by Kirsty Cox
Today started as every day does for me with a morning run. I have really noticed over the last few days how much darker it is in the morning when I set out - I think soon I’ll have to resort to a headtorch! But for the moment I can still stumble along the track in the first of the light and by the time I am heading back towards the village, I get to see the sunrise over the mainland.
I spent the first couple of hours of the working day in recycling. With some music on and a cup of coffee to hand I managed to sort all the bags and empty the recycling bin - it always feels good to see the bottom of the bin as so often bags mount up when recycling arrives from all the properties each changeover day.
The rest of my day was devoted to the seals - heading off on pup check and then up to Brazen Ward for a disturbance survey. We usually finish disturbance surveys at the end of September but with day-tripper boats from Ilfracombe still advertising Lundy visits on their websites, and with the amount of disturbance we have been seeing over the season, Tara and I felt it would be good to continue with the surveys on days when trips were advertised and I didn’t have other work commitments.
I pup checked on the way up to Brazen Ward, visiting all the viewpoints. At the moment there are a lot fewer pups to monitor as the season draws to a close. As well as a full house of weaned pups in the Landing Bay, there are still a few white coats around including one who has started to moult showing its unique fur pattern beneath. 
Moulting Pup by Kirsty Cox
I spent three hours at Brazen Ward watching the seals and monitoring for disturbance. There were no boats that arrived but the data collected shows how the seals would behave without disturbance so is still useful for us to have. And sitting in the sunshine watching the seals was no hardship on my part!
I also saw several birds during my survey including a flock of 50+ Goldfinches and 2 Gannets. And it was lovely to see a Clouded Yellow butterfly near to Castles as well. But across the island there were huge numbers of sightings today including Redwing, Fieldfare, Lapland Bunting, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest, Snow Bunting, Stock Dove, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Teal, Thrush, Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Brambling, Grey Wagtail and a Short-eared Owl!
by Greg Lee
Census today and a relieving change from deafeningly strong winds on the patrol. Things were a little encouraging though still a bit quiet. The main difference was hearing the calls of birds overhead, including the chirrup of a Snow Bunting over Millcombe. Initially, I thought this was the Rocket Pole bird having a stretch of the wings, but throughout the day, it appeared that there had been a small arrival of these charming birds onto the island, with at least six being the total of the day. Millcombe itself was also busier with a smattering of Blackcaps, Goldcrests and weirdly, a good number of Dunnocks (where are these birds coming from?). At least three Common Snipe were also flushed by me around the census route and three Golden Plovers were together flying over the airfield. Overhead, Skylarks, Chaffinches and Siskins were flying over and a Greenfinch also caught my ear over Quarter Wall, later being seen in Millcombe by another observer. Interestingly, a distant photo of a Reed Bunting at Quarter Wall Pond revealed this bird to be ringed. Sadly, I wasn't able to relocate or get closer to the bird but it would've been fascinating to obtain the information from the ring. Back in the Village, I was bemused to encounter a Song Thrush hanging about near the Vehicle Shed. Recently, a Robin has rather taken to the area, seemingly becoming quite territorial over its patch of concrete and gravel and both birds were loitering as I walked past.
Snow Bunting by G.Lee
Song Thrush by G.Lee
We're very fortunate to have lots of observers on the island at the moment and the discovery of our third Rosefinch of the autumn near Government was the highlight of the day. Like the other individuals, this one was very partial to the Blackberries and showed quite well before melting into the Bramble scrub. On the non-avian front, Simon and Kirsty were treated to a display of breaching from a Bluefin Tuna. These gigantic, awe-inspiring fish are now in great numbers in the south-west, where, unlike some other species of Tuna, they are able to regulate their body temperature, allowing them to feed in the more nutrient-rich, colder seas. I'm hoping to see some to but haven't been successful so far on countless scans of the ocean.
By Greg Lee
A rather gloomy and damp day, with the drop in wind bringing that healthy amount of fog that so often covers Lundy at this time of year. That being said, census was not lacking in surprises. Our long-staying Snow Bunting was at Rocket Pole Pond in the mornings and the Starling gathering outside the staff accommodation got a bit of fright from the female Merlin buzzing swiftly through, although the small falcon was unsuccessful in its attempts to hunt. At Stoneycroft, a rather sodden-looking Goldfinch looked a bit fed up in the Paddock as it sat prying at a Teasel. With just 23 species seen overall, it definitely was one of the quieter walks during my time here but such is the way of the ebbs and flows of migration.
Goldfinch by G.Lee
With the weather remaining rather dank and grey all day, it perhaps wasn't surprsing that sightings were limited, although it allowed time to some Observatory and life admin during the day. The forecast appears to be showing a bit of easterly winds next week which perhaps may bring more thrushes and finches this way once the westerly wind relents.
Lundy map - click to enlarge