By Thomas Weston
A busy day on the migration front with some really impressive totals all round, and a couple of new species for the year, which is always exciting. At this time of year, with so much migration going on and a nice number of birders on the island increasing coverage, it does sometimes feel you are ‘clearing up’ some species that may have already passed unnoticed by many.
I awoke to start census. The gorgeous sunrise this morning was incredible, and there were already Skylark and Meadow Pipits passing in the morning light – a sign of a good day ahead. In the Laundry Garden, a little Goldcrest was calling and actively feeding in the lone tall tree. The morning travel meeting was longer than normal, though these things could have been a bonus for the census ahead. All it takes is a few seconds and something could easily have been missed. In Millcombe, there were more Goldcrest, and I could hear a Firecrest before even reaching the gate. A second was in the Pines, though moved over later in the morning. I heard and saw a nice number of Chiffchaffs and Robins, a good couple of migrants at this time of year, as well as a couple of Blackcap in the bushes. There were not masses of birds in Millcombe, and if this was the case all around census, it would not have been so eventful. However….
…Walking up Battlements Corner, it was good to spot a flock of Gannets offshore, a few Shags, one of two Water Rail currently in the valley, and a singing Grey Wagtail from the direction of the pond. St Johns Valley held some more Meadow Pipits and some Linnets plus a single Stonechat. Out of Millcombe is when the bird activity and diversity increased. The slight SE wind is always a great one for migratory, and scarce species in the spring, and to some coincidence it seems like a bonus for the autumn too! Benjamin’s Chair had a flock of Ravens flying overhead, a Rock Pipit (one of three noted today around the route), and out at sea a single Auk spp flew by. The sky was alive with Skylark and Meadow Pipits with good numbers of both recorded. There were parties of Linnets, and it felt birdy. Looking at the track back to the Village by SW Field, I noted two obvious White Wagtails sat on the road. Their plumage that extra bit lighter than our Pied Wagtails of which there were two in the Village. I checked the horses legs in Lower Lighthouse Field and found the Yellow Wagtail showing well, a grey looking bird with the smallest hint of yellow in the vent, an oddball. Overhead, a couple of Grey Wagtails flew by, and a Reed Bunting passed with some Meadow Pipits.
Up at Old Light, I checked the bushes and did not see much apart from a lovely Wheatear on the wall by the Stoneycroft Paddock. The Airfield was alive with passing pipits and larks, a few Swallows too. It was halfway across the landing runway when I heard a bird that sounded somewhat familiar in Lundy terms. A single bird left a Meadow Pipit flock and began circling overhead. The call, a “pew, pew”, followed by a rattling call was of course a Lapland Bunting! This is now the 4th I have personally seen this autumn, though there has certainly been a few more too with the influx only a couple of weeks ago. The bird looked as though it was going to land, but alas turned around and headed off towards Jenny’s Cove or the Earthquake, though these strong flyers could be ending up at North End.
Approaching Pointless Wall and the Bracken seems to hide some goodies every so often. Today, a couple of Stonechats, a single Whinchat, and a surprise Reed Bunting were the best. A lovely trio of species and all migrants at the moment making it even more special. There was not much of note in Brick Field apart from a flock of Carrion Crows, though the everpresent Meadow Pipits were nice. The Quarry Cottages yielded a male Kestrel, a flyover Peregrine and in the bushes a few more Chiffchaff. Walking to the Village I passed the Game Control and checked Barton Field for anything additional. The female type Wigeon was hanging around with 12 Mallards, casually hunkered down and keeping a low profile. There was a Snipe on Pondsbury, which was new in and hunkered down. Meanwhile, the last little bit of census led to a flock of House Sparrows around Pigs.
The only omissions on census were Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Oystercatcher! However, a call to get rid of a dead bird by one of the Housekeepers in Brambles Villa led to me disposing of a Woodpigeon and seeing the Garden Warbler by the Casbah who was first found by Greg this morning.
I then did some admin and after some lunch headed up to Brazen with Eleanor. Amazingly, as we stepped outside our house, we saw a very late Swift flying around the Village, the Wigeon was still in Bartons and before leaving the Village we noted a flock of 10 Grey Herons heading south! Amazing. There was not much else to note to add to such a busy day, but there were more Swallows, some new in House Martins, and a flock of 9 Skylarks on the way back.
Catching up on other sightings reported, there was a Great white Egret seen heading west over Old Light this morning by staying guests – thus the first of the year, a Short eared Owl at North End – thus the first of the year too - who was hunkered in the Bracken and seen by the Game Control team, a few Snipe noted on the pools, a Pied Flycatcher at Tibbetts of all places (there are no trees or bushes here) plus an additional at the Terraces, a Spotted Flycatcher in the Quarries, a Merlin at Rocket Pole Pond heading straight south, and an additional Grey Heron seen before the big flock.
WHAT A DAY 😊!