The island year list is currently sitting at 47 species at close of day on 11th. Amazingly, a Barn Owl was spotted in lower Millcombe from the housekeeping landrover by staff-member Tiina Pehkonen during the late afternoon. Voluntary Bird Observatory Assistant Luke Marriner, who happened to be driving, stopped the vehicle – in his own words – "very abruptly" (!) and was able to capture a video of the Barn Owl emerging from the gas store and flying down to the Beach Road turn at 'Windy Corner' and up over the flank of Castle Hill. It was not seen again, but left a souvenir in the form of a small pellet, found in the gas store. The pellet was dissected by Luke, who identified a Pygmy Shrew jaw-bone among other tiny bones, suggesting that the owl had managed to feed on the island. It seems possible that it had been displaced from the mainland by heavy snow blanketing most of Wales and central/northern England, whilst south-west England experienced less cold conditions, remaining largely snow free. This was the 11th Lundy record and only the second this century.
Kittiwake flocks have been feeding off the southeast coast, peaking at 425 birds on 11th, drawing in an adult winter Mediterranean Gull and 5 Common Gull. The adult Great Northern Diver continues its Landing Bay residence, while overwintering female Merlin is terrorising the Village and sidelands and two Goldcrest remain faithful to Quarter Wall Copse. A Chiffchaff on 9th is the only occurance so far this year and Meadow Pipit remain thin on the ground, with only 2 logged within Rock Pipit feeding parties across the sidelands and plateau. Six Common Scoter were logged within the Lundy recording area during a crossing on 6th. Tillage Field featured 10 Golden Plover on 9th, with singles logged overhead on 10th & 11th. Four Purple Sandpiper were present at Brazen Ward on 9th, but apparently absent on 11th. Pondsbury featured six Teal but numbers of Woodcock (2), Common Snipe (6) and Jack Snipe (1) remain low, maximum counts noted in brackets.
Barn Owl in Millcombe, 6 Jan © Luke Marriner
Lundy was a herp-free (reptile and amphibian) island until relatively recently. The story of how Slow-worms were added to the Lundy species list in recent years has been recounted by Alan Rowland here.
The notable occurrence of a Common Toad in May 2023 triggered a deeper dive into 'exotic' species of British vertebrates on Lundy (See LFS Annual Report, 2023). Amongst other records, this research unearthed three previously unknown and unsubstantiated Common Lizard records assigned to the island, logged in 1958, 30 Apr and 11 Sep 2000.
To our amazement, we were recently sent a photo of a Common Lizard photographed on gorse near Rocket Pole back on 4 August 2024(!).
How did this arrive on the island? One to keep an eye out for over the warmer months ahead...
Common Lizard on Gorse near Rocket Pole, 4 Aug © Andrea May
It’s been another eventful year on the island! As the festivities wind down and we turn our attention to 2025, there’s plenty of exciting opportunities and great birding ahead.
The island has just entered into the annual ‘shutdown’ for maintenance and repairs through January. While our doors don’t open back up to the stayers again until 27 January, our old friend, ex-Lundy Bird Obs Asst. and keen birder, Luke Marriner, is volunteering to supplement coverage during a historically under-recorded time of year. This support is particularly appreciated while the Island Warden is off island on Coastguard training.
Male Siskin on Sue's feeder outside Pigs 1, 30 Dec © Sue Waterfield
Siskin back on Sue's feeder in the village, 31 Dec © Joe Parker
After the record-breaking annual total of 169 species logged last year, the 2025 year list is already starting to take shape. A damp New Year’s Day trudge around Millcombe and the South Coast enjoyed two female-type Black Redstart at Benjamin’s Chair, a lingering male Siskin around the village and a brief glimpse of the overwintering Merlin terrorising the resident House Sparrow and Starling populations. An adult Great Northern Diver continues to frequent the Landing Bay while Kittiwake feeding flocks further offshore are regularly numbering 150 birds and draw in low double figures of Gannet and distant auks.
Orange Ping-Pong Bat Fungus in Millcombe, 26 Dec © Joe Parker
It’s been a quiet season for wintering waders - namely Common Snipe, Jack Snipe and Woodcock – presumably owing to the mild conditions resulting in birds wintering further north. Perhaps the arrival of this cold snap will trigger an influx. Golden Plover made an appearance in late December, peaking at three birds on 28th; a nocturnal survey that evening resulted in one Golden Plover, one Jack Snipe, one Woodcock, 5 Common Snipe ringed, plus a re-trap of the latter originally ringed as an adult back in October 2020(!).
The Landing Bay has been drawing up to three Great Northern Diver over the last month, although numbers have fluctuated in response to sea state and visibility. Engulfed by fog for what felt like an eternity, the island has been consumed by stubborn, unmoving clag all the way down to sea-level. During brief breaks in the fog, a female-type Common Scoter graced the Landing Bay on 14 December and seen off the Terrace shortly afterwards before moving on.
Common Scoter in the Landing Bay, 14 Dec © Joe Parker
Some of our seabirds are also beginning to think about the season ahead. It was lovely to see 200 Guillemot on Jenny’s Cove breeding ledges on 14 December while up 23 Fulmar have been observed on ledges at Long Roost and Jenny’s Cove. The last Yellow-browed Warbler was recorded in Quarter Wall Copse on 2 December, shortly followed by a Woodpigeon movement involving 64 birds the next day. Tying up from the last blog post, the long-staying Hen Harrier remained until 20 November and the two female Bullfinch lingered around Millcombe until 21 November. The overwinter Purple Sandpiper high-count currently sits at eight birds, recorded on 18 November. We’ll keep an eye on this colony as mid-winter typically marks the peak count.
Here’s to another bird-filled year!
Good birding and Happy New Year
The Lundy Bird Obs Team
Pea Soup on the Terrace! Visibility 50m on Boxing Day © Joe Parker
Lundy map - click to enlarge