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.
By Tim Davis and Tim Jones
‘An Easterly Breeze’. So reads the title of one of the ancient pictures in the lounge of Big St John’s. The title lacks an exclamation mark, as it depicts a full-blown gale, as has been the weather during the last several days of our much anticipated spring visit. The two of us date back rather a long time in Lundy terms, 1973 for TD and 1984 for TJ. In spring 1999, whilst sitting in Jenny’s Cove watching seabirds, in particular the dwindling number of Puffins at that time, we had the mad idea to write a book on the island’s birds. Eight years later ‘The Birds of Lundy’ saw the light of day. We had no idea it would change our lives where Lundy is concerned.
Occasionally, when on the island, we are invited to carry out the daily census, as was the case for 23rd April, when Observatory Warden Thomas had the day off to celebrate his partner Eleanor’s birthday. And what a time they had, walking to North Light, ‘clicker’ in hand counting Swallows as they went. In all, they logged 1700 birds, while the overall number of Swallows for the day was 3000. Other highlights for them were a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper and a “stratospheric” Osprey heading for Wales.
Earlier, we had been having a hugely enjoyable time walking the regular census route which begins and ends at the Tavern door. Millcombe features early in the circuit and is always a high point for us. On this occasion we were lucky enough to add Blue Tit to the record, a single bird that had arrived on Lundy two days previously; once an almost annual bird on the island, particularly in autumn, Blue Tits now seem to be increasingly uncommon. Other highlights were a Spotted Flycatcher, one of the first for the year, in Millcombe and three newly fledged Ravens with their parents along the South End, and two other young Ravens in a nest along the West Side. On the downside, it was very evident that Swallows migrating through Lundy were having a hard time feeding in the constant strong and chilly easterly wind, birds sitting on bramble bushes and even on short grass. The census route took us along the South End as far Rocket Pole Pond, across South West Field up to Old Light and over Ackland’s Moor to Quarter Wall, the outer limit of the recording area. Normally, a cursory look down into Quarter Wall Copse reveals a few birds, but holding binoculars steady in the very strong wind proved impossible and as for hearing song or calls, forget it!
Some of the Swallows were clearly tired and resting on brambles © Tim Jones
Whilst returning to the Village along the main track we ran into a small cluster of people who appeared to have lost something and be peering down at the ground. It turned out they were lichenologists (folk who know about lichens!), including our North Devon friend Maxine Putnam. Accompanied by Simon and Tara, they were investigating the lichens on Brick and Tillage Field walls. John Skinner kindly showed us the lichen Lecanora gangaleoides through his hand lens, describing them, beautifully, as looking “like lots of jam tarts”! John had already found 17 species in just a few metres of wall. Impressive.
We finished up census with White and Yellow Wagtails in Barton/St Helen’s Fields and a breeding plumaged Dunlin on Barton Pond.
A Spotted Flycatcher was also logged on census in St Helen's Field © Tim Jones
In the afternoon, we descended Montagu Steps to sea level. En route, we enjoyed sightings of a female Merlin at South West Point and a Whimbrel stalking around the seaward edge of South West Field. Descending the, in places, precarious route down to sea level, we managed to photograph two additional Wheatear colour-ring combinations, which, with other recent sightings brings the total number of individuals sighted so far this year to a magnificent 52. Before girding our loins for the climb back up, we enjoyed views of Shags taking nesting material into cliff-side breeding crevices on and around Goat Island, displaying Rock Pipits and a pair of prospecting Oystercatchers. In grassland by the edge of the path, we found a Small Mottled Willow – a migrant moth.
So drew towards an end another wonderful day on a special island. With migration still in full swing, who knows what the coming days will bring!
Raven nest with two well-grown chicks © Tim Jones
House Sparrow in the Village. c Thomas Weston
By Thomas Weston
Census was a success, even in strong east winds. The Tims were one of the first seen people whilst Eleanor and I walked into Millcombe. Migrant wise, a single House Martin, 7 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Common Redstarts – one in Millcombe and one at Benjamin’s Chair, 4 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, 3 ‘Greenland’ Wheatear, 3 nominate Wheatear, and a Cormorant passed by and were recorded. The wind was tough going but we found nice flocks of Linnets, Goldfinches, and the ‘normal’ pair of Chaffinches all in and around the area. A Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, and feeding parties of Herring Gulls and Lesser-Black Backed Gulls were noted. However, the most unusual species was a Rock Pipit, a species we have been a bit concerned about due its absence around the island during census, or on walks. The only pic was this House Sparrow in the wind.
We let the wind die down and went to check the Manx Shearwater boxes on the West Coast. We checked all boxes and discovered a new bird for the year, a bird carrying a GLS tag which is super exciting. We also heard a possible Dotterel flying around, but unfortunately, we could not see the bird, as well as 2 Swifts on our way back.
Common Redstart at Dead Cow Point. c Thomas Weston
After some admin tasks, I went to show Greg the Seabird Station and the Puffin Survey Site. We could not find any waders along the west, but we found a new male Common Redstart, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, and a Whitethroat, and a range of nominate and Greenland Wheatears. The best came in the form of a pod of Common Dolphins and a couple of very close Harbour Porpoise both attracting Gannets, Manx Shearwater and even a few Puffins.
A successful day!
Lundy map - click to enlarge