By Greg Lee
Hello everyone!
My name is Greg Lee and I’m very pleased to be joining the team as the Voluntary Bird Observatory Assistant for the season until early November. Previously, I’ve had several experiences at UK-based Bird Observatories including internships at Sandwich Bay and Spurn before becoming Assistant Warden at Sandwich Bay from 2022-24 and then spending last season as one of the Assistant Wardens at the brilliant Bird Observatory on Bardsey Island in North Wales. Having really enjoyed my season spent on Bardsey and on a remote island, I caught the island bug and jumped at the chance to apply to spend some time on Lundy this year. Until my arrival on Monday 23rd, I had never set foot on Lundy, having a rather unfortunate experience of trying to visit on a day trip whilst on a holiday in North Devon in early July 2024 (looking at the Heddon Valley High Brown Fritillaries etc.). Typically, though, the winds became strong, the sea became choppy and our boat got cancelled. No bother, we booked for the next day, only to get cancelled again! So, I was very pleased to finally arrive on the island by helicopter, getting very unique views of up to four enormous Basking Sharks loafing in the waters off the south coast of the island, my first ever. Over the season, I’ll be assisting the team in conducting the censuses, ringing and various conservation projects as well as helping the island community with the upkeep of various tasks. I’m a very keen naturalist in several areas, so as well as the birds, I’ll also be keeping an eye out for Lepidoptera, Odonata and plants (including the Lundy Cabbage) so I’m excited to see what the island delivers this season. If you are visiting the island, you will see me doing the rounds in the morning or assisting with the ringing, or you may even see me brandishing my microphone doing some sound-recordings so please feel free to say hi!
Overnight was pretty noisy on the island, an F7 wind roared in swinging round to the north-west and bringing a healthy dosage of hail which hammered down on our windows in the small hours along with a fair bit of creaking in our various accommodation. However, it is not enough to dampen our spirits and first thing in the morning, I joined Thomas and Eleanor for only my second morning census. Even though the sea was very choppy, and we were being buffeted as we walked, the sun was shining and there were some birds to be had on our patrol. Down in Millcombe, a Blackcap, Firecrest, five Goldcrests and six Chiffchaffs were using the sheltered valley for respite (had they really moved in overnight?). At first the Landing Bay also seemed quite quiet, but patience paid off with the long-staying Red-necked Grebe and two Great Northern Divers sighted on the surface of the sea. It proved to be a bit of a raptor-fest as well, with the Sparrowhawk, Merlin and one of the Peregrines all zooming past on the high winds. Near Quarry Cottages, a bit of close-in Gannet activity offshore caught our eyes. In my experience, the Gannets are usually following something else and sure enough, a pod of at least 20 Common Dolphins were breaching the surface.
After a bit of a thaw out in the office, I then turned my attention to some of the mandatory health and safety training, which gave time for the wind to die down a bit before Thomas and I headed out to check on the nets and ringing equipment in Millcombe Valley. On our way over, we detoured over to the Castle where we sighted a decent feeding frenzy of seabirds far offshore including Kittiwakes, Shags, Herring Gulls and Manx Shearwaters, though what they were following was never determined. In the Landing Bay, one of the Great Northern Divers was still lingering and a few Razorbills were close in. A White Wagtail also flicked over whilst down on the cliffs a Wheatear was singing. The wind is due to die down tomorrow so what the birds will do in response, we shall see!