Strong winds from the north and east to start the week, though usually calming in the afternoons. A calm day on Friday before a weekend of strong southwesterlies and overnight rain.
A few waders are still being seen, with the highlight being a Wood Sandpiper calling in the Landing Bay on the 30th. A Lapwing was seen in Barton Field on the 29th and a Curlew flew past South West Point on the 31st. A flock of seven Ringed Plover were picked up over South West Field on the 2nd and a single was heard on the 29th. Dunlin were present on the 31st and 2nd and Snipe are now regular by Pondsbury and the Water Tanks. A Common Sandpiper was seen near Miller’s Cake on the East Coast on the 31st. A single Green Sandpiper was on Pondsbury on the 29th and two were also there on the 31st. Single Redshank were heard in the Landing Bay on the 30th and then by South West Point on the 31st. Two Turnstone were recorded past South West Point on the 31st and two more flew over Millcombe calling on the 4th.
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| Green Sandpiper, Pondsbury © Stuart Cossey |
As well as waders seen during a seawatch from South West Point on the 31st, there were also some more uncommon species including two Black-headed Gulls, one juvenile Common Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Another Black-headed Gull was seen off the East Side in the afternoon of the 31st. Other species seen include a single Guillemot and 45 Gannets. Due to strong easterly winds on the 30th, the Oldenburg completed a round the island trip waiting for calmer conditions in the Landing Bay. A visitor reported an Arctic Skua seen close to the boat as it passed South West Point.
Two Grey Heron were seen on the 30th, one flew past Benjamin’s Chair and the other flew off Rocket Pole Pond. The male and female Sparrowhawk are still present as are the family of Kestrels. A Common Buzzard flew over the Village during the Lundy Olympics on the 29th and an Osprey was photographed flying past Gannet’s Rock on the 2nd.
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| Osprey, Gannet's Rock © Zach Wait |
Swallows are steadily heading south with the highest daily count of 67 on the 2nd. Surprisingly, two pairs of Swallows are still feeding large young in the Casbah and Church Porch. Sand Martins were recorded on three dates, one on the 31st, eight on the 1st and then one huge flock of 70 behind the church on the 2nd. Two House Martin were seen on the 1st.
A small number of Willow Warbler were seen most days, apart from the 2nd when calm winds brought 115 to the island. A Chiffchaff was seen on the 31st. Single Sedge Warblers were seen on the 29th and 30th, with four present on the 2nd. A Reed Warbler was seen in the Willows below Government on the 2nd. Grasshopper Warblers were recorded on the 29th and 2nd. A Garden Warbler was seen on the 31st and single Blackcap were recorded on the 31st, 3rd and 4th. Five Blackcap were seen on the 2nd. Single Whitethroat were present on the 30th, 31st and 1st with four on the 2nd. The first Firecrest of autumn was seen at Rüppels Quarry on the 29th. Two more were present in Millcombe Pines on the 31st and the 4th. Goldcrest were seen on the 31st to the 3rd with a high count of three on the 2nd.
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| Firecrest, Ruppel's Quarry © Stuart Cossey |
The earliest ever autumn Ring Ouzel was in VC Quarry on the 2nd 12 days earlier than the previous record of 15th September 2017. Female Redstart were seen around Millcombe on the 31st and 2nd . A young male Redstart present at Stoneycroft on the 2nd was also seen there on the 4th. Whinchat were common with three seen on the 29th, 2nd and 4th. Two were seen on the 31st and singles on the 30th and 1st. The highest count of Wheatear was nine on the 29th with some more obvious Greenland race birds present. Ten Spotted Flycatchers on the 2nd was the highest total. Five were seen on the 29th, seven on the 30th, three on the 31st and one on the 1st. Pied Flycatchers were naturally less common with four on the 29th, three on the 31st, one on the 1st and three (including two ringed) on the 2nd.
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| Spotted Flycatcher, The Terrace © Stuart Cossey |
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| Common Redstart and Pied Flycatcher, Millcombe © Stuart Cossey |
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| 1st year male Common Redstart, Stoneycroft © Stuart Cossey |
Many pipits and wagtails were recorded flying over the island. The first two Yellow Wagtails of autumn flew over South West Field on the 2nd and a Grey Wagtail flew over on the 1st. The highest counts of flyover Pied / White Wagtails were 19 on the 31st, 21 on the 1st and 18 on the 2nd. Three White Wagtails were confirmed on the 31st. Single Tree Pipits were heard flying over on the 29th, 30th, 1st and 3rd. A total of ten were heard, mostly over Millcombe, in the 2nd. There have still not been huge numbers of Meadow Pipits, the highest counts being around 30 birds in flocks of up to 20. Large flocks of Linnet have been seen across the heathland, with a total of 212 seen on the 29th and 125 on the 2nd. Two Lesser Redpoll were heard with the Goldfinches in Millcombe on the 3rd.
In non-avian news, Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen on the 29th, 31st and 2nd. A lot of migrant moths have been recorded this week including Rush Veneer, Dark-sword Grass, Turnip moth, Pearly Underwing, Pale Mottled Willow, Silver Y and two new for the island, Archer’s Dart and Feathered Gothic. The latter was not in the moth trap but photographed by Alice the Tavern Manager on the bar of the Marisco. A large Bottlenose Dolphin was off the East Coast on the 31st and a small pod of Harbour Porpoise on the 1st.
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| Feathered Gothic, Marisco Tavern © Alice Waterfield |
Contributors: S Cossey, R Ellis, Z Wait
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