2nd May – Woodlark the highlight of a generally quieter day

With the change of wind direction to a distinctly chilly northwesterly, there was something of a hiatus in Lundy's purple patch... The Continental Coal Tit was still present, feeding actively and singing frequently in Millcombe, where it was trapped and ringed in the late morning (play video clip below, with sound on, for samples of its two main song types – the bird itself is hidden from view throughout as I was concentrating on getting decent sound quality).

A southern flavour was also still discernible in Lundy's first Woodlark in a decade, when one was seen and heard in flight near the Church by Rob Duncan and David Kightley, and later seen briefly on Castle Hill by Richard Campey.

There were small numbers of warblers around, including 35 Willow Warblers, 20 Chiffchaffs, 5 Sedge Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats and single Grasshopper Warbler and Reed Warbler, along with a female Pied Flycatcher. After an early-morning pulse of strong hirundine migration, movements slowed to a trickle, to give day totals of 250 Swallows, 80 House Martins and two Sand Martins. Other records included two Goldcrests, 35 Wheatears and a female Siskin.

Tim Davis & Tim Jones walked the length of the Lower East Side Path from Millcombe to North End, counting a total of 27 Wrens, most of which were singing males, 27 Oystercatchers, as well as the very modest totals, for the time of year, of 91 Herring Gulls and 100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with very few active nests as yet. They also saw eight stonking breeding-plumaged Golden Plovers at North End, whilst Richard Campey witnessed seven Ravens engaged in aerial combat at Jenny's Cove.

Ringing totals: Willow Warbler 10, Chiffchaff 7, Sedge Warbler 5, Blackcap 4, Goldfinch 3, Whitethroat 2, Coal Tit 1, Blackbird 1, Pied Flycatcher 1.