1st May – Western Subalpine Warbler & Continental Coal Tit

Astonishingly, Lundy's third Subalpine Warbler in less than 10 days was trapped and ringed in Millcombe today – this time a superb second-year male Western Subalpine Warbler.

The day's other highlight was a Continental Coal Tit, which was singing strongly, and highly mobile around Millcombe, from mid-morning. The excellent photos by Richard Campey below show clearly the contrast between the paler, outer two, unmoulted greater coverts and the darker, inner, moulted greater coverts, indicating that this is a second calendar-year bird.

A Lundy scarcity these days, sadly, was a Turtle Dove around the farmyard.

Consolidated totals from all observers for the day included: 1 Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Swift, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin (female near Pondsbury), 10 Sand Martin, 1,000 Swallow, 150 House Martin, 30 Willow Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 15 Blackcap, 25 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart (female-type, Brick Field), 1 White Wagtail (St Helen's Field),  1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Tree Pipit, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 150 Linnet, 1 Siskin, 40 Goldfinch.

Second calendar-year male Western Subalpine Warbler, Millcombe, 1 May 2019 © Tim Davis

Tail pattern of the Western Subalpine Warbler © Tim Jones

Record shot of Continental Coal Tit, 1 May © Tim Jones

Continental Coal Tit, Millcombe, 1 May © Richard Campey

Continental Coal Tit, Millcombe, 1 May © Richard Campey

Ringing totals: Blackcap 7, Willow Warbler 5, Sedge Warbler 4, Goldfinch 4, Goldcrest 1, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 1, Western Subalpine Warbler 1, Tree Pipit 1.

Compiled from observations by: Richard Campey, Tim Davis, Rob Duncan, Dean Jones, Tim Jones and David Kightley.