Lundy Bird Observatory Sightings Archive: 25th to 31st July

Monday, 1 August 2022

25th to 31st July – Obvious wader migration

It has been a humid week with temperatures averaging 18° but with most of the days being overcast or with low cloud and fog.

It has been another interesting week during the Lundy Marine Festival. The Marine Photographer Paul Naylor gave an insightful talk on Friday evening. For more updates from our Marine Festival volunteers please read their blog at www.lundymarinefestival.org.uk/festival-wardens-blog.

It is slowly building up with autumn migration bringing in young birds as they migrate south or disperse to find a territory of their own. There has been a drop in the number of Swift seen with singles on the 28th and 31st and pairs on the 26th and 30th.

There has been a big increase of wader sightings as they return from their breeding grounds to the north to winter in the UK or further south. A Whimbrel was calling in the Landing Bay on the 30th and two Curlew were seen on the 27th. Single Dunlin were seen on 26th and 29th. More uncommon waders include Turnstone on the 25th flying over the Landing Bay and another flew over the Village on the evening of the 31st. Two Green Sandpipers were flushed from Rocket Pole Pond on the morning of the 29th. One was then seen on Quarter Wall Pond and another calling around Pondsbury. Two Redshank were heard calling over the Village in the low cloud at around 9am on the 30th.

An adult Black-headed Gull was in the Landing Bay on the 30th. A young Grey Heron was seen by Pondsbury on the 29th and then again roosting on Government on the morning of the 31st.

Grey Heron playing with a feather, Pondsbury © Stuart Cossey

A few more Sand Martins moved south with four on the 26th and the first House Martin of autumn was on the 30th. The highest count of Swallows was 22 on the 27th. Another big fall of Willow Warblers arrived on the 26th with 72+ counted during the morning census. Also seen were four Sedge Warblers. The rest of the week were much lower counts with 22 on the 25th and between 10 and three on the 27th to 31st. Other warblers include two or three Chiffchaff each day and a male Blackcap and two Whitethroat on the 27th.

Willow Warbler, South West Field © Stuart Cossey

The numbers of Wheatear migrating through fluctuated through the week. The highest count was 50 on the 28th including 18 around the old aerogenerator. Three White Wagtails arrived on the 29th and spent the day in Barton Field. High counts of Linnet this week reached 214 on the 27th. A Lesser Redpoll was heard calling around Millcombe on the morning of the 27th.