A lively north-easterly sprang up overnight, which made conditions for ringing and birding difficult at times in Millcombe and along the East Side, though the wind eased down considerably in the afternoon. The island was still dripping in migrants, with minima of 150
Willow Warblers and 80
Chiffchaffs, while an estimated 200
Blackcaps were to be found anywhere and everywhere, from South West Field and Stoneycroft, down over the west sidelands, all along Quarter Wall, around Pondsbury, to Quarry Pond, the Terrace and Millcombe, and even out in the open fields and moorland. Together with the Phylloscs and Blackcaps were the first four
Whitethroats of the spring, five
Sedge Warblers (after the first on 10th), several
Grasshopper Warblers (including a reeling bird in Millcombe), a female
Pied Flycatcher feeding in the shelter of a sunny rock buttress down over the sidings near the Battery, at least three
Common Redstarts (1m, 2f), one female
Black Redstart, several
White Wagtails and two early-morning fly-over
Tree Pipits. Hirundine passage was notably lighter than yesterday, however. Lundy scarcities included a
Rook cawing as it flew round and round high over the Village during the afternoon and a 1st-summer
Black-headed Gull in the Landing Bay shortly before
Oldenburg sailed. Other sightings of interest included 2
Teal on Pondsbury, 12
Puffins on the water at Jenny's Cove and a
Dunlin and
Common Sandpiper around Rat Island.
Merlin,
Sparrowhawk and
Redshank all put in appearances again.
Observers: Paul Holt, Tony John and Tim Jones. Photos below: Tim Jones.
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| Blackcap in Millcombe |
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| Whitethroat in Stoneycroft garden |
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| Willow Warbler on gate in St Helen's Field |
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