The week of the 5th to 12th May brought mostly settled weather, which led to some consistent hirundine passage and a trickle of Swift sightings, resulting in observations of 1868 Swallow on 7th which was trumped only two days later by movement of a staggering 3076 on 9th, counted between 10.30 and 18.00 (but the great majority from 13:00 to 16:00) mainly along the west and leaving from North Light, with 1425 House Martin and 117 Swift also counted moving north off the island the same day.
A few waders continue to drop in on the island, Whimbrel being a consistent star, seen each day until 10th, with a high count of four on 6th. A couple of Lapwing passed through, one of which showed well in Brick Field on 7th. Turnstone and Common Sandpiper were spotted at North Light on 6th. Dunlin have trickled through most days, with a high count of nine observed on the 9th across the south of the island. A Ringed Plover and Greenshank were heard on 10th around Pondsbury too. As of 10th May we still had four Teal on Pondsbury, three of which males. Lundy has had more Cuckoo action, with two birds seen or heard on the 8th, 10th and 12th mainly around Millcombe and the east coast, including a likely female looking for Meadow Pipit nests. A Collared Dove has been seen every day except 12th, and two were seen during Bird Obs census on 11th.
Lapwing, Brick Field on 7 May. Tim Jones
In seabird news, large feeding flocks of 200-500 Kittiwake were observed off the west on 5th and 6th, and following this, they were first seen getting busy collecting nesting material on 7th at Aztec Bay, which held 196 birds on ledges.
Auk counts have also been good, with an excellent count of 5116 Guillemot on cliffs at Jenny’s Cove on 10th, joined by 573 Razorbill neighbours. A year high Puffin count was achieved on 8th with 496 counted at Jenny’s Cove over both land and sea, and complemented by another 43 from the North End. Manx Shearwater have been seen in the distance most days, and on 10th over 480 were seen travelling north close off the east of the island. Despite the bright moon and clear night skies, birds can be heard calling from the village. A high count of 108 Shag was achieved on 12th, with most birds seen in the far north. A large number of nest sites have also been located.
On morning of 12th, a group of unhappy gulls and crows along the east drew attention to a female-type Marsh Harrier moving quickly north, a first for the year! 6th and 7th brought sightings of a pale female Merlin, mostly seen in the northernmost quarter. Hooded Crow have been spotted across six days, including a max of two on 7th and 12th near the water tanks and Brick Field. One of the birds on 7th seemed more of a hybrid phenotype. There has been considerable Raven activity of late with two fledged broods seen, one just south of Long Roost and one Benjamins Chair, totalling five young. Ravens have been very busy over the seabird colonies with surveys regularly including sightings of Guillemot egg thieving.
Our trusty Millcombe Song Thrush continues to sing every day, with great renditions of Greenshank within its varied repertoire, which regularly confuses the Merlin bird app. Numbers of Passerine migrants are dwindling now, with 9th-10th being the first two consecutive days with less than three Blackcap since the end of March. However, Garden Warbler sightings continue. Two were seen on both 7th and 12th, with singles several other days.
Several of Lundy’s breeding passerine residents have been observed collecting nesting material or food, including Starling, Blackbird, Linnet, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, and good coverage on 9th meant 38 Wren were seen or heard, many displaying breeding behaviours. On 5th May a brood of five Stonechat chicks were located and ringed at Pondsbury Heath.
Stonechat nest (monitored under license), Brennig Hughes
We have had great views of Spotted Flycatcher every day, including 12 on 12th, mostly on the East and especially Barton’s/Upper Millcombe fenceline, their favourite Lundy perch. These were joined by Pied on 6th, 7th, and a stunning Pied male on 10th. 6th brought us a Whinchat, and the days either side provided possibly the last Common Redstart sightings of the spring, with a Black Redstart too on 5th. Among the good Wheatear counts (47 on 5th and 7th), we have had a smattering of smart Greenland candidates.
After careful identification, it seems as though Lundy has seen both a male and female Yellow Wagtail and Blue-headed Wagtail throughout the week, the male Blue-headed bearing a ring and being the potential Channel Wagtail candidate first spotted on 1st. Mainly seen around Barton’s Field and the village, this bird seems to be sticking around, spotted almost every day. Tree Pipit sightings have continued every day except 12th, and the presumed long-stayer was seen bathing on 8th in Millcombe. As of 6th, we had 146 Linnet still remaining. 5th and 6th brought more Siskin sightings, with three and six respectively.
In Lepidoptera news, during the calm, bright weather of 11th, we experienced a sudden influx of at least 115 Painted Lady and 126 Red Admiral on 11th, and have been observing other species including Small Copper and Small Heath (17 on 12th), Common Blue and Brown Silver-Line moth. 11th also brought a record sighting of a Four Spotted Chaser, the 4th Lundy record since the mass invasion of 1963! The sighting was then replicated on 12th.
Four-spotted Chaser, Pondsbury 11 May. Tim Davis