Bird Sightings

The Ortolan Bunting and Barnacle Goose were both still on the island, on Castle Hill and Barton's Field respectively. Clear sunny conditions led to a good count of Hirundines with c500 Swallow and 13 House Martin recorded. Unfortunately no more Cory's Shearwater were seen, but seawatching did produce 190 Auk sp., 11 Razorbill, 16 Kittiwake, two Great Northern Diver, two Cormorant, and two Black-headed Gull. A Jack Snipe was flushed in the evening in Barton's Field, with single Woodcock, Lapwing, and Golden Plover also seen. A Firecrest was in 'Rüppell's Quarry', two Yellow-browed Warblers were seen in Millcombe, with Black Redstart, two Whinchat, two Wheatear, three Grey Wagtail and two Snow Bunting also seen. Four Merlin were also logged, including two hunting Swallows at the North Light. A Wryneck was also present in the late morning in Gorse along the Upper East Side Path, identified at a later date from photos.

Firecrest in 'Rüppell's Quarry', on the terrace. ©Richard Campey

The Cory's Shearwater influx continued with 35 seen today, with all but one of the records before midday. Seawatching produced two Arctic Skua, two Great Northern Diver, five adult Mediterranean Gull, and 49 Razorbill identified with a further 612 Auk Sp. recorded. A lone Barnacle Goose was also seen coming in off the sea over South Light by seawatchers, and spent the rest of the day south of Quarter Wall. Yesterday's Ortolan Bunting was seen again feeding around Castle Hill. Two Purple Sandpipers at Brazen Ward are the first seen this autumn. A Snow Bunting was feeding around the west side of Halfway Wall and a Greenfinch, the first this autumn, was picked up calling among 397 migrating Chaffinch recorded. Two Ring Ouzel, single Black Redstart, and two Wheatear were also seen.

A Raven chasing the Barnacle Goose out of Tillage Field ©Tom Williams

An unprecedented total of 37 Cory's Shearwater were seen by multiple observers over the day - for perspective there are only two previous Lundy records, both involving individual birds, in 2011 and 2023. In addition to the Cory's, a marked increase in all seabirds saw four Great Northern Diver, an Arctic Skua, 106 Gannet, 70 Kittiwake, four Fulmar, 15 Manx Shearwater, five Puffin, seven Razorbill, and 113 Auk sp. recorded from the island, and two Little Gull seen from the MS Oldenburg. An Ortolan Bunting was found on Castle Hill in the morning, and continued to feed around the Castle for the remainder of the day. A Great White Egret was picked out during the 'Cory's fest' coming in off over South Light, the fifth record for Lundy. Another Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and colour-ringed in Millcombe. 773 Chaffinch were recorded today as passage steadily increases, with a single Brambling found on the deck among them. Three Black Redstart, six Ring Ouzel, two Wheatear, a Whinchat, four Grey Wagtail, two Golden Plover, and two Teal were seen elsewhere.

Ortolan Bunting feeding on Castle Hill ©Richard Campey

A foggy day delivered a selection of scarcer migrants through the morning before rain set in. A Wryneck was seen briefly on Castle Hill, a Hawfinch at the top of Millcombe Woods, and a late Sedge Warbler in Smelly Gully. At least five Black Redstarts were seen across the island, and six Ring Ouzels were similarly widely distributed. The first Woodcock for the autumn was seen on the East Sidelands. Four Yellow-browed Warblers seen is the highest day count for the autumn so far, including a new bird colour-ringed in Millcombe. Two Firecrest were seen on the East Sidelands, two Teal at Pondsbury, and a Black-headed Gull in the Landing Bay. 

Wryneck on Castle Hill ©Richard Campey