A survey of the breeding Kittiwake colony at Aztec Bay on the 4th revealed that all remaining chicks have now fledged, however several are still frequently returning to their nests with adults in between sea explorations. Whilst trying to land, these cliff-nesters were repeatedly battered by juvenile Peregrine Falcon learning to hunt. A survey of the Fulmar colony at Gannet's Rock on the 30th found 15 chicks present. While no Guillemot nor Razorbill remain on Lundy, a handful of male birds with their chicks have been seen over the past week from the MS Oldenburg crossing. An incredible seabird sighting was experienced on the evening of the 29th whilst setting up mist nets to catch Storm Petrel... a mega feeding frenzy of 600+ Gannet were seen endlessly plunging into the sea in two massive flocks off the North East of the Island. Recent Storm Petrel catches achieved 95 on the 29th and 24 on the 3rd. We have received information on the original ringing locations of 17 control birds we have caught recently and these can be seen on the Storm Petrel species account. A particularly interesting one was from Eilean nan Ron, on the north coast of Scotland!
Two Ringed Plover have been recorded on Lundy over the last week, one flying south over Rocket Pole on the 30th, a second heard from Quarter Wall Copse on the 1st. One Curlew was heard early morning on the 29th and again calling from Lower Lightouse Field during census. A Common Sandpiper was noted in the Landing Bay on the 28th, one at Brazen Ward on the 30th and one on Rat Island on the 2nd.
Autumn passage migration is continuing to slowly pick up, with two Sand Martin recorded at Ackland's Pond during census on the 2nd and a small southward passage of 12 Swallow over the Island on this same day. We have recently had the odd sighting of Spotted Flycatcher, including one bird at Stoneycroft on the 31st, one at Millcombe Pines on the 1st, and one above Quarter Wall Copse on the 2nd. We have recently had a small influx of Willow Warbler, with 40+ birds about the Island on the 28th, 29th, 1st and 2nd, 30 birds ringed in Millcombe on the 28th and 20 birds ringed on the 2nd. In terms of commonly breeding birds, large collective groups of adult and juvenile Linnet are frequently noted, with flocks of 60+ birds repeatedly seen in Ackland's Moor and Middle Park. We continue to have minimal sightings of Whitethroat, however on the 3rd, one adult with three juveniles was seen at St Helen's Combe, a positive confirmation of breeding on the Island.
An intriguing moth was found by Tony Taylor on the 2nd, a Lesser Yellow Underwing, found (after close scrutinisation by the Conservation Team over evening Bird Log) to be a subspecies generally found only on Lundy and the Isles of Scilly (ssp. sagittifer).
The first Grey Seal pup of the year has been found! Seen with its mum, swimming and playing in the cove below Benjamin's Chair on the 4th. This pup still has a white coat and is estimated by the Seal Survey Team to be 6-7 days old. After gathering photos of the adult female, they have found that she pupped on the same beach last year!
First Grey Seal pup of the year! K. Cox, August 4