15th to 20th August – First Fulmar fledges but migration remains sluggish

Dean Woodfin Jones (Lundy Warden), looks back on an often wet and windy few days, 15th to 20th August:

The burly westerlies and showers have continued for the majority of this period with the exception of a beautiful calm and dry morning on the 20th. Unsurprisingly in these conditions it has been very quiet up on the island's plateau, with many birds seeking shelter out of sight in the undergrowth, dry-stone walls and along the East Sidelands.

The highlight of the period came in the form of an adult winter Mediterranean Gull, which flew west past the North Lighthouse at around 13:00 on the 18th.  Other than this Lundy rarity, the rest of the afternoon’s seawatch, post Grey Seal survey, was rather quiet with only a handful of passing Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Fulmar and Kittiwake along with three Harbour Porpoise foraging between the Hen and Chickens.

Other sightings of note include the first fledging Fulmar on the 17th from Gannets' Rock (though there are still a number of big fluffy chicks on ledges), a female Teal on Brick Field Pond on the 15th, a Ringed Plover over the South End on the 19th, the young Grey Heron again at Pondsbury on the 15th, 15 Swallow and 3 Sand Martin on the 18th, the first two Goldcrest of the autumn on the 15th, two Spotted Flycatcher looking for breakfast in the Secret Garden sycamore on the 20th and up to two Stonechat along the East Sidelands on a number of days.

Spotted Flycatcher in the morning light, Secret Garden, lower Millcombe, 20 August © Dean Jones

Finally, we've also had the continued presence each day of small numbers of Blackcap (peak 4 on the 20th), Whitethroat (peak 3 on the 18th), Willow Warbler (peak 8 on the 18th) and Chiffchaff (2 on the 20th).