Firstly, Joe and I would
like to apologise for the lack of updates on here lately. We have been really
busy with our first Oldenburg sailing happening in early June. We have also had
the amazing RSPB visit to help us complete a full-island cliff-nesting seabird
and Manx Shearwater census, which has been a wonderful experience, and although
we are awaiting final counts, I can tell you it is currently looking very
positive for Lundy's seabirds – a huge relief given everything that went on around the UK with avian influenza
last season! We have also had some pretty special birds during this time which
have been enjoyed by many visiting birders and staff. Here are the maximum
counts for the Lundy regulars and more notable sightings at the end:
Mallard 12 adults and 4 young still
surviving! Teal we have 2 broods this year on Pondsbury and a
loafing female on Bartons pond, Swift 5 on June 1st, Cuckoo 1
bird calling in Milcombe on five occasions, Feral Pigeon we currently have 7
birds around the village feeding on scraps from the beer garden and escaping
the hungry Peregrines (including one down in the Tavern as I write!), Woodpigeon 6
on 3 occasions during the month, Collared Dove 4
early in the month dropping down to 1 on the 14th and not seen since (probably
Peregrine food as well!), Oystercatcher 19 on the 5th, Dunlin were recorded on
the 1st, 3rd and 5th, Kittiwake 500 on the 1st, Greater Black-backed Gull 28th
on the 9th, Herring Gull 195 on the 4th, Lesser Black-backed gull 84 on the
9th, Guillemot 2024 on the 5th, Razorbill 1194 on the 5th, Puffin 459 on the
5th, Fulmar 44 on the 4th, Manx Shearwater 88 on the 5th - dark nights on the
island are now becoming louder and louder with their calls, a real privilege to
hear. Gannet 13 on the 6th; we are seeing lots of 3rd calendar-year birds at
the moment rather than adults, which is probably due to Avian Flu hitting our
nearest colony, on Grassholm island, last autumn; Shag 46 on the 5th, lots of birds
still on nests with eggs or small young, which is very late for this species;
Cormorant we have had two separate individuals visiting Pondsbury throughout
the month with an immature bird and full adult both seeming to be finding food
but never been seen together, a female Sparrowhawk was seen in Millcombe on the
9th; the pair of Kestrels are still being seen and now probably on chicks with
food being taken back to the nest site regularly; Peregrine 7 seen the 6th;
Carrion Crow 10 and 4 fledglings on the 10th and 11th; Raven 23 on the 9th;
Skylark 36 on the 4th; Sand Martin 3 on the 7th; Swallow 26 on the 1st; House
Martin 22 on the 1st; Willow Warbler 3 on the 5th; Chiffchaff 4 on the 18th;
Blackcap 3 on the 14th; Whitethroat 10 on the 3rd; Goldcrest pair nest-building
on the 2nd; Wren 22 on the 4th; Starling 78 on the 15th; Blackbird 18 on the
4th; the lonely male Song thrush has been singing throughout; Spotted Flycatcher 7 on the 1st; Robin 6 on the 5th; Stonechat 28 on the 9th; Wheatear
62 on the 4th, including lots of fledged young; Dunnock 11 on the 5th; House
Sparrow 31 on the 4th; Pied Wagtail 7 on the 12th; Meadow Pipit 63 on the 9th;
Rock Pipit 17 on the 9th; Chaffinch 12 on the 11th; Goldfinch 25 in the 3rd;
Linnet 89 on the 2nd.
Now onto the more interesting
records from the last few weeks:
Cuckoo Male singing in
Millcombe on the 8th of June
2nd CY Mediterranean Gull
feeding off Jennys cove on the 2nd of June
Female Whinchat feeding in
Bartons field on the 2nd of June
White Wagtail 2 in Bartons
field on the 4th of June
Tree Pipit flyover on the 3rd
of June
Reed Warbler on the 2nd of June
A Stunning Turtle Dove seen
north of Halfway wall, our 3rd of the spring.
A Male Yellowhammer was seen at
Benjamins chair on the 4th June
A Quail was seen on the west
coast on the 7th of June
The young male Common Rosefinch
has been seen and heard singing on three occasions 4th, 5th and 17th of June.
Bird Obs Team
