BTO Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey (NEWS) on Lundy

25th–29th January: Chris Dee and Tim Davis carried out a complete survey of Lundy's intertidal area as part of the BTO's third national Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey (NEWS). As well as waders and wildfowl, counts of seabirds, raptors, non-waterbirds (passerines and near-passerines) and mammals were required. Counts were done during the period three hours either side of low tide in eight designated sections: Castle Hill to Old Light, Old Light to Battery Point, Battery Point to The Pyramid, The Pyramid to St Mark's Stone, St Mark's Stone to North Light, North Light to Brazen Ward, Brazen Ward to the Terrace, and from there to Castle Hill.

Weather conditions, especially during the first three days, were challenging to say the least, the wind mostly from the SW quarter and never less than force 6 throughout. On 26th in particular, gusts up to force 9 and continuous driving rain shifted our focus to sections along the more sheltered East Side! Despite this, all eight sections were completed by the 28th. Safety first was ever the watchword, which meant that most counts were taken from vantage points with the wind behind us, looking down on and along the intertidal, mostly boulder-strewn small bays and beaches wherever possible. It was never easy, but it was fun and, by the end, very rewarding work, as much for the experience if not the birds, which were inevitably fewer than might have been expected given the prevailing conditions.

Chris scans the Landing Bay during a brief lull in the weather.

But it wasn't all blue skies & sunshine...

A summary of the intertidal area counts (including cliffs) follows, with the numbers of birds visible and identifiable on the water given in brackets:

Oystercatcher 20, mostly in pairs and unsurprisingly along the East Side

Shag 3 (5)

Guillemot 114 (49)

Lesser Black-backed Gull 32

Herring Gull 498 (138)

Great Black-backed Gull 71 (4)

Fulmar 79 (84)

Kittiwake 0 (286)

Also recorded during the survey were Peregrine (2), Sparrowhawk (1), Rock Pipit (13, all but one feeding on the clifftop areas along the West Side) and Grey Seal (8). Birds recorded at other times included one Cormorant, an estimated 1,500 Kittiwakes feeding or settled on the water over a wide area off the East Side on 28th (the only day with some sunshine and good visibility), and, by way of a reward for our efforts, a winter-plumaged Black-throated Diver close in off the East Side, also on the morning of 28th. Smaller landbirds were virtually non-existent all week, amounting to 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Blackbirds, single male and female Chaffinches, a max of 3 Robins, 4 Wrens, 1 Song Thrush and, rather amazingly, a Goldcrest. Higher counts included 80 Starlings, 52 Carrion Crows, 18 Mallards and, on Pondsbury, 9 Teal.

One surprising find given the time of year was a Dor Beetle happily rolling a Soay Sheep dung ball along a path on the West Side.

The industrious dor beetle was spoilt for choice...

Grateful thanks to the BTO and the Lundy Field Society for providing grant support to cover our travel and accommodation costs, and to Lundy Warden Beccy MacDonald for arranging our stay in the Lodge.

End-of-year miscellany

© www.robwilsonphotos.co.uk

I’m writing this just before the Winter Solstice, looking out on yet another unseasonably mild but gloomy, wet and windy day here on the North Devon coast.  The weather has been stuck in this rut for virtually all of November and December, doubtless making life on Lundy challenging for residents and visitors alike – be they human or avian.  There is always a lull in bird news at this time of year, reflecting the end of autumn migration, dwindling daylength and the greater difficulty of getting to the island during ‘helicopter season’.  However, the relentlessly wild weather means that there has been a particular dearth of news in recent weeks, with one of the main items of interest (also weather-related) coming from thouands of kilometres away... Details below.

It just remains to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; here’s hoping that 2016 is a good one for Lundy birds and birdwatchers!

Tim Jones 

Late-November Black-throated Diver
Philip Lymbery reported a Black-throated Diver off the East Side during the last week of November.  Other notable sightings included a Mistle Thrush on 23^rd and a ring-tail Hen Harrier on 26^th.

Lundy Shearwaters fall victim to South Atlantic storms
Sadly, three of the Manx Shearwaters ringed as chicks on Lundy in early September this year were washed up dead on the Brazilian coast between 30^th October and 9^th November.  These deaths appear to be linked to a period of exceptionally stormy weather off the coast of Brazil, which may have hit inexperienced young shearwaters – on their first migration to the South Atlantic winter quarters – disproportionately hard.  There were reports from one Brazilian ornithologist of more than 200 shearwaters being washed up along just one section of coastline during a five-day period.  Lundy Field Society members can read the full story in the next edition of the LFS Bulletin.

