By Simon Parker
It's the pre amble before storm Austen, our first named storm of the season which is likely to land Friday. Wednesday saw gusts of 55mph overnight and the morning was up around 45, being a westerly the East was still fairly sheltered and the were a few birds bunkered down there. Chaffinch still in good numbers, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Woodpigeon were all keeping their heads down but still moving around the valley. A lone Woodcock was camped around the government house area.
Out on the plateau, things became difficult as the wind shot across from the west. The sea watch team spotted a passage of birds moving South from Castles Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Lesser Black Backed and a Mediterranean Gull. There was also another Tuna seen off the East coast adding to the various other sightings have been reported this week.
Census was tricky with the high winds and not much else was seen but it did begin to brighten up towards 9.30. Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Redwing and a Fieldfare were spotted along the main track/village area. Other notable mentions included a possible Eastern Lesser Whitethroat in the quarry area.
The rest of the day was spend tending to some Biosecurity jobs, monthly checks of the monitoring stations and preparing new chew blocks. There's over 60 stations spread across the island, mostly in properties and around the village all with a wax chew block inside. We look for signs of Rat chew marks, the majority of the stations have signs of Pygmy shrew nibblings but they are tiny compared to a rats marks.
These checks are vital to ensure that Lundy remains free from invasive predators and we're grateful to all the support we receive from the RSPB Biosecurity for Life team who you can check out here - Biosecurity for LIFE - keeping the UK's seabirds safe. We'll be looking into more visible interpretation for visitors next season including some boards around the Ilfracombe/Bideford harbours and on the Oldenburg along with our new on island wildlife cameras, keep your eyes peeled for those and for any sneaky rodents!
by Kirsty Cox
As predicted in my last blog, I finally had to resort to using my head torch on my run this morning. After a day off yesterday which allowed me to start my run a bit later, I was back to the usual time this morning and for fear of stumbling over a rock on the main track in the dim light, I thought it best to have some additional light!
I had a busy morning out and about, so planned the various routes I had to take to try and minimise how many times I had to walk the same path twice! I started with an early morning pup check as low tide was at 7:32. It is still very quite on the beaches but there are currently three white coat pups that I am keeping an eye on who have been named Kelpie, Merrow and Tangie - all names connected to Celtic myths.
After a brief break back at the tavern for toast and a chance to pick up the butterfly survey transect sheets from the office, I was off again. This time I headed to Pondsbury to take the fixed point photos we are collating to monitor the level of the water while it is being drained to help our water supplies. Then a quick stop at Quarry Beach to finish the pup check before heading off on the butterfly survey.
I have been so busy with all things seal this season that it was the first time that I have had the chance to do the butterfly survey this year and on a lovely sunny morning slowly walking the Upper East Path and looking for butterflies, it was a very enjoyable way to spend an hour. I saw a total of 7 Red Admirals across the survey - it was encouraging to see some even so late into October.
I timed the end of the survey with the arrival of the Oldenburg so that I could take up position for my final day on Pup Patrol! There were a group of 3 weaned pups playing in the Landing Bay which provided a nice opportunity to chat to visitors about the Lundy seal population.
After lunch it was time for some work in the office. I have started work on this season’s Seal Report which I have to complete by the end of my time on the island. It is hard to believe that I now have less than two weeks to go!
My final Pup Patrol stint took place as people headed back down to the Oldenburg - some nice conversations and another chance to watch the weaned pups playing on the tide.
With the prospect of a sunny evening, and judging by the weather forecast that it was likely to be my last one on the island before I go, I decided to make the most of it and headed down to the battery to cook an outdoor dinner.
Elsewhere on the island it was another busy day of sightings including Cormorant, Chaffinch, Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin, Brambling, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lapland Bunting, Hen Harrier, Grey Heron, Snow Bunting, Water Rail, Mistle Thrush and Red-throated Pipit.
by Greg Lee
After yesterday's astonishing day of birds, where those on the island had been treated to thousands of thrushes arriving and leaving, it was expected that things would probably be on the quieter side. Although this was true, it was still a great day to be birding on the island with still a great host of thrushes in Millcombe as I started census, a Ring Ouzel being spotted first thing. Due to the heavy rain, things were a bit delayed, but after it had passed over, it was possible to get out and see what was beginning to move as the sun came out. Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were flitting in the trees and gleaning tiny invertebrates. Chaffinches and Siskins appeared to be on the move, particularly the former with 800 being the full total at the end of the day. Reaching the further west side of the island, I was surprised to see the track to Old Light was quite busy with thrushes, with several Redwings and a Fieldfare feeding quite confidently as I walked past. Usually, both species of thrush are pretty shy, so I was pleased to get reasonably close to these smart birds. Back in the Village, a Jackdaw was a nice sighting and the first of the autumn.
Redwing by G.Lee
Fieldfare by G. Lee
It was a bit of a raptor-fest today with a few Red Kites appearing on the thermals up in the northern reaches of the island before eventually drifting southward. It actually took me a while to connect with these birds, despite the fact that over winter I'll be seeing these now widespread raptors very regularly. However, patience paid off and I got the sight of two drifting over Barton field very high, one of which seemed to go into the stratosphere before eventually drifting over the Bristol Channel. As it turns out, a late addition to the log also came in the form of just the second Marsh Harrier of the year photographed off the East Coast making a beeline for the mainland. A couple of Merlins were also sighted, one of which was a lovely steely blue male, no doubt enjoying the stream of migrants passing through the island. The ringtail Hen Harrier was also still present today and favouring the grassy areas around Pondsbury, assumedly one of the duo seen over the past couple of days.
It was also a good day for Jack Snipe, with several seen around the island and also a Woodcock near Pondsbury, the latter the first of the autumn. The ever-present Snow Bunting was showing very well around Rocket Pole.
Lundy map - click to enlarge