By Thomas Weston.
After a very quiet session yesterday in Millcombe with just a single Linnet caught in 1hr and 15mins, I awoke to a nice red sunrise and high cloud. Cloud is something we have not seen on the island the last few days so it was maybe a sign of things to come. Or a warning to those who listen to sheperds.
Anyway, getting ready, clothed and fed (in the morning light as it has got to the stage where the ringing o'clock is before generator turn on), I looked out again to see that a thick sea fog had rolled in. Undeterred, I walked down to Millcombe. The fog was not damp, in fact it was incredibly dry plus still! Also something that until yesterday evening was not something we have seen on Lundy at all.
Nets open and we started catching some new migrants. The fog lifted a bit and a Whitethroat came into the net. The two Collared Doves were displaying in Millcombe, having only arrived the other day, and there was a sense of movement with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Blackcap bouncing around. A female Pied Flycatcher was near the Battlements and we [Eleanor, Greg, Ben and Emma] continued ringing. The next net round was slightly quieter, the fog came down again and we caught a new Sedge Warbler. Slope net had been checked but had nothing in, but then as me and Ben walked down I saw a bird fly in. I asked Ben to go and extract it and he toddled on up and extracted, not saying too much to begin until he came down. Topics of conversation had included overshoots and potential rarities. Ben then asks "How easy would it be to tell a Western and Eastern Subalpine Warbler at this time of year?" Not knowing what was in the bag, he then followed by saying "because I have one in here!"
A slight surprise came over me so I quickly had a look at the bird in the bag and very quickly confirmed it to be a Eastern Subalpine Warbler the first of the year, and looking at records within the South West and Ireland, seemingly the first Eastern recorded!? Much excitement and many phonecalls to the local (within a few mins walk) birdwatchers, plus those in Millcombe already led to about 10 birders seeing the bird. Amazing! The session continued well with a great diversity of species. Other Lundy scarcities included a Reed Warbler, a few new Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Linnet, Goldfinches plus retrap Blackbirds and Robins.
We packed up at 12:00 and helped set nets with the Sparrow Team in the Village. A few warblers later and we managed to complete some house tasks. Being our day off, it was nice to be able to do some indoor bits we have been meaning to do for a while! Not in the highest number of hours as the Tims found the 10th Nightingale for the island this century and we were sooo close to going to see it but decided to head back down the Millcombe for some more migrant ringing. We passed a couple of Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher, a few Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers and Blackcap before opening the nets for a short while. More migrants trickled through until dinner and log were called.
What a day and one to remember!!!
Until tomorrow.....
Sparrow Team are currently busy trying to catch House Sparrows but will update as soon as possible.
By Thomas Weston
When I awoke, the calmer winds made our accommodation seem a bit more stable and still. A positive sign for the day ahead! Whilst getting ready a message came through saying there was a Wood Warbler in Millcombe. The first of the year and a rather stunning warbler, in my opinion.
Greenfinch in Millcombe by Thomas Weston
We attended travel day meeting, and I set off to begin census. A Yellow Wagtail was heard flying over Barton’s Field and a Greenfinch heard singing before being spotted in the trees were the first two birds noted. An amazing start. Walking through the top of Millcombe and it seemed active; a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs bounced along the bushes and a Pied Flycatcher was seen flycatching from the bottom of the pines. We have suspected our Goldcrest have been busy nesting, and it was nice to see the female hopping around the pines and feeding up, maybe collecting food, or perhaps failed. It is hard to tell.
Blink and you miss it, Wood Warbler in Millcombe by Thomas Weston
The Landing Bay has been a bit of a blow out recently. We dream of passing terns, small gulls and skuas, but these seem to arrive on the south coast of the UK, cut across inland, and pop out on the River Severn/further up the Bristol Channel. Demarking the channel/Atlantic means the best I could muster were a couple of Shag and Kittiwakes plus the usual large gulls. Back in Millcombe and the sounds of Dunnocks, Goldfinches, Linnets, Blackbirds, Wrens and even our Song Thrush were active today. I bumped into the Tims’ and spotted a Blackcap and saw the Wood Warbler too before it became more active and headed off up the valley
Dunlin Barton's Field Thomas Weston
A member of public reported a Common Redstart male, though sightings throughout the day noted at least two around the island. Another staff member turned up and showed a photo of three Yellow Wagtails in Lower Lighthouse, all of the ‘British’ Flamissma.
Blue Headed Wagtail female in Bartons Field. ThomasWeston
However, they relocated to Barton’s Field and were joined by a female Blue headed Wagtail and a male Channel Wagtail too, plus a White Wagtail and one of our breeding Pied Wagtails. And to add to the Wagtail craziness, a Dunlin remained showy all day and was even seen on census too.
Out of Millcombe and our Razorbills were back in force, over 300 were noted this morning. More excitingly, a pair of Rock Pipits appeared on Benjamin’s Chair, after noting their scarcity recently, it was nice to have them back. Walking through Southwest field and all three Hirundine species came through. Then a Tree Pipit was flushed by a Meadow Pipit before heading off towards the chair direction. Walking to Old Light and the Whimbrel was still present, looking less tired but still feeding well. Upon reaching the lighthouse and another Tree Pipit dropped out of the sky and hid in the long grass. It was nice to see and presumably was the bird I saw heading North over me when crossing the Airfield. Quarter Wall held a nice Wheatear pair, whilst a singing Whitethroat was a nice spot. The rest of census was good with Starlings, House Sparrows, and a Peregrine to name a few of the species overhead.
An afternoon wander to help with the feral game stock drone surveys and species of note included Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, a few new Whitethroat, and the Wagtail fest.
Lundy map - click to enlarge