By Thomas Weston
Today was my first of two designated ‘bird’ days for the week. A time when I can undertake bird related activities to enhance and promote the Bird Observatory and keep it going for more to enjoy!
I started the morning getting ready for a ringing session in Millcombe. The cool breeze flooded the house, and it felt a little cold to start, a shock to the system some may say after the last few days of sweltering heat! The first bird of the day was one of our Channel Wagtails heard flying over the house heading off to feed first thing. A nice start before I made a gradual wander down to a slightly breezy Millcombe and opened a couple of nets. I passed a nest building Chiffchaff and heard its partner singing very close by. Getting closer to the nets and a brood of Dunnocks could be heard in the bushes. Whilst opening Slope Net, a bird flushed from the bushes and landed on a small tree nearby. To my surprise it was a Siskin! A bird I was certainly not expecting for the end of May. This was then followed by a sighting of a Redpoll heading overhead with a small flock of Goldfinches and both nets for the morning were opened. The session was quality not quantity but good birds were around. I caught a retrap 2025 juvenile Willow Warbler with a brood patch, a retrap male Dunnock from 2021, a retrap female Linnet showing breeding evidence, a retrap 2yr old Blackbird who must almost have fledged young by now, and extraordinarily a new Robin. There was a lot of activity on the Red Valerian with Painted Ladys and Red Admirals filling the flowers plus a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and a Silver Y, a sign of new arrivals for sure. Overhead a new in Cuckoo flew North low over the valley and a pair of Spotted Flycatcher were seen singing and displaying above the Gas Store. I was joined by Maddie, but her luck did not transpire into any more birds unfortunately! But there were lots of Bees around for her and Chloe’s Bee Transect which was positive.
Ringing ceased around 8am so I could begin census. Going to the top of Millcombe, being joined by Eleanor, and beginning census to come back down again yielded a few nice species. Manx Shearwaters were heading south along the east coast and a couple were seen from the Ugly. We spotted a lot of breeding evidence of the ‘locals’, amazingly missed some of the highlights from the morning, but we did see three Blackcap throughout the Valley. Along St John’s there was a Stonechat and a Meadow Pipit singing. Benjamin’s Chair saw Guillemots and Razorbills with the local male Wheatear showing incredibly well. As we wandered over to Rocket Pole a few Linnets were seen. The highlight of census then flew around the Gorse Bushes and out towards SW Point before being lost to view. It was a Golden Oriole but odd not seeing this 2nd calendar year bird in Millcombe! A new bird? The Lighthouse Fields yielded a few Mallards before Old Light saw another migrant Spotted Flycatcher. For late May the Skylarks were in full voice, and more Linnets were over the Airfield. Pointless Wall Gorse held a singing male Reed Warbler who was another surprise! Quarter Wall Copse was relatively quiet though a singing Willow Warbler was the highlight. Walking back into the Village and the clouds were bubbling and swirling, a front was coming but unfortunately it did not form much rain apart from a few drops. Back in time for tea and to meet the MPs who were joining Simon, Tara and I today.
The team showed the MPs and Lords the west coast, hoping we could persuade the government officials why a Special Protection Area (SPA) would be amazing for the island. We showed the group Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrel habitat, 120+ Puffins, 40+ Kittiwakes, 2500+ Guillemots, 500+ Razorbills, passing Gannets, and a few Fulmars too. The trip was successful and hopefully something can be said in parliament regarding further designations to help protect our seabirds on Lundy. We can only hope.
The afternoon quickly turned to the evening; a Turtle Dove was photographed by Matt whilst driving to the boat hinting of either a new bird or a new location of the previous? I think new as it was seen in the morning when the Oriole was seen in an odd spot too! We met up with the other volunteers and I helped with the ringing of a brood of House Sparrows who are being monitored by the Sparrow Team before meeting up at the daily log where sightings of birds, butterflies, other wildlife was recorded. Everyone had a successful day, and it will be great to see what tomorrow brings…