Lundy Bird Observatory Sightings Archive

Sunday, 7 October 2018

7th Oct – 'Greenish Warbler' in Millcombe identified as Green Warbler!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please do not phone the Lundy island landline for news of the Green Warbler. The Warden is currently off island and the hard-pressed admin & catering staff are not birders and will not be able to help!

For birders coming to Lundy to look for the Green Warbler, please keep to the footpaths in Millcombe and respect the privacy of those holidaying in the properties around the valley.

Many thanks to everyone for your understanding and cooperation.

A full round-up to follow, but the highlight of the day has been a 'Greenish Warbler' [subsequently identified as a Green Warbler – the UK's fifth and the first for Lundy and Devon] found in Millcombe by Tim Jones & Tim Davis at just after 09.00 and which continued to show well around the valley for much of the day, in company with Chiffchaffs (20+), Goldcrests (15), Blackcaps (40+) and single Willow Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher, not forgetting the Great Spotted Woodpecker – itself a rarity (for Lundy!). The Great Northern Diver was also back on fisheries patrol in the Landing Bay after going AWOL in yesterday's northeasterly gale.

20.40 UPDATE. We have been able to keep up partly with the Twitter storm these photos unleashed. Thanks to everyone with experience of Green vs Greenish Warblers for their comments and expertise, especially Chris Townend, Mike Langman, Brydon Thomason and Andy Jayne. We can confirm that the yellowish tones are real – not an effect of the light under the canopy or of the photos themselves. We're kind of gobsmacked but chuffed at the same time. Will be out to look for it again first thing in the morning; last seen at about 15.45 this afternoon. Below are some additional record shots and we have added an account of the bird's finding...

Green Warbler, Millcombe, 7 Oct © Tim Jones

Account of the bird's finding

Saturday 6th October had been a day of very strong north-north-easterly winds, with early rain giving way to sun in the afternoon. Sunday 7th dawned fine and dry with some patchy cloud and just a light N breeze, falling away to nothing by mid-morning and then a fresh south-westerly getting up, along with increasing cloud, during the afternoon. At around 09.10 hrs on 7th, Tim Davis (TJD) and Tim Jones (TAJ) were walking along the north side of Millcombe, the valley containing the largest area of trees and shrubs on Lundy, having earlier been monitoring visible migration on Castle Hill. TAJ glimpsed a warbler with a prominent supercilium and wing-bar and said “I think I’ve got a Yellow-browed” (having seen two on 4th/5th October, including one in Millcombe). He quickly corrected that, saying “No, it’s not a Yellow-browed… What the hell is it?!” The bird then showed quite well, if briefly as it moved through sycamore leaves, to both TAJ & TJD. Both noted a single wing-bar, very long supercilium, orangey bill and generally bright plumage, TAJ being particularly struck by the yellowish tones in the plumage, but with no field experience of Green Warbler and very little of Greenish, was unsure how yellow was ‘too yellow’… The bird dropped down and disappeared from view. We spent a few minutes trying to relocate it but it seemed to have done a runner. Both of us were needed for duties elsewhere, having offered some voluntary time to support island staff, and couldn’t get back to Millcombe until 12.00, when after about 25 minutes’ searching we found the bird feeding in Turkey oaks and sycamores on the opposite (south) side of the valley, loosely associating with Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. We again watched the bird moving through the canopy at some speed, often against the light, which made snatching record shots with a bridge camera quite a challenge (though TAJ managed a few of the upperparts). The bird was constantly moving ahead of us and once more dropped out of sight after about 10 minutes. It was not until 14.30 that we caught up with it again, back in the same area where it had started out at 12.25, but again it was moving away. At 15.25 it was in ash and sycamore trees above the gas store in lower Millcombe, when it rested in the semi-open for a few minutes, enabling some better record shots to be taken, albeit of the head and underside only. At 15.45, when it was last seen, it was in ash and aspen next to the gas store – again associating with Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. Altogether we estimate that we watched it for about 40 minutes.
Description: Phylloscopus warbler approximately the size of a Chiffchaff, with a notably prominent, slightly upturned orange bill. Long yellowish-white supercilium that appeared to us, at least on some views, to meet over the bill. Single quite prominent whitish-yellow wingbar. Prominent yellow body feathering near alula, making yellow mark near 'shoulder' bend in wing. Upperparts rather bright greenish. Tertials narrowly tipped paler. Throat and face suffused with lemon yellow, very much like Wood Warbler. Rest of underparts more whitish but washed with yellow. Legs brownish.

6th Oct – A northeasterly blast

The main feature of Saturday 6th October was a strong and gusty north to northeasterly wind, which must have touched gale force at times and which turned the Landing Bay into a heaving maelstrom, leading to the cancellation of the Oldenburg from Ilfracombe and an enforced extra day or missed day on the island, depending which side of the channel you were looking from...

After some early rain, skies gradually brightened, giving way to bright sunshine in the afternoon. Daytime migrants such as finches, pipits and hirundines were able to harness the NE blast to tack across towards Hartland Point in surprisingly good numbers from mid-morning onwards, the counts below being just a sample of what moved through.

