12 to 19 Dec – Probably the last blog of the year

Stonechat

Although there were other birders on the island logging interesting sightings, I cannot confirm their Water Rail, Red-necked Grebe, Red-throated Pipit or flock of Snipe.

Many common species were seen during the mild, windless and dry weather we had particularly in the sheltered space outside our property of Quarters. Regular feeding attracted Chaffinches, Sparrows, Starlings as well as up to three Wrens, a Robin the occasional Stonechat and a resident Chiffchaff. This was always seen working the vegetation in the overgrown wall on most days.

Chiffchaff

 

From here we were also rewarded with our only sighting of a “flock” of 4 Peewits in Lighthouse Field on the 18th

During the week occasional mixed flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing were seen mainly in the southern end of the island and on one occasion two different Kestrels at Old Light and Quarterwall on the west – again on the 18th.

Redwing

Our foray along the west coast gave a sighting of 24 Fulmars, mainly in pairs occupying ledges on Long Roost on the 14th and almost 300 Guillemots at Jenny’s and St Phillip’s Stone were lining the ledges on the 18th.

Wed 9 to Fri 11 Nov – Bird-wise pretty quiet

Richard & Rebecca Taylor's last three days on Lundy produced the following sightings, for what Richard reports were quiet days bird-wise:

Wednesday 9th Nov: Blackbird 27, Common Gull 1, Black-headed Gull 2, Firecrest 1, Blackcap 1, Woodcock 3, Snipe 10, Jack Snipe 2, Merlin 1 and Wigeon 2.

Thursday 10th Nov: Redwing 52, Fieldfare 9, Teal 7, Great Skua 1, Chiffchaff 2, Firecrest 1, Great Northern Diver 1, Blackcap 1 and Wigeon 1.

Friday 11th Nov: Great Northern Diver 1, Lapwing 2, Redwing 70, Blackbird 25 (including a group of 14 passing up through St John’s and onwards), Fieldfare 20, Brambling 1, Chiffchaff 1, Siskin 2, Skylark 7 in over Landing Bay and heard throughout the morning, and a small passage southwards of some 200 Chaffinches.

Unless there are further regular birdwatching visitors to the island between now and the end of the year, this is likely to be the last report of 2016. Thanks to everyone who has either uploaded photos and reports, or has sent texts and photos for uploading.

Mon 7 & Tue 8 Nov – A bit windy!

Richard & Rebecca Taylor began their five-day stay on 7th (effectively a half-day after their arrival by helicopter from Hartland Point) with a Firecrest, a high count of ten Snipe, three Woodcocks, three Chiffchaffs and three Blackcaps.

The following day (8th Nov) they tallied six Wigeon, two Great Northern Divers, a Jack Snipe, six Snipe, three Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, a Firecrest, three Goldcrests, 250 Redwings, at least one Mistle Thrush, 30 Fieldfares, 50 Blackbirds and five Redpolls.

Given Richard's opening comment ("Hello. It's a bit windy!"), it seems unlikely that they have been able to open the mist-nets. With calmer winds on Wednesday (9th) the chances look better... but less so on Thursday (10th)!

Photos from 31 Oct to 4 Nov

Spent five days last week on the island with Tim Davis and James Diamond – here is a selection of photos – Richard Campey

Fieldfare - all over the island, this one in Lighthouse Field

 Another Fieldfare in the top of Millcombe

 Meadow Pipit near Quarter Wall

 Black Redstart at Quarter Wall Cottages

 Firecrest in Lower Millcombe by Smelly Gulley

 Kestrel seen flying through Millcombe from The Ugly

 Redwing in Tent Field living up to it's Latin name !

Pallid Swift & Pallas's Warbler photos from 25 & 27 Oct

Thanks to Simon Slade for sending through his photos of the Pallid Swift, which entertained birdwatchers for half-an-hour or so on 25th October, and the Pallas's Warblers seen on 25th and 27th. With regard to the Pallas's Warbler seen on 25th, Simon says: "The light and shadow makes a big difference to how the bird looks but it seems to me that there are enough differences to indicate that it was a different bird to the one shown in the in-hand image."

Of the Pallid Swift, Simon says: "It was hard to photograph but the image shows the key features of primary contrast and wing shape and you can just about make out the pale throat and breast pattern."

Unless a currently pending record of Pallid Swift at Hope's Nose on 17th November 2010 is accepted, the Lundy bird, if accepted, will be a first for both Devon and Lundy.

 Pallas's Warbler, Lundy, 25th October 2016

 Pallas's Warbler, Lundy, 25th October 2016

 Pallas's Warbler, Lundy, 27th October 2016

 Pallid Swift, Lundy, 25th October 2016

All photos © Simon Slade

Fri 4 Nov – The end of a fun five days

The last of our five days and a very different one, waking to a heavily overcast sky, a southwesterly airflow and light rain. Little in the way of movement through the island detected but in the few hours available to us before boarding the helicopter to Hartland Point, James, Richard and I recorded – all in or from Millcombe – one Brambling (flight call only), a handful of Blackcaps, a calling Water Rail in Smelly Gully, four Siskins, two Firecrests showing very well in the Sycamores above the Casbah, 30 Starlings perched on the Church, a Stock Dove, first seen arriving in Millcombe wood late the previous day, one Woodpigeon, a Merlin flying from near the Sugar Loaf to South Light, and a Great Northern Diver out in the Landing Bay. James also had early-morning views of the Yellow-browed Warbler first seen late on Thursday afternoon, but sadly it eluded us thereafter.

The much better than average coverage of birds on Lundy this autumn continues next week with the arrival on Monday of Richard & Rebecca Taylor, so continue to watch this space!

Thu 3 Nov

On their last full day on the island, Tim Davis, James Diamond and Richard Campey finally caught up with a Yellow-Browed Warbler late in the day in Millcombe, where there were also 2 Firecrests, 8 Goldcrests and 6 Blackcaps.

With the change in wind direction to the south-west, gulls were much further offshore, but a single Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gulls and 5 Mediterranean Gulls were detected.

Elsewhere there were 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Woodcock and 8 Common Snipe. A Stock Dove was seen and there were 2 Kestrels, a Merlin and 5 Stonechat. Only 190 Starlings were counted but there was still some thrush passage with 40 Blackbirds, 40 Fieldfares, 25 Song Thrushes and 200 Redwings. Finches were represented by 350 Chaffinch, a Brambling and a Lesser Redpoll.