BTO NEWS survey
The third national Non-Estuarine Waterbirds Survey (NEWS), organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), is taking place between 1^st December and 31^st January.  Chris Dee and Tim Davis will be covering the whole of Lundy’s shoreline during the last week of January.  Thanks go to the BTO, LFS and Landmark Trust for assisting financially and logistically and to the North Devon NEWS Organiser, Brian O’Leary, for encouragement and support.

Sat 31 Oct - Three Hawfinches!

Today's highlight was three Hawfinches, one flying in off the sea and up Millcombe at 07.20, then two together at the bottom of Millcombe before flying off towards South Light at 07.40, presumed different birds. Also 3 new Firecrests, 10+ Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Bramblings and 10+ Redwings. Visible migration was a bit better, with 150+ Chaffinches, 50+ Siskins, 8 Linnets, 20 Meadow Pipits and 10 Skylarks all passing south. News reported by Justin Zantboer.

Fri 30 Oct – Hawfinch ringed

Highlights of today, 30th October, reported by Justin Zantboer & Rob Duncan (enjoying an unscheduled extra day on the island thanks to the helicopter being fog-found in Cornwall), were a female-type Black Redstart near the Church, a Hawfinch ringed in Millcombe this afternoon (the first occurrence since one in May last year), plus a Firecrest, 2 Coal Tits, 20+ Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps and a Lesser Redpoll, all in Millcombe.

Thu 29 Oct – Pomarine Skua, Bonxie & Great Northern Diver headline productive seawatch

Following overnight wind and rain, an early-morning seawatch by Justin Zantboer yesterday, 29th October, in continuing blustery westerlies (a rarity this autumn), produced a juvenile Pomarine Skua flying south past the Landing Bay at 08.05, plus a Bonxie, a Great Northern Diver, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 417 Razorbills, 65 Guillemots, 115 Kittiwakes and 95 Gannets, also all heading south.

This is by far the most productive seawatch of what has otherwise been an extremely quiet autumn due to prevailing weather patterns. The Pomarine Skua is one of just a handful ever seen from Lundy – the first of these, almost unbelievably, being as recently as 2010, though sightings have been almost annual since, nearly all in late October. This probably reflects increased seawatching effort during a previously underwatched period of the autumn, but it also seems likely that 'Poms' are genuinely becoming more regular in Lundy waters.

Landbird highlights later in the day included a Woodcock flushed near Millcombe House and subsequently trapped and ringed; a Short-eared Owl (seen at Pondsbury by Gavin Bennett); a Coal Tit and 3 Firecrests (two of which had been ringed earlier in the week) in Millcombe; 2 Black Redstarts at South Light, with others at Old Light and by the Church; and totals of 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs and 30+ Goldcrests along the East Side between Millcombe and the Terrace. There were very few grounded thrushes or finches and apart from four late Swallows, visible migration was virtually non-existent.

Wed 28 Oct – Still plenty around but little visible migration

A round-up of notable records for today, 28th October, received from Justin Zantboer and Rob Duncan, includes a ring-tail Hen Harrier ranging between Pondsbury and Quarter Wall, a 1st-winter Merlin, a Ring Ouzel in Millcombe, a female Firecrest ringed in Millcombe, 2 Coal Tits retrapped in Millcombe – both had been ringed on Lundy earlier in October, a Mistle Thrush on Castle Hill, 2 Grey Wagtails heading south, 4 Stonechats, 150+ Redwings, 30+ Song Thrushes, 7 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 30+ Goldcrests and 7 Bramblings. Nearly all of the passerines were concentrated in the south-east of the island, between Millcombe and the Terrace. Visible migration was surprisingly light, given the much improved conditions on Wednesday. Records entered in the log by other observers included 2 Black Redstarts.

Tue 27 Oct – Variety after the deluge

Following a thoroughly wet start to the day, Justin Zantboer and Rob Duncan report a good variety of migrants including: a first-winter male Merlin again, a first-winter Black-headed Gull feeding with Herring Gulls in the Landing Bay, 7 Guillemots south, 9 Razorbills north, 10 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests (one of which was trapped and ringed), 2 Coal Tits (both race britannicus), 10 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 1 Ring Ouzel, 10 Fieldfares, 150+ Redwings, 10 Song Thrushes, 100+ Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings. Most birds departed when the weather improved, but the Chiffchaffs seemed to arrive later on. Also entered in the log by other observers were a ring-tail Hen Harrier, a Grey Heron flying past Quarry Beach and a female Black Redstart.