By Emma Abel
Another foggy day, the cloud hanging low over the island for an atmospheric day of strimming. As Assistant Ranger my role has had significantly less grass cutting than a usual year due to the ongoing drought conditions. But today was an exception to that as I was given the important task of cutting a length of St John’s Valley free of bracken and brambles to put up new mist nets. Many small eyes watched my movement, the ticking and twittering of a Robin and a small flock of Linnets, hiding safely away in the scrub.
Foggy net rides, ready for a mist net - E Abel
Greg’s census was quiet, with the fog keeping anything that may have been interesting hidden away. However Thomas, Eleanor headed to the North End joined by Chris Dee and experienced a very different weather to the rest of us – sun! As the cloud hung like a cap over the island, down the steps at North Light, these three were sunbathing under blue sky (and doing important monitoring work too, I guess). The clear skies granted them a great view of a Great Skua heading South, a first for the year.
Great Skua passing North Light by Thomas Weston
After an uneventful census, Greg headed out in the afternoon and had more luck with a Grey Heron passing the Landing Bay and a Dunlin flying over St Johns Valley. This bird was likely seen on the track near Tibbets later that day by a visitor. Making his way into Quarter Wall Copse, Greg spotted a Pied Flycatcher and was also greeted by the Western Bonelli’s Warbler still hanging around, seemingly refusing to leave Lundy for the moment.