Lundy Bird Observatory Sightings Archive: 27th Oct — A late Spotted Flycatcher, a stunning male Brambling; still plenty of Siskins on the move

Wednesday 27 October 2021

27th Oct — A late Spotted Flycatcher, a stunning male Brambling; still plenty of Siskins on the move

Rob Duncan reports:

"Yet another breezy and fairly quiet day on Lundy, mostly cloudy and mild in a stiff south-westerly.

We opened our one 40ft mist-net for just over an hour and ringed 41 birds, which included an adult male Brambling and a very late Spotted Flycatcher. Also on the ringing roster were a further 36 Siskins, two Goldfinches and a Chaffinch. Swallows are now down to three, along with a ringed Chiffchaff and five Goldcrest in Millcombe, while just three Redwings were seen all day. Overall, another very enjoyable Lundy day."

Justin Zantboer adds: "Dan and I walked up to Pondsbury and back down the East Side in the afternoon, also checking St John’s, the Airfield and grilling the House Sparrows and Starlings in the town but it was quiet. Highlight was a female Merlin just after Halfway Wall and again by Quarter Wall Copse where there was a single Goldcrest. Pondsbury was as ever for us, devoid of life. We were however entertained on the way by a skulking LBJ which after 20 minutes of poor views eventually gave itself up and turned into a Linnet! Other birds of note seen during the day included a Lesser Redpoll, 5-6 Goldcrests (all unringed) and an unringed Feral Pigeon. Hard work in the strong wind. Finally, there were at least 230 Siskin present today, mostly in Millcombe but with birds moving along the East Side seemingly all day (we even had one over Pondsbury) and with only a few retraps, the numbers involved were probably higher."