Greetings Bird Observatory people! It's been a hectic start to the year for me as the new Warden but I feel that everything is coming together nicely for the year ahead. Big thanks to Joe Parker for getting the observatory over the line and fully accredited along with Chris Dee, Tim Jones and Tim Davis for all their constant help in the background. Also, everyone else who has been part of the observatory journey should be very proud at what has been achieved. Have to mention a huge thanks to Eleanor Grover who helped me massively through January!
I'll be taking on the blog along with Thomas Weston, Eleanor Harris and the volunteers who will be joining shortly, there will be some changes to the format but it will still be packed full of the latest sightings. The island is starting to make sense to me now, having previously managed Flat Holm near Cardiff, I'm well aware of the balance that often needs to be struck on an Island with endless jobs to be done.
The Bird Observatory is one of those jobs and I'd like to promote it as much as possible, we'll be looking at doing more youth work with the BTO and other organisations but also encouraging research projects where we can. I'm also keen to encourage visiting ringers where possible and Brambles villa East will remain the chateau of choice on Lundy.
Anyway, on with last weeks sightings!
The nets were opened for the first time this year and did not disappoint, 4 Long-tailed tits arrived on the 5th and by the 7th their number had increased to 5 and all of them were successfully caught and ringed in Millcombe valley. First recorded LTTs since 2021 and they remain in Millcombe valley as I write this. We were also visited by a Hooded crow on the 4th that appeared to be mixing with the Carrion Crows, it hasn't been seen over the last couple of days so it may of moved on. In the Duck news, Mallards continue to be sighted in good numbers with 20 being spotted on the 5th, Teal are also present in Pondsbury with 8 spotted on the 8th. The first Wheatear was also recorded on the 8th swiftly followed by another at the North End of the island.
Long-tailed Tit in Millcombe © T Weston
I feel like I have to add here that the weather this week has been merciful, January and February were brutal with heavy rain and severe winds. I'm used to some nasty weather having grown up on the coast and lived on Flat Holm (I promise I won't mention this Island again!), but I was seriously questioning my life choices prior to this week.
Seabirds! So the seabirds have been steadily increasing with Razorbill consistently spotted off Benjamins chair, Jennys cove and near the North light. I would estimate around 1000 are here at the moment, Guillemots are always nearby although far less in number. Puffin reached a high today with over 100 spotted between Jennys cove and the Fog battery. Fulmar are in good number with close to 100 spotted across the North of the island. The odd Manx Shearwater has also occasionally been spotted zipping across the landing bay towards rat island or up at North light. As a seabird enthusiast, I'm slightly biased towards the colony and that's definitely something I'm looking forward to watching grow over the season.
Peregrine have been spotted almost everyday this week with at least one being sighted, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Kestrel were also present on occasion showing an increase in predator activity.
Honourable mention to a pair of intrepid Sand Martin heralding the beginning of their migration season on the 4th!