General news

The Lundy Bird Observatory is providing an exciting opportunity for up to 14 Young Birders aged 18-25 to come over to the island from the 1st to 8th August 2026, staying in The Barn. Ringers, birders and moth enthusiasts are encouraged. Cost will be £300 per person, which includes boat fares and accommodation. However, with the BTO Young Bird Observatory Visitors (YBOV) programme it may be possible for participants to obtain grant of £250 towards their costs. Applications for the YBOV grants close on 31 May 2026 - more details on how to apply can be found here. Food will be an additional cost. If interested drop an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thanks to funding from Devon Birds, Lundy Bird Observatory commenced a colour-ringing programme for large gulls in 2025, to help understand migratory movements, dispersal and recruitment of Lundy-bred birds into the breeding population. Due to limited resources and a late breeding season only five gulls were colour-ringed in 2025. So it is pleasing to report that a Lesser Black-backed Gull was re-sighted in Agadir, Morocco on 17 March 2026. This is not an unusual movement, as many Lesser Black-backed Gulls from northern Europe winter in North Africa – and enthusiastic gull colour-ring readers also flock there in winter.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 'black 203·L' Agadir, Morocco 17 Mar 2026

We were pleased to welcome Simon Parker to the island at the start of the year as the new Head Warden following Joe's departure in December. Along with his wildlife knowledge, Simon brings with him experience of small island living, having previously served as the warden on Flat Holm for three years. Thanks are due to Joe Parker for all his work in getting the Bird Observatory through its three year probationary period. 

We are also pleased to announce the allocation of additional resource to the Conservation Team with a new Bird Observatory Warden role; a permanent part-time position split with General Assistant duties. Thomas Weston, who served as the 2024 Long Term Volunteer, has been appointed and will start in early March.

This year's Long Term Volunteers have also been appointed and we look forward to welcoming them to Lundy too.

Following a three year probationary period, a Lundy Bird Observatory delegation comprising Joe Parker (2025 warden), Simon Parker (current warden), Tim Jones (LFS representative on Lundy Bird Observatory Organising Committee) and Tim Davis (previous joint Lundy Bird recorder with Tim Jones) attended the Bird Observatories Council AGM on 7 Feb 2026 to seek full accreditation. This was subject to fulfulling a requirement to undertake daily bird census during key migration periods and undertake a regular programme of rinigng. Joe provided an operational status update. This was well received and there were no significant questions, so we are pleased to report that Lundy has now been accepted as a fully accredited member of the British & Irish bird observatory network.