by Greg Lee
A stunning late autumn morning with the wind reduced to complete stillness, such a rare sight on Lundy in autumn. As a result, it allowed for hearing of most things passing overhead and it was quite clear things were moving overhead with Chaffinches, Redwings, Fieldfares and Skylarks all in numbers as well as large Starling flocks appearing off the sea. A few Chiffchaffs in Lower Millcombe were flitting around along with a couple of Goldcrests and a nice Firecrest. The Hen Harrier once again re-appeared, this time over St Helen’s Copse before heading northwards. Today in fact, saw one of my best census totals ever with 48 species, with flyover Siskins, Bramblings, Goldfinches, a Lapland Bunting and best of all, the explosive call of a Richard's Pipit over the Airfield, which I was able to record quite well with my microphone. Interestingly, there appears to have been a big arrival of the latter species across Britain today, particularly along the west with multiple seen in different locations. The Snow Buntings totalled four and were qutie mobile, being heard calling around South-west Field. A big surprise was the drake Wigeon at Quarter Wall pond, having been absent since the brief sighting from Thomas the other day, fortunately some Redwings were more showy and allowed some photographs to be taken. Around the Village, a Teal was on Barton Pond and the Jackdaw was in front of Pigs, two nice additions to the daylist.
Redwing by G.Lee
Later on in the day, after writing some descriptions and office business, I then hit the Lower East Path, though I made sure to check Millcombe, where I was surprised to see a Bullfinch feeding in the Brambles near the top. Only the second for the year. The rest of the east was rather quiet, with a few additional Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests gleaned in the impressive cliffside Sallows below Quarter Wall copse. At least two Long-tailed Tits were still hanging around in St Helen's Copse in addition.
Bullfinch by G.Lee
by Greg Lee
A fantastic morning today, despite the very fresh and very cold easterly wind coming off the sea. It wouldn’t have been foolish of me to think that census would be similarly quiet to the westerly winds experienced over a week ago, but it was a pleasant surprise to have a lot of bird activity as soon as I stepped out of the door for census. Fieldfares, in particular, were certainly notable in number, with great chattering flocks flying up into the sky and going high. It seemed as though a lot were looking at the mainland but I’m not sure where the main direction of passage was going. A couple of stratospheric Blackbirds were also sighted, whilst raptors were well represented by two each of Peregrine and Sparrowhawk, plus the lingering young Kestrel. The bushes in Millcombe were never going to be easy to sift through, with very little in the way of warblers or crests, though a few Goldcrests did give away their presence by squeaking. Heading up and around Millcombe, I was noting more and more Chaffinches seemingly moving overhead and a good increase in Linnets as well, which have seen a sudden spike of passage. As I was nearing Government, I heard the familiar sound of hurried wingbeats in undergrowth and watched as a Woodcock flushed out of the bracken near the top before flying across the Valley and disappearing. Things would get wackier though, when, as I approached Old School, a ringtail Hen Harrier suddenly appeared at eye-level before bombing northward, though not before I was able to achieve some good shots.
The plateau, although usually the quieter side of census, was also quite busy with a good number of thrushes flying up the island as well as two Snow Buntings at Rocket Pole pond, followed quickly by a Snipe flushed by the main track up to Old Light. Another nice surprise was up at Old Light with a Jackdaw hanging around on the wall, the first for a little while. The Terraces were quiet, but a Firecrest at Ruppell’s Quarry was a nice enough discovery, with the rattling of a Mistle Thrush heading northwards over Quarter Wall as I headed back up.
The main aspect of the day was a lot of goodbyes to Tim Jones and Kirsty who both left the island today, Tim helping to log some of the very heavy days of visible migration over the past week or so and Kirsty who had been with us since the end of August with the busy task of monitoring the Seal pups. It’s going to feel quite quiet in the Lodge and soon enough, I’ll be stepping on that helicopter too! Later on, a small patrol of Millcombe and the Lower East Path did yield a few more Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the slightly warmer temperatures, however, I probably left it slightly too late as the path was quite shaded even by 15:00pm. Interestingly, for the second day in a row, I witnessed the young Kestrel take a small passerine, having seen it similarly dispatch a Chaffinch in a similar manner yesterday evening.
Hen Harrier over Millcombe by G.Lee
By Thomas Weston
Yellow-Browed Warbler on the Terraces by Thomas Weston
The day started with census, a good start to the day with Eleanor. Millcombe was a lot quieter than late, only a couple hundred Chaffinches compared to the thousands over the last two days. There were 15 or so Blackbirds, a few grounded Redwing, Song Thrushes, and Fieldfare, but nothing compared to recent. Alas still really nice to see. There were a couple of Goldcrest, small flock of Blackcap, but no Chiffchaff (though they were seen later by others). In the bushes around St Johns, the ringers caught a Jack Snipe and a few thrushes, however, by the time we got there, they were all packed up. Flocks of Stock Doves emerged through the fog, missing the counters on Castle Hill today, and totalled a very respectable 25 Stock Doves. Along to Rocket Pole Pond and our ringed Snow Bunting was present. Ringed two nights ago, it was still showing incredibly well and will be goodto track over the coming days, weeks, or months. Up to Stoneycroft and a flock of Chaffinches were disturbed by a very wet and bedraggled Kestrel. Maybe a bird who was escaping rain(!) somewhere!? Anyways, a grounded Song Thrush on the path, and a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks was nice to see. Pointless Wall held a female Merlin and nearby a Woodcock flushed from the long grass and headed towards Pondsbury. Could it be the one we saw circling the village last night? Along to Quarry Cottages yeiled a couple of Sparrowhawks and a couple of Peregrines, with 2 Stonechat on the field. Walking back a few grounded Song Thrushes and then into the Village for some good movements of Starlings. There was some admin tasks completed, before news of a Yellow-browed Warbler emerged down at Ruppells Quarry. Off I went to add to the national colour ringing project for the species, and with help from Tim the bird eluded being caught. Unfortunate, but nice to see some Chiffchaffs a Greenfinch and a few Blackbirds. A Merlin on the way back was almost certainly the one from earlier. The Tims reported very little on the West, with a wild Mallard and an equally wild Snow Bunting nearby.
Another sunset to end the daytime migration.
Lundy map - click to enlarge