Thursday 17th saw the persistent mist of the preceding two days replaced by sunny skies and a stiff easterly wind (gusting to Force 7, so more than enough to prevent the Oldenburg from sailing). In spite of a quiet early morning for birds in Millcombe (where a single Blackcap, four Woodpigeons and a few Robins were the highlights), Richard Campey recorded an excellent variety of migrants during the day. These included a Spotted Redshank (presumably the same individual heard late on Wednesday afternoon) seen and heard calling in flight over the Airfield, together with a Golden Plover and a Dunlin. He also found a Dartford Warbler in gorse scrub near the Rocket Pole at around 09.15 hrs and saw and heard a Snow Bunting calling in flight nearby – the island's first of the autumn. The bunting theme continued with two Lapland Buntings at Quarter Wall, flying south together towards the Village, giving their characteristic dry rattling call followed by a clear "tew".
During the afternoon, Richard revisited the scrub near the Rocket Pole. There was no sign of the Dartford Warbler but he did find a Pied Flycatcher. Heading north, he flushed a Jack Snipe on Ackland's Moor, found two Common Snipe at Pondsbury and heard the Spotted Redshank again, calling somewhere in the distance.
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Pied Flycatcher in the unusual setting of gorse by the Rocket Pole, 17 Sep © Richard Campey
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A late afternoon return to Millcombe was rather more productive than the morning visit, with sightings including three Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, two more Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, four Goldcrest and a Willow Warbler.
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That's more like it! Pied Flycatcher in Millcombe, 17 Sep © Richard Campey
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Other sightings during the day included 11 Skylark, 75 Swallow, a Sand Martin, 6 Wheatear and 55 Linnet.
Sam Bosanquet adds: "Whilst poking around looking for bryophytes in Juncus by the reservoirs I disturbed a Sedge Warbler. Red Admiral and Small Copper were sheltering from the easterlies in the Battery stream gully. Leafmines and spinnings on Blackthorn near the Blue Bung were one of two Parornix moths, either new for Lundy, but without larvae they couldn’t be ID'd to species level."
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