Lundy’s core recording area covers a distance of approximately 5 km, sampling all habitats present within the southern quarter of the island. The route is walked daily during spring and autumn migration, and periodically during the summer and winter months. The defined recording area covers most sites south of Quarter Wall, encompassing the vegetated combes of Millcombe and St John's Valley, the rugged sea cliffs of Benjamin’s Chair, freshwater habitats around Rocket Pole, and the grazed, semi-improved grasslands and drystone walls bordering South West Field, Old Light, Ackland’s Moor and the Village.
The map on this page (click to enlarge) shows the census route as a solid red line and the approximate extent of coverage as a shaded area around it. Note that this does not include the terrace and quarries on the east side, nor St Helen's Copse, all of which can be good for passerines in the right conditions. The main seabird colonies in Jenny's Cove and elsewhere north of Quarter Wall are also not covered by the census. On days when the 'seabird station' is running at Jenny's Cove - typically sailing days during the seabird breeding season - a member of the wardening team will usually undertake seabird counts for those colonies.
At the evening wildlife log 'call-over' we will typically start with the census count for each species. Except for unusual or highly mobile species, counts of birds outside that area are then assessed to eliminate duplication, and added to the census count to get a whole-island tally. To help with this, please keep separate counts of birds within and outside the census area. If you report more individuals of a particular species within the census area than the wardening team counted on the morning census walk, we will of course use that count. Please don't be afraid to speak up at 'call-over' however insignificant you think your observations may be. Our aim is to get the best estimate of numbers of each species across the whole island.
