Bird Sightings

by Greg Lee

After yesterday's astonishing day of birds, where those on the island had been treated to thousands of thrushes arriving and leaving, it was expected that things would probably be on the quieter side. Although this was true, it was still a great day to be birding on the island with still a great host of thrushes in Millcombe as I started census, a Ring Ouzel being spotted first thing. Due to the heavy rain, things were a bit delayed, but after it had passed over, it was possible to get out and see what was beginning to move as the sun came out. Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were flitting in the trees and gleaning tiny invertebrates. Chaffinches and Siskins appeared to be on the move, particularly the former with 800 being the full total at the end of the day. Reaching the further west side of the island, I was surprised to see the track to Old Light was quite busy with thrushes, with several Redwings and a Fieldfare feeding quite confidently as I walked past. Usually, both species of thrush are pretty shy, so I was pleased to get reasonably close to these smart birds. Back in the Village, a Jackdaw was a nice sighting and the first of the autumn. 

Redwing by G.Lee

Fieldfare by G. Lee

It was a bit of a raptor-fest today with a few Red Kites appearing on the thermals up in the northern reaches of the island before eventually drifting southward. It actually took me a while to connect with these birds, despite the fact that over winter I'll be seeing these now widespread raptors very regularly. However, patience paid off and I got the sight of two drifting over Barton field very high, one of which seemed to go into the stratosphere before eventually drifting over the Bristol Channel. As it turns out, a late addition to the log also came in the form of just the second Marsh Harrier of the year photographed off the East Coast making a beeline for the mainland. A couple of Merlins were also sighted, one of which was a lovely steely blue male, no doubt enjoying the stream of migrants passing through the island. The ringtail Hen Harrier was also still present today and favouring the grassy areas around Pondsbury, assumedly one of the duo seen over the past couple of days. 

It was also a good day for Jack Snipe, with several seen around the island and also a Woodcock near Pondsbury, the latter the first of the autumn. The ever-present Snow Bunting was showing very well around Rocket Pole. 

by Kirsty Cox

As predicted in my last blog, I finally had to resort to using my head torch on my run this morning. After a day off yesterday which allowed me to start my run a bit later, I was back to the usual time this morning and for fear of stumbling over a rock on the main track in the dim light, I thought it best to have some additional light!

I had a busy morning out and about, so planned the various routes I had to take to try and minimise how many times I had to walk the same path twice! I started with an early morning pup check as low tide was at 7:32. It is still very quite on the beaches but there are currently three white coat pups that I am keeping an eye on who have been named Kelpie, Merrow and Tangie - all names connected to Celtic myths. 

After a brief break back at the tavern for toast and a chance to pick up the butterfly survey transect sheets from the office, I was off again. This time I headed to Pondsbury to take the fixed point photos we are collating to monitor the level of the water while it is being drained to help our water supplies. Then a quick stop at Quarry Beach to finish the pup check before heading off on the butterfly survey.

I have been so busy with all things seal this season that it was the first time that I have had the chance to do the butterfly survey this year and on a lovely sunny morning slowly walking the Upper East Path and looking for butterflies, it was a very enjoyable way to spend an hour. I saw a total of 7 Red Admirals across the survey - it was encouraging to see some even so late into October. 

I timed the end of the survey with the arrival of the Oldenburg so that I could take up position for my final day on Pup Patrol! There were a group of 3 weaned pups playing in the Landing Bay which provided a nice opportunity to chat to visitors about the Lundy seal population. 

After lunch it was time for some work in the office. I have started work on this season’s Seal Report which I have to complete by the end of my time on the island. It is hard to believe that I now have less than two weeks to go!

My final Pup Patrol stint took place as people headed back down to the Oldenburg - some nice conversations and another chance to watch the weaned pups playing on the tide.

With the prospect of a sunny evening, and judging by the weather forecast that it was likely to be my last one on the island before I go, I decided to make the most of it and headed down to the battery to cook an outdoor dinner. 

Elsewhere on the island it was another busy day of sightings including Cormorant, Chaffinch, Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin, Brambling, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lapland Bunting, Hen Harrier, Grey Heron, Snow Bunting, Water Rail, Mistle Thrush and Red-throated Pipit.

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 August 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. The totals recorded at Log in the evening included 5,000 Redwing (an island record), 935 Fieldfare, 73 Song Thrush, 56 Blackbird, 10 Ring Ouzel, a Mistle Thrush, 3 Lapwing, 11 Jack Snipe, 12 Stock Dove, 470 Goldfinch, 182 Chaffinch, 11 Snow Bunting, 2 Wheatear, a Willow Warbler, a Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, and a Lapland Bunting.

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.