By Thomas Weston
The weather forecast featured rain and light winds from the west for most of the morning before coming out sunny and warm in the afternoon. Now, Lundy and weather can be particularly unpredictable, and it really depends on which one you end up looking at! There was quite a thick fog hanging over the island, but something felt different, a warm breeze braced the island and whilst walking down to the Boat meeting, a Willow Warbler emerged in the Laundry Garden. When there are warblers in the Village you know it will be a good migration day, but it was odd. Could they see the island? Was the mix of fog too disorientating? Did they pass overhead in the night whilst the moon was bright and heading on over whilst we slept? Predicting migration is a nightmare here and questioning it leads to many more questions!
A Foggy Start by Eleanor Harris
Anyway, Eleanor was set for undertaking census today. The fog lingered throughout, though Eleanor still spotted some nice species which was very exciting! Some of the results included that Millcombe had an increase in finches with numbers of Goldfinch and Linnet up. There was a nice selection of warblers with Blackcap, Chiffchaff (one singing), Willow Warbler (one singing), and a single Goldcrest seen demonstrating a very small arrival of birds who must have seen the island as they came across. Other migrants in the Millcombe area included 2 White Wagtails flying north from Castle Hill as well as the return of the Song Thrush. Fog was a real problem past Benjamin’s Chair and the views were quite limited. There was a couple of more unusual species seen here with a Ringed Plover heard in flight having taken off from Kistvaen Pond (the one by Rocket Pole Pond) as well as a flyover Canada Goose (24th island record) heard honking as it flew past. Amazing! Fog made the rest of census difficult due to visibility and heading back to the Village to chill before Tavern was the plan.
Castle Hill by Thomas Weston
Meanwhile, Greg and I undertook housekeeping, so our species were mostly seen via a moving Landrover but there were some nice bits and bobs around. Castle Hill and the south-east corner of the island was drenched in sun for most of the morning before the fog crept from the northern areas of the island and enveloped this section too. A flock of House Martins came in off the sea at The Castle plus a few Swallows and Sand Martins too. Whilst cleaning around the Millcombe area I saw a ‘Northern’ acredula type Willow Warbler, the Treecreeper calling near St John’s Valley, and spotted a Redwing coming out of the Blackthorn too! A nice selection of migrants to add to the other sightings made by birders and ringers, plus daytrippers on the island.
Oldenburg by Thomas Weston
Tara welcomed the first boat of the season back in and said hi to Simon who has been off island for the last few days. The first boat is always a momentous day for the island and Tara is one of the first people who helps see the boat in and makes sure everyone is okay as they arrive. Her work doesn’t only involve seeing boats in on travel days but also helping give lifts to people up the Beach Road, helping with luggage, shop stores supplies, moving logs and making sure the island is in a good condition for those staying and for those visiting too.