29/6/14: All Guillemots present after a weeks holiday

29th June 2014

• 11 chicks (A,B,C,D,F,I,M,N,Q,R,S) This was my first visit to the ledge since 21st June. All 10 chicks from then have survived and chick M has hatched. Site M has always been an unsuccessful site, probably due to its slope and proximity to the edge. This is the first year that I have seen a chick at this site.
• 2 feeds (C,N) This a low number of feeds, I would expect 5.5 feeds from 11 chicks in 2 hours. However, 2 hours observing is not long enough to show that there are no fish around. On the 21st June, I saw 10 feeds in the first hour and none in the second hour.
• Puffin with fish seen going into a burrow at St Philip's Stone (Burrow A, F4)
• Great Black-back and Herring Gull activity around St Philip's Stone, but no predation observed.
• Yellow-orange footed Razorbill again present at F5.

29th June 2014 Summary

16th June: First Guillemot chick on my survey ledge.

• First chick seen of the 2014 season on the St Philip's Stone survey ledge.
• First feed seen of 2014 on the St Philip's ledge
• 95 (minus one) Puffins seen on the land at St Philip's Stone and Jenny's Cove
• Great Black-back Gull seen eating a Puffin at St Philip's Stone. Another Great Black-back seen eating an auk chick (probably a Razorbill chick)
• Yellow-orange footed Razorbill again present at F5. Probably male.
• A colour-ringed Guillemot seen at F4. Yellow ring on left leg, black writing, probably curved numerals, underlined. Possibly "058" seen in 2012.
• Hooded Crow in Brick field

 more info will be added here:

http://www.returntickettonature.co.uk/bjfiaabs.htm

North End Beauty

Tim Davis and Tim Jones have reported seeing a breeding plumage Shore Lark at North End by John O' Groats today between 09.30 - 10.10 at least. A stunning bird in perfect light.

A new bird for Lundy...

Tim Davis and Tim Jones have just added a new bird to the Lundy list, that was formerly in the list of unsubstantiated historical records. Their phone message reported them birding in Millcombe Valley on the 9th down by the Secret Gardens. Tim Davis then very quietly said to Tim Jones a single word "Dipper" , Tim Jones thinking TD had taken leave of his senses turned round stunned to see TD looking through his binoculars to repeat "I'm looking at a Dipper". They watched the juvenile Dipper for some 20 or so seconds when it flew into the walled garden and sat on a fence post. They watched the bird for a while until it flew up Millcombe Valley past the steps, and was not seen again.

They also report the Black Guillemot present on the 7th and 8th (saturday and sunday) , four singing Chiffchaffs, three Whitethroats and at least three Whitethroats. Also 60 Puffins with six birds present on Puffin Slope.

Other observers had reported a Turtle Dove on the 8th.

More rarities from south and east

The end of May and early June have brought a continued run of classic spring rarities from southern and eastern Europe, including Grey-headed Wagtail (M. f. thunbergi), Osprey, Scarlet Rosefinch and Woodchat Shrike (see report and photo posted on 1 June by Chris Townend at Devon Bird News).

In addition, Tony Taylor, just returned from the island, reports that a Marsh Warbler was singing in 'Smelly Gully' (Lower Millcombe) on Tuesday 3 June.