Millcombe was pretty much blown out and watching in the few sheltered spots suggested that there probably wasn't much skulking around anyway, though the Great Spotted Woodpecker was still present. A roundup of the rest of the day's more notable records includes: single Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover and Merlin, five Kestrels, four Skylarks, 54 Swallows, three House Martins, two Stonechats, a Wheatear, 20 alba wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 222 Meadow Pipits, 18 Rock Pipits (including a flock of 15 feeding on a sheltered sunny slope at Dead Cow Point), 106 Goldfinches and 83 Linnets.

Observations by Tim Davis & Tim Jones.

Saturday, 6 October 2018

5th Oct – Melodious & Yellow-browed Warblers

In a case of south-west meets north-east, the birding highlights of a largely overcast and gloomy Friday 5th October, with a light SW wind, were a Melodious Warbler on the Terrace and a Yellow-browed Warbler in Millcombe. The Melodious Warbler, initially perched on top of the Terrace Trap willows next to a Chiffchaff, showed well for about 10 minutes for Tim Jones & Tim Davis, but couldn't be relocated after taking a long flight and diving for cover. The Yellow-browed Warbler was in the sycamores around the stream down from Brambles and was presumed to be the same bird as seen on 4th, but views were too distant to compare plumage details.

The supporting cast was provided by the Great Spotted Woodpecker, which was in Millcombe again during the late afternoon, the Great Northern Diver in the Landing Bay, a late Spotted Flycatcher in Millcombe, a Wheatear (probably Greenland) in Lighthouse Field, and a Tree Pipit calling over the Terrace. Visible migration was slow to non-existent until the early afternoon, when there was a burst of hirundines, pipits and finches moving south along the East Side.

In late news for Thursday 4th, Ken Ebsworthy & Darrin Dowding saw a first-year Osprey over South Light during the early evening. Unfortunately for him, Ken & Darrin's mate Ryan was fully occupied with a plate of ham, egg & chips in the Tavern at the time!

Thursday, 4 October 2018

4th Oct – Four Little Egrets and the first Yellow-browed Warblers of autumn

The day started off with the amazing sight (for Lundy) of four Little Egrets flying past the Landing Bay from the north-east, rounding Rat Island and continuing south-west – watched from the lofty vantage point of Castle Cottage by Chris & Carol Baillie. Although Little Egrets have been virtually annual since 2007, with only 2012 drawing a blank, this was the highest ever count for the island, the previous maximum being three on 16 May 2002.

Today also brought two Yellow-browed Warblers, the first showing well in Millcombe throughout the morning and the second in bracken along the East Side Path just north of the quarries during the late afternoon. The second bird had much broader whitish fringing to the tertials than the first, confirming them as two different individuals.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen again, once more dividing its time between Millcombe and the Terrace. Also continuing its stay was the Great Northern Diver, still largely in breeding plumage.

Other notable sightings for the day included two Merlins, two late Sand Martins, an equally tardy Whitethroat and three Firecrests.

Visible migration was less evident than on 3rd, but totals included 73 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 5 alba wagtails, 280 Meadow Pipits, 53 Linnets, 105 Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, 4 Redpolls, 10 Siskins and a Reed Bunting. Other migrants were represented by 22 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blackcaps, 12 Goldcrests, 5 Stonechats and 21 Robins.

Records contributed by Carol & Chris Baillie, Tim Davis, Darrin Dowding, Ken Ebsworthy, Tim Jones and Ryan Miller.

Whitethroat, Upper East Side Path, 04 Oct © Tim Jones

Record shot of Yellow-browed Warbler, Millcombe 04 Oct © Tim Jones

Wednesday, 3 October 2018

27th Sep to 3rd Oct – A busy week of migration

The week from Thursday 27th September to Wednesday 3rd October saw largely fine, settled weather, with often sunny skies by day and moon- and starlit nights, although the last two days of the period brought some low cloud and light drizzle.

There were small overnight arrivals of warblers, crests and flycatchers in Millcombe on most days, which kept the ringers based at Brambles occupied. These included: Goldcrest (maximum 40 on 30th), Chiffchaff (max 60 on 29th), Blackcap (max 70 on 29th) and Spotted Flycatcher (max six on 27th). Also two Willow Warblers (29th), single Garden Warbler (29th), Whitethroat (30th & 1st) and Reed Warbler (27th to 1st) and single Firecrests (on 29th & 30th).

A Mistle Thrush perched briefly on dead pines near Blue Bung on 29th was the first of the autumn and there were single Song Thrushes on several dates. One or two Redstarts were recorded on four dates, whilst the highest Wheatear count was 13 on 29th and Stonechats reached eight on 29th.

There was strong diurnal migration on several days with peak counts including: at least 4,000 Swallows on 27th, 200 House Martins (27th), 33 alba wagtails (1st), 1,000 Meadow Pipits on 28th, 330 Linnets (29th) and 160 Goldfinches on 30th. Less numerous species included Sand Martin (one on 29th), Grey Wagtail (up to three daily), Siskin (max 13 on 29th), Redpoll (max five on 1st), Reed Bunting (a female in Millcombe on 1st) and a Snow Bunting flying out to sea from the Castle on 28th.

