First Firecrests of autumn and a Wryneck

Chris Dee, who has been ringing on Lundy since Saturday, reported yesterday, 25th September, that he had trapped three Firecrests to date and that a Wryneck had been seen on 24th & 25th (also reported by Beccy MacDonald on 25th). Commoner migrants, however, had been quite thin on the ground, with even Swallow numbers quite low, in contrast with the strong passage reported from parts of the Devon mainland early this week.

Shearwaters thrive...and some rarities drop in!

Tony Taylor reports that from 24th August to 3rd September, he and Richard and Rebecca Taylor were on the island, "...primarily shearwatering but we did some daytime birding too. The Manx Shearwater work was very successful, with 200 chicks and 52 adults ringed, plus lots of interesting retraps (highlight was one I had ringed as a chick in 2005, when we ringed just 7 birds in total). Yet another year when there have been very noticeably more shearwaters than on the previous year's ringing trip. The crossing on the 24th included 1,000 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, and 2 Great Skuas. A possible Wryneck was reported on 24th and Rich saw one later in Millcombe (on 26th I think). Rich also ringed an Icterine Warbler in Millcombe on 3rd September (after the boat had already left for Ilfracombe, meaning that day visitors did not have the chance to see it). Not many migrants about: Willow Warblers commonest, with a few Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, one or two Redstarts, Whinchats, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs."

Other recent news from wardens Beccy and Aislinn is of a Little Egret around the Landing Bay on 21st August and a Pectoral Sandpiper near the dung heap by the Main Track on 4th & 5th September – see the Lundy Conservation Team's Facebook page for photos.