Persistent moderate easterlies. Mostly overcast, but a day of bright sun on 16th.
12 Teal flew into Pondsbury on 14th, although only five have stuck around. Mallard high count has been 19. Remarkably a Goosander flew south along the east coast on 15th, seen by a single observer and becoming the third island record, with other records in December 1934 and November 2020. We have just one Woodpigeon recorded daily, plus a single Feral Pigeon on 16th and two on 17th. Five Water Rail were recorded on 16th, a good high count with 3 in Millcombe and 2 at Pondsbury.
Flyover Goosander from the Terrace - A. Croudace
Three Lapwing arrived on 14th and a fourth joined them touring the island on 15th. Golden Plover and Ringed Plover continue to be recorded as singles. High count of Oystercatcher of 25 on 14th. A single Dunlin flew from Pondsbury on 16th. The first Woodcock of 2025 was recorded on 14th above Pilot's Quay, with another on 16th in Gannets Coombe. Most notably a record breaking total of 20 Jack Snipe on 16th is the highest ever day count, smashing the previous day record of 11 from October 1984. Common Snipe counts have peaked at just eight, significantly outnumbered by their smaller relatives.
Peregrine Falcon unsuccessfully chasing one of the many Jack Snipe on the island at the moment A. Croudace
Five Kittiwake, two Mediterranean Gull and two 1st winter Common Gull were seen off of Rat Island as the boat came in on 14th. 15-37 Great Black-backed Gull recorded daily, with around 30 Herring Gull apart from a high count of 126 on 17th and occasional low single figures of Lesser Black-backed Gull. Single Cormorant flyovers on 15th and 17th, and singles of Grey Herons recorded from 15th, of two different individuals.
Three Sparrowhawk and three Kestrel continue to be extremely active around Millcombe in the morning, alongside an occasional Merlin. There have been up to two extra Merlin further north. Some coordinated and studious observation on 17th confirmed that there are in fact eight Kestrel on the island. Singles of different Marsh Harrier migrating northwards very high over the island were recorded on both 14th and 15th. A Short-eared Owl was put up very briefly by Pondsbury on afternoon of 16th but not seen again in the remaining daylight.
Merlin at Jenny's Cove A. Croudace
A trickle of Swallow still with between 27-53 recorded daily and a bit more movement on 17th with 124 milling or departing. Potentially our last Sand Martin was sighted on 14th and 5 House Martin were recorded on 16th and 7 on 17th.
Birding the west coast has been productive in these easterlies, with the highlighta single Yellow-browed Warbler was picked up on a rock at Pilot's Quay. Lots of Chiffchaffs were sheltering from the wind with around 30 recorded across the island on 15th and 16th and a great count of 77 on 16th. The island's first Dusky Warbler was refound on census on both 15th and 16th, although has been extremely elusive, markedly different from it's very vocal arrival on 10th. A low day of eight Blackcap on 14th rose to 46 on 16th.
Up to 11 Firecrest were recorded in this period, although almost all had moved out by 17th when numbers had shrunk to just one in Millcombe. 13 Goldcrest on 14th, around 30 on 15th and 16th, but back down to 16 on 17th. The amazing year for Treecreeper continues, with a ringed bird remaining in Millcombe as well as likely a new fourth bird on the cliffs at Jenny's Cove on 15th. Around 10 Wheatear are recorded daily, almost all on the west.
Four Black Redstart and a single Common Redstart on 14th with three Black Redstart on 16th and 17th nicely spread between North Light, South Light and the Lodge Garden. A wonderful arrival of thrushes on 14th ended up tallying 564 Redwing, 53 Song Thrush, 30 Blackbird, 22 Fieldfare and 14 Ring Ouzel. Peregrine Falcons were constantly stooping on the arriving flocks as they dropped in whilst Sparrowhawks darted amongst the vegetation. Redwing numbers have reduced to 106 on 15th, 78th on 16th and 38 on 17th. Blackbird numbers have been fairly consistent, whilst about half of the Ring Ouzel have lingered for a day or two, including one that was ringed in Millcombe. Some flocks of Starlings have been moving through, with a high count of the autumn of 221 counted on 15th.
Ring Ouzel in the hand in Millcombe - A. Croudace
Finch migration has started with Chaffinch numbers increasing: 49 on 14th, 166 on 15th, 269 on 16th and a big day of passage on 17th with 1463. Four Redpoll on 15th and another on 16th. Brambling singles on 15th and 16th, with 10 on 17th. After a paltry Linnet count of 11 on 14th, counts have bounced back up to just under 100 and 329 on the day of big finch passage on 17th, with most bombing through heading south. 20-30 Siskins daily, and 20-78 Goldfinches.
The sixth Lundy record Olive-backed Pipit has been associating with up to 20 Rock Pipits at Jenny's Cove/Devil's Chimney since 14th, although was not seen on 17th. Interestingly a Tree/Olive-backed Pipit type call has also been heard fleetingly on three consecutive days around the village, but a bird has not been seen on the ground to confirm the species.
The subtle beauty of an Olive-backed Pipit above Devil's Chimney A. Croudace
The single Snow Bunting was seen on the west again on 15th and 16th. Reed Buntings have become more regular, with up to three recorded daily, mostly at Pondsbury and Quarter Wall as is typical. Finally, another great bird for Lundy was a vis-mig Yellowhammer with Chaffinches over Millcbome on 17th, the ninth (and 3rd autumn) record since 2010 of this species which bred on Lundy until at least the 1950s.