Bird Sightings

Conservation Team illness limiting bird sightings again but yet again there are migrants turning up and we hope to get out soon and see them!

A Red-breasted flycatcher 1^st winter was by far the most noteworthy bird with this not only being the first of the year but the second earliest Autumn record for Lundy ever. The bird was seen around the Ugly flagpole/Lundy Field Society Steps of Doom for those who know this area of Millcombe. The bird was showing incredibly well to a crowd of birders and made for a very nice start to a calm day. Other birds in the area included an increase in Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatchers and Goldcrest. Around the Tavern, a/the Turtle Dove was seen and was noted flying around the Old Stone Crusher Site before being lost to view and ending up near Tibbetts this evening. There was also a passage of hirundines today with House Martins, Swallows and some Sand Martins being seen in the mix.

1st winter Red-breasted Flycatcher, Millcombe Valley © Angus Croudace

Ringing

The ringing team was operating in Millcombe and St John’s Valley today with over 150 birds caught and ringed throughout the day.

Conservation team illness has not helped with sightings today, although a visiting ringing group has certainly seen a few birds around which is nice.

Highlights:

• The Little Bunting remains around Quarters/The Tavern but seen first thing only and then went to ground and fed for the rest of the day in that area. No news this evening but it could be around.
• Our feral stock management team undertaking annual work on the island flushed a Turtle Dove near Tibbetts whilst driving through. An amazing record and the first of the year. A sad sign of the times for this species when reports of ‘hundreds’ were once seen on the island and regular flocks.
• A few migrants were around including Yellow Wagtails, Whinchats, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers as well as a mix of migrant warblers in the bushes of Millcombe and beyond.
• A flock of 4 Grey Herons were certainly new in migrants and were seen to be flying around the first half of the island for quite a while this evening before the rain set in.

Ringing

Ringing was undertaken in Tent Field today and a small sample of birds were caught and ringed throughout the day.

A lack of new migrants was the theme of this morning, however there were bits and bobs seen on census including 5 Whinchat, Yellow Wagtails, Firecrest, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers in the breezy southerly winds. The origin of these winds were super exciting with the wind coming from the Bay of Biscay in France and originating a long way east from there. It was therefore no doubt that we could get something a bit more unusual and this came in the form of a Little Bunting. This species is an island rarity and was only the second of its species to make it to the UK this autumn following one in Kent last week. We are looking forward to seeing what else may turn up on these winds.

Ringing

The first Rock Pipit of the year and the second Whinchat of the year caught and ringed today in Tent Field whilst targeting Meadow Pipits of which a few of them were also caught and ringed today.

Census was completed this morning and resulted in 5 Mallard, single Water rail, single Woodpigeon, single Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Kestrel, 37 Carrion Crows, 5 Ravens, 14 Skylark, 3 Sand Martins, 28 Swallows, single Garden warbler, 20 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, single Sedge Warbler, single Reed Warblers, 2 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrests, 14 Wrens, 53 Starlings, 7 Blackbird, 6 Spotted flycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 9 Robin, 2 Wheatears, 8 Whinchat, 7 Stonechat, 2 Dunnock, 32 House Sparrows, single Yellow Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtails, 6 alba wagtails, 47 Meadow Pipits, 7 Chaffinches, 221 Linnets, and 14 Goldfinches.

Other species seen today included a Kingfisher, this species is a rare bird for the island and was seen flying around the Landing Bay this morning. An evening attempt to catch Storm Petrels in the Landing Bay did not result in catching any petrels, but 2 Ringed Plovers, the 6^th and 7^th ever ringed on the island. The evening was rather exciting as we saw the aurora from the Landing Bay. Amazing as it was only supposed to be an amber alert today.

Ringing

Ringed Plover caught and ringed in the Landing Bay. ©Thomas Weston

A busy morning with ~120 birds caught and ringed in Millcombe including a nice pulse of Meadow Pipits, Blackcaps, a few Goldcrest and a mix of flycatchers and warblers. An evening session in the Landing Bay resulted in two Ringed Plover caught and ringed.