10th to 16th Sep – Barred Warbler, record Grey Heron passage, first Firecrests and much more besides!

A bumper update follows, courtesy of Lundy Warden Dean Woodfin Jones:

Tuesday 10th September

All in all a rather pleasant, dry day with an accompanying stiff northerly.

The undoubted highlight of the day was the occurrence of a Barred Warbler which was found by Nik Ward in Millcombe in the late afternoon. Unfortunately the bird took off up the valley immediately after it was discovered and was not found again despite searching.

Other sightings of note included 4 fly-by Cormorant, a Water Rail, 8 Woodpigeon, 2 Swift, 20 Sand Martin, 150 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 5 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 35 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 12 Goldcrest, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Robin, 8 Wheatear, 1 Pied Flycatcher, a single fly-over Grey Wagtail, 11 fly-over alba wagtails, 150 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 17 Goldfinch and 30 Linnet.

Wednesday 11th September

A day of strong westerly winds and scattered showers and squalls which resulted in some trickier birding conditions, particularly in the mid-afternoon. Sightings includes a Water Rail, a Grey Heron found dead by Quarter Wall Pond, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 20 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 fly-over alba wagtails, 5 Chaffinch  and 3 Goldfinch.

Thursday 12th September

Not much to note on this very wet and windy day, other than a scattering of Blackcap and Goldcrest in Millcombe as well as 2 young Woodpigeons (which have prematurely fledged from a rather late nest, perhaps due to the presence of the two Sparrowhawks in the valley this week), huddling together underneath one of the memorial benches in Millcombe.

Soggy young Woodpigeons sheltering in Millcombe, 12 September © Dean Jones

Friday 13th September

A much better day weather wise, characterised by some lovely sunshine and a NE breeze – perfect conditions for passage hirundines.

Sightings included a Grey Heron at Ladies Beach, 6 Woodpigeon, 20 Sand Martin, 700 Swallow, 50 House Martin, just one Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 30 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 14 Goldcrest, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a single fly-over Grey Wagtail, 4 fly-over alba wagtails, a single Tree Pipit, 94 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinch, 13 Goldfinch and 37 Linnet.

Saturday 14th September

A gorgeous summer-like day, complete with clear skies, scorching temperatures and a slight northerly breeze. The highlight of the day was the occurrence of a south-bound flock of 19 Grey Heron over the island in the early afternoon, shortly after the Oldenburg arrived. This is the highest number of this species ever to be recorded on Lundy in a day smashing the previous record of 16 birds (composed of 4 groups) on July 1975! Another highlight was a Turnstone (an increasingly scarce bird for Lundy) flying along the east coast in the early morning.

Other sightings includes a Teal at Brick Field Pond, a male and female Sparrowhawk, a Dunlin over the Village in the evening, 6 Woodpigeon, 2 Swift, 4 Sand Martin, 200 Swallow, 30 House Martin, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 12 Goldcrest, a small movement of Skylark (3 over South End first thing), 10 Spotted Flycatcher, a single Stonechat, 10 Wheatear, 3 Pied Flycatcher, a single fly-over Grey Wagtail, a fly-over alba wagtail, 70 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinch and 8 Goldfinch.

Sunday 15th September

A very pleasant day all around, with lots of sunshine and a westerly breeze throughout the day.
Highlights included 2 female Tufted Ducks resting on one of the green islands in Pondsbury (only the 25th record for the island), a stunning male Crossbill perched briefly on top of the spruce trees in Millcombe Valley and the first Lapland Bunting of the year, seen and heard flying over High Street Field at around 08:00am.

Other birds of note include 7 Mallard, a male and female Sparrowhawk, a fly-over Golden Plover, 6 Kittiwake, 6 Woodpigeon, a Kestrel, 8 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 800 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 5 Chiffchaff, 23 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 33 Goldcrest, a Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Robin, 3 Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail, 2 alba wagtails, 28 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chaffinch, 8 Goldfinch and 167 Linnet.

Monday 16th September

A lovely but gloomy start to the day with thick mist and squalls moving in for much of the afternoon.
Slightly quieter day bird-wise, with sightings of note including 3 Sparrowhawk, 2  fly-over Golden Plover, a calling Water Rail, 4 Woodpigeon, 2 Kestrel, 4 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 300 Swallow, 34 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 15 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 20 Goldcrest, the first Firecrest of the autumn in the Secret Garden, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Robin, a Grey Wagtail, 4 alba wagtails, 60 Meadow Pipit, 6 Chaffinch, 8 Goldfinch and 90 Linnet.