Lundy Bird Observatory - Recent sightings

Page 27 of 82

Winds remained moderate NW, with dozens of brief showers over the course of the morning and then a bright sunny afternoon. A classic dawn pulse of Blackcap ensued with 20 ringed, and Goldcrest numbers continued to rise, with birds now also present in numbers in the bracken and trees along the east coast and a total of 16 logged. The heavier showers downed some migrants, with a female type Common Redstart, our second autumn Lesser Whitethroat and our fifth Wryneck of the autumn all dumping into Millcombe mid morning. Single Firecrest, Tree Pipit and Reed Warbler, three Pied Flycatcher, nine Spotted Flycatcher, 10 Chiffchaff, two Willow Warbler, four Swallow, one Sand Martin and three House Martin made up the rest of the migrant passerine highlights. 14 Oystercatcher were also seen at roost near Montagu's Steps.

Strong winds from the NW continued, although with mostly bright sun instead of the precipitation of yesterday. The top of the island was very quiet, with almost no birds picked up between Rocket Pole and Quarter Wall on census. A couple of seawatching efforts picked up a few of the more typical species, but no skuas or waders to match yesterdays highlights. The east coast was relatively sheltered and ringing efforts from the most sheltered nets in Millcombe were productive, with ~30 Blackcap ringed, and highlights of two Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Firecrest. Phylloscopus warblers were low in numbers, with two Willow Warbler and 7 Chiffchaff. As well as the modest arrival of Blackcap, there were more Goldcrest in today, with two on the terrace and 12 in Millcombe. Good numbers of Whinchat continue, with a day count of 9 remaining from our peak of 15 a few days ago. Other observatories such as Skokholm and Dungeness have reported great Whinchat counts too, and so it looks like it has been a positive breeding season for this species. The big clear out of Wheatears yesterday left us with just 5 seen today. A Grasshopper Warbler was present on the bund at Pondsbury along with the Grey Heron, although no sign of the Teal that has been around for a week. Lots of the new in Carrion Crows were still around Quarter Wall, with 38 counted on census.

24 09 11 Mallard BartonsField ThomasWeston

Mallard caught and ringed in Barton's Field. ©ThomasWeston

Logbook counts included: 16 Mallard, 1 Feral Pigeon, 5 Woodpigeon, 2 Water Rail, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Snipe, 2 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 33 unidentified auk spp., 18 Kittiwake, 3 Herring Gull, 10 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Fulmar, 6 Manx Shearwater, 25 Gannet, 4 Cormorant, 16 Shag, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 40 Carrion Crow, 6 Raven, 10 Skylark, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 19 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 62 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 14 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 13 Wren, 80 Starling, 6 Blackbird, 5 Spotted flycatcher, 6 Robin, 6 Pied Flycatcher, 9 Whinchat, 15 Stonechat, 5 Wheatear, 4 Dunnock, 17 House Sparrow, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtail, 7 alba wagtail, 106 Meadow Pipit, 7 Rock Pipit, 7 Chaffinch, 280 Linnet and 24 Goldfinch.

A big clear out of common and scarce migrants but a seawatch from SW Point in strong W winds resulted in a Pomaraine Skua, 67 Gannets, 4 Guillemots, a single Razorbill, 8 Auk spp., 3 Fulmars, a single Whimbrel, 4 Kittiwakes, and 8 Manx Shearwaters.

Ringing

An evening nightcatching session led to 8 Manx Shearwater and a retrap Skylark being caught.

A big fall again on the island today with the most noticeable being the warblers. Birding began at midnight with 2 Tree Pipits heard flying around over the Village just after the turn of the new day. They were heard flying around Benjamin’s Chair where the release of a couple of Village Manx Shearwaters was being made.

Census was very busy with 15 Mallard, single Water Rail, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, single Herring Gull, 4 Lesser-black backed gulