24th to 30th January – The final week of January and a complete circumnavigation of the island

24 January

Overcast and calm

The week started slowly with the Millcombe Valley Bullfinch the only bird of note. The usual wintering species seen included a Water Rail, two Stonechat and 13 Redwing.

25 January

Cloudy and cold.

A Great Northern Diver was seen in the Landing Bay this morning. Also off the East Coast, three Harbour Porpoise were seen moving south and then spotted again off Benjamin’s Chair. A small flock of 12 Golden Plover flew south over Ackland’s Moor calling. A high count of three Water Rail were heard squealing in Millcombe.

26 January

Mostly overcast with cold winds from the southwest.

One of the first birds of the day was a Stock Dove flying from behind St Helen’s Church down into Millcombe Valley. A total of five species of wader were recorded today with four Oystercatchers down in the Landing Bay, a Golden Plover calling over Brick Field, a Jack Snipe and two Snipe by Quarter Wall and a Lapwing in Barton Field. 

 

Lapwing, Barton Field ©Stuart Cossey

 27 January

Mild with fog until 13:30 when it completely cleared to blue skies.

Few birds were around in the morning fog but Song Thrush, Wren, Robin and Dunnock were singing in Millcombe Valley in the afternoon sunshine. A Chiffchaff was also seen flycatching at the bottom of Millcombe Valley.

A large feeding flock of 1600 Kittiwakes were counted off the East Coast in the afternoon and 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on Miller’s Cake.

28 January

Overcast in the morning with fog from midday. Strong winds from the west.

Another varied day on Lundy, the most interesting sighting of the day was a Woodcock roosting in the Casbah in Millcombe Valley. Also in Millcombe was the Stock Dove, and yesterday’s Chiffchaff was by Millcombe Pond feeding with a Goldcrest. Two Great Northern Divers were off the Jetty and Oystercatchers are starting to find territories with 3 pairs seen in the Landing Bay. Eight Lesser Black-backed Gulls were with 17 Herring Gulls on Miller’s Cake. The Lapwing was still in Barton Field and 13 Golden Plover flew over Ackland’s Moor.  Up at Quarter Wall Pond, a Water Rail and Linnet were calling and a female Reed Bunting, female Teal and Snipe were also seen.

With fog rolling in in the afternoon, the helicopter was cancelled with the rest of the visitors arriving tomorrow.

 

Woodcock, Casbah © Stuart Cossey

Great Northern Diver, Landing Bay © Stuart Cossey

29 January

Fog in the morning but clearing in the afternoon.

After issues with the fog yesterday afternoon, the morning did not look good for getting the rest of the visitors off the island. Fortunately there was a short clear spell in the late morning and a full changeover was able to take place.

Tim Davis and Tim Jones have arrived for a week and will be able to contribute further sightings. The Stock Dove is still in Millcombe as well as two Chiffchaffs. There was a count of 11 Teal and seven Mallard at Pondsbury. Off the east coast were 1500 Kittiwakes, 130 unidentified Auks and a Great Northern Diver. The first Red-throated Diver of the year was off Rat Island.

 

Chiffchaff, Smelly Gully, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey

30 January

Overcast with strong winds from the north.

Today Tim Davis, Tim Jones and Stuart Cossey walked a complete circuit of the coast, counting the wintering and early returning seabirds. The final counts included 58 Oystercatchers, 786 Herring Gulls, 75 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1150 Guillemots, 660 Razorbills, 465 Fulmar and 48 Shags.

Other species seen include the Lapwing in Barton Field, a Golden Plover, six Peregrines, 12 Skylarks, a Chiffchaff still in Millcombe, five Goldcrests and 51 Rock Pipit.

 Observations contributed by Stuart Cossey, Tim Davis and Tim Jones.