27th August–12th September, including a Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Lundy Warden Dean Jones reports some rather nice birding of late, with the highlight being a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the Airfield on 11 & 12 September. The bird was first seen by Mark Worden who was over with the Natural England team ringing Manx Shearwaters – though unfortunately they didn’t get out much due to the poor weather conditions! The sandpiper was also seen by Dean, Peter Slader, Tim Frayling, Vicky Gilson, and Dean caught up with it again the next morning before it disappeared.

John Duffy, Tim Adcock and Alan Rosney of Glamorgan Bird Club were on the island from 7th to 9th Sep; their highlights are included in the update below (thanks for your records, guys). They added a Great Skua to their trip list on the their way back to the mainland on the Oldenburg.

Aside from the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, notable records for the period 27th August to 12th September were:

• Mallard – 11 on 8th Sep.
• Gannet – good numbers on most days, with 40 on 8th Sep being the highest daily count.
• Cormorant – good numbers on most days, seven the highest count, on 12th Sep.
• Grey Heron – one on 5th Sep.
• Water Rail – singles on 8th, 11th & 12th Sep.
• Oystercatcher – 12 on 6th Sep.
• Curlew: – a single on 1st Sep.
• Woodpigeon – peaked at six on 31st Aug & 7th Sep.
• Swift – a late bird on 11th Sep.
• Merlin – one on 8th Sep and another near Quarry Cottages on 9th.
• Marsh Harrier – seen a number of times up until 31st Aug.
• Goldcrest – good numbers passing through, with 44 on 9th Sep the highest daily count since the last update.
• Firecrest – one on 7th Sep.
• Sand Martin – a single on 12th Sep.
• Swallow – small numbers on most days, 23 on 9th Sep the highest daily count since the last update.
• Chiffchaff – small numbers most days, 11 on 13th Sep the max count since the last update
• Willow Warbler – two on 6th, one on 7th, one on 12th & one on 13th Sep.
• Blackcap – like Goldcrest, some superb passage, including 60 on 10th & 12th Sep, with many ringed over the past few days.
• Garden Warbler – four on 10th and one on 11th Sep.
• Whitethroat: – two on 8th Sep.
• Sedge Warbler – one on 7th Sep.
• Grasshopper Warbler – one on 31st Aug.
• Spotted Flycatcher – singles on a few days, three on 8th & 11th Sep.
• Pied Flycatcher – six on 27th Aug, three on 3rd and one on 12th Sep.
• Wheatear – ten on 8th Sep was the highest count of late.
• Grey Wagtail – singles on 9th–12th Sep.
• White Wagtail – two on 7th and one on 11th Sep; numerous other alba type wagtails have been over the past few days, including 28 on 30th Aug.
• Tree Pipit – singles overhead on 30th Aug, 8th & 10th Sep.
• Greenfinch – one on 8th Sep.
• Linnet – 120 on 12th Sep was highest daily count since the last update.
• Snow Bunting – a single bird on 11th & 12th Sep.

Many thanks for the update, Dean. All the best to you and Zöe for your well-deserved island-hopping trip to Croatia; hope you manage to see those Griffon Vultures!