Raptors took advantage of the abundant passerine prey, with multiple daily sightings of Sparrowhawk (max two), Merlin (max two), Kestrel (max six) and Peregrine (max four).

The juvenile Red-backed Shrike found in Millcombe on 26th was still present near Millcombe House late morning on 27th, but was not seen after that.

Scarcities (for Lundy) included a first-winter female Common Scoter in the Landing Bay on 2nd/3rd, seen to fly off strongly to the east on the morning of 3rd (see photo below), a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker ringed in Millcombe on 30th and seen at various locations along the East Side as far north as VC Quarry daily thereafter. The Great Northern Diver was seen daily in the Landing Bay (see the magnificent portrait below by Philip Lymbery) and a second bird was seen passing the island on 29th. There was a Jack Snipe at Pondsbury on 29th, three Lapwings were on the Airfield on the 29th and one or two Golden Plovers were seen or heard daily. A first-winter Common Gull flew across the Landing Bay on 30th, and there was a single Collared Dove on 29th (only the second of the autumn).

Sightings from multiple observers, including Carol & Chris Baillie, Paul Bullock, Tim Davis, Keith Dean, Chris & Mandy Dee, Darrin Dowding, Ken Ebsworthy, Tim Jones, Helen & Philip Lymbery, Ryan Miller, Alan & Sandra Rowland, Sue Sabin, Jan Swan and Martin Thorne.

Jack Snipe, Pondsbury, 29 Sep © Martin Thorne

Common Scoter, Landing Bay, 2 Oct 2018 © Philip Lymbery

Great Northern Diver, still largely in breeding plumage, Landing Bay © Philip Lymbery

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, Millcombe, 30 Sep © Chris Dee

Spotted Flycatcher, Quarter Wall, 29 Sep 2018 © Tim Jones

Wednesday, 26 September 2018

23rd to 26th Sep – Finally some decent weather and some good birds!

The 23rd was another unremarkable day, but Chris Dee reports that Monday 24th saw "At last some calm weather; massive Swallow passage, with a minimum of 1,200 birds through. Also small numbers of House Martins and Sand Martins, two Stonechats, 45 Blackcaps and 15 Chiffchaffs. Best sighting of the day was a summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver in the Landing Bay. It was an excellent day's ringing of 272 birds, including 218 Swallows, two House Martins, two Sand Martins and 30 Blackcaps."

Also on 24th, Paul Dean photographed this smart Ring Ouzel on the East Side Path below Tibbetts:

Tuesday 25th brought another, fine, settled and sunny day. A ringtail Hen Harrier flying due E, about 20 minutes out from Ilfracombe was the highlight of a very fast crossing on a falling spring tide, which saw MS Oldenburg reaching the Landing Bay by 11.35. Highlights of sightings on the island included the Great Northern Diver still present in the Landing Bay, a female Merlin hunting Meadow Pipits near the Airfield, a Firecrest and 22 Blackcaps trapped and ringed in Millcombe, a female Sparrowhawk, and an immature Cormorant heading south.

Wednesday 26th saw clear skies and sunshine from sunrise at 07.10 until sunset at 19.10 along with a light SW breeze that fell away to nothing for much of the day. Bird of the day was a first-year Red-backed Shrike, which showed superbly well in upper Millcombe during the late afternoon (see record shot below). Carol & Chris Baillie encountered a Short-eared Owl near Pondsbury – the first occurrence this year on Lundy. There was another major movement of hirundines, including an estimated 1,500 Swallows, 70 House Martins and four Sand Martins. Two 15-minute sample counts of Swallows piling S below Quarry Cottages totalled 440 and 380. There was a scattering of late summer migrants, including a Grasshopper Warbler, 11 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher, a male Redstart, one Whinchat, two Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail. Also a Short-eared Owl at Pondsbury, three Water Rails, a flock of six Oystercatchers plus one Curlew at North Light, nine scattered Stonechats, two Sparrowhawks (male & female), a female Merlin, four Kestrels and the Great Northern Diver.

Observations by Carol & Chris Baillie, Zoë Barton, Tim Davis, Keith Dean, Paul Dean, Chris & Mandy Dee, Dean Jones, Tim Jones, Alan & Sandra Rowland, Sue Sabin and Jan Swan.

Sunday, 23 September 2018

22nd Sep – Arrival of Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs, plus a Wryneck

Chris Dee reports: "Still too wet or windy for any ringing. Estimated 150 Blackcaps and 45 Chiffchaffs in Millcombe and East Side. One Wryneck along Lower East Side Path. One Greenshank, Water Rail in Smelly Gully, and three Wheatears. Blackcaps feeding well on blackberries."

Below are some beautiful wader photographs, the first of a juvenile Sanderling at North End on 21st September, from Lundy Warden Dean Jones, and the other from the week of 8-15 September, kindly contributed by Celia and Tony Sawbridge, the first lucky observers to see the Buff-breasted Sandpipers.