We have had quite a change in the weather here on Lundy over the last week. The blistering heat and weeks of no rain has finally broken and given way to strong winds and sporadic heavy showers. The rain is being greatfully recieved however, as the Island has been suffering a severe water shortage.
Only a small passage of Willow Warbler has moved through the Island over the last week, perhaps the inclement weather having put a slight halt on movements across the Channel. The highest count of the last week was 27 on the 30th. Mist netting in Millcombe has been very hard work, with windows for putting nets up being few and far between. Mostly singles of other warblers have been sighted, with one Grasshopper Warbler near Quarter Wall Copse on the 26th, one Sedge Warbler in Millcombe on the 30th, a single Whitethroat along the East Sidelands on the 27th, 28th and 31st, and three of this species, also along the East, on the 29th. A single Western Bonelli's Warbler continued to be seen in Millcombe between 26th-29th.
Similar to the warblers, flycatcher numbers seem to have diminished slightly. Birds that are present are most frequently seen flycatching determinedly from the tall sycamores opposite Millcombe House, along the valleyside, drizzle or none. Highest recent counts were six Spotted Flycatcher on the 26th and five Pied Flycatcher on the 27th, all along the Eastside and in Millcombe. The highest count of Firecrest over the last week was five on the 26th, across Quarter Wall Copse, St Helen's Copse and Millcombe. This was also the highest number recorded for August. For Goldcrest, the highest count of the week was was six on the 29th, across the same locations.
An exciting wader noted on the 28th was Wood Sandpiper, heard calling, and even singing at one point, by Dave Fairhurst as the bird flew west over the Terrace at 13:50. Single Whimbrel have been logged over the Island on the 26th, 28th, 29th and 30th, and a single Curlew was heard along the west on the 28th. One Turnstone was seen on Miller's Cake on the 26th, and a pair at the North End, buffetted by the crashing waves, on the 29th. Two Common Sandpiper were recorded in the Landing Bay on the 29th.
The latest news from our Storm Petrel nest box monitoring is that the first breeding pair with a chick (hatched last week), have already finished brood guarding. This means that the adults will leave the chick in the nest during the day to forage over the sea, returning to feed it only during the night. A recent check of the Manx Shearwater nest boxes revealed just two chicks remaining, seven more having fledged since our last check! There appears to have been mass fledging across the colonies, the peak fledging time seeming to be much earlier this year than usueal and already the cliffs are emptying out; the majority of chicks tend to leave Lundy in September. Several groups of visiting ringers have been helping the Conservation Team ringing Manx Shearwater fledglings recently, and a massive effort has been put in over the last week with over 300 fledglings ringed across the nights.
More sightings of passing Cormorant continue, with two on the 27th, ten heading south over Rocket Pole on the 30th, and two along the East Coast on the 31st. Other dispersal movements can be seen in the form of a steadily growing Carrion Crow flock, birds seeming to have a preference for feeding in Brick Field. The highest count of the month was 37 on the 31st.
A male and female Sparrowhawk were sighted again on the 26th, but since then just one bird, usually a male, has been seen each day.
A Wryneck was present in Millcombe on the 26th, and one in Quarter Wall Copse on the 27th. Small numbers of Whinchat are still being recorded, with one at the North End on the 27th and two in Quarter Wall Copse on the 31st. A single Yellow Wagtail was seen in the Village on the 26th, on the 27th singles were reported at Quarter Wall and in Barton's Field, and two went over Ackland's Moor on the 31st. A Blue-headed Wagtail was seen just north of the Village on the 28th, and another on the 30th. Five Tree Pipit were recorded on the 26th, and just one on the 31st.
Sadly we have had a couple Grey Seal pup casualties, the probable cause of one mortality below Benjamin's chair being the surging waves crashing against the shore in the strong winds. In positive pup news, new pups are appearing every couple of days, mothers seeming to favour Quarry Beach, White Beach and Ladies Beach so far.