continues to do the rounds, seen initially in Lighthouse Field early morning before moving to Tillage Field and later dropping down the east coast at Quarter Wall.

Purple Heron © Richard Campey

Contributors: Joe Parker, Luke Marriner, Chris and Carol Baillie, Tony Taylor, Steve Wing, Richard Campey, Liz Riddel.