Over the last five days we have had some exciting migration movements, the highlight being three very special species of warbler...
On the 22nd, around 14:50, Ezra Sherwell located a Melodious Warbler along Quarter Wall. The bird was rather elusive but remained in the area into the evening when it was relocated by visiting birder Andy Jayne. A Western Bonelli's Warbler was spotted on the 24th by visiting birder Dave Fairhurst in Quarter Wall Copse at 09:20 and relocated repeatedly by the Conservation Team throughout the day. Dave and Andy detected the call, confirming the bird to be the Western species. A second Western Bonelli's Warbler was located later in the day in Millcombe, and since then a single bird has been seen mutiple times in this area. About 20:45 on the 25th, Ezra discovered an Icterine Warbler in Millcombe Allotments.
Western Bonelli's Warbler. J.Parker, August 24
Other warbler passage continues to pulse through the Island. A small influx of 84 Willow Warbler was recorded on the 21st, including 42 birds ringed in Millcombe. A single Reed Warbler was in Millcombe on 23rd, one was ringed on 24th, and one retrapped on 25th; these are the first records since one was ringed July 17. Grasshopper Warbler was noted reeling above Quarry Beach on 21st, and another skulking about Stoneycroft on 23rd. One Garden Warbler was ringed in Millcombe on 22nd, and one seen in Millcombe on 23rd. We are having daily records of Whitethroat, and on the 22nd 11 were recorded about the Island, including one ringed in Millcombe. A Lesser Whitethroat was ringed in Millcombe on the 23rd!
Frequently joining the warblers in feeding flocks throughout Millcombe and the East Coast copses, crests have been noted repeatedly. Firecrest: two on the 21st, three on the 22nd, two on the 24th and three on the 25th. Goldcrest: one on the 23rd, two on the 24th, eight on the 25th. We also continue to have daily flycatcher sightings with the highest Spotted Flycatcher count over the last five days of 17 on the 24th, and 9 Pied Flycatcher on the 25th.
Wader movements continue to bring super records every day as birds pass by Lundy en route to their wintering grounds. On the 21st, three Snipe were seen at Pondsbury, a Common Sandpiper and a Turnstone called from the North End, and a Curlew was heard calling along the East Coast, flying north along with a Ringed Plover, the latter bird eventually seen pattering about the North End Turning Circle in the afternoon. Another two Ringed Plover, a single Curlew and a Dunlin were heard passing below Smelly Gully on the 22nd, a Snipe flew up over Millcombe Valley, and a Whimbrel headed south, calling past Halfway Wall. On the 23rd, a Lapwing called briefly over Brick Field, two Snipe were at Pondsbury and a Dunlin called below the Battlements. A single Curlew flew south past Benjamin's chair on the 24th.
On the MS Oldenburg crossing to Lundy on the 23rd, 90 Guillemot and three Razorbill were seen on the water. In other seabird news, in our monitored Storm Petrel nest boxes, the first egg has hatched! Only nine chicks remain in our monitored Manx Shearwater boxes as the oldest chick has now fledged - good luck little guy!
Four Cormorant were recorded in Jenny's Cove on the 21st. Another nice record for the 21st was a Water Rail, calling near Quarter Wall. A bird was flushed from this same location on the 23rd, these two records being the first confirmed for this species since 14th April! Frequent sightings of Wryneck continue, with a single bird in Millcombe on the 21st, one on the Terrace on the 23rd, and two in Millcombe on the 25th. The same pale morph Buzzard was seen thermalling above St Helen's Copse on the 21st, mobbed by a family of Raven, but has not been seen since. Other raptor sightings include a male Sparrowhawk, which has been noted about the Island since the 21st, and both a male and female since the 23rd.
Hirundine passage has been in dribs and drabs over the past five days. The biggest day for Sand Martin was on the 23rd, with 50 recorded, 30 Swallow on the 25th, and 13 House Martin, also on the 25th.
Other passerine passage includes a female/immature type Redstart, spotted on the Terrace on the 23rd, and singles recorded in Millcombe and on the Terrace on the 24th, two Whinchat on the 21st and 25th, and singles on the 22nd and 23rd, two Yellow Wagtail on the 22nd, and singles on the 24th and 25th, and one Grey Wagtail over Millcombe on the 22nd. Finally, we continue to have frequent flyovers of Tree Pipit: two on the 21st, seven on the 22nd, eight on the 23rd, seven on the 24th and three on the 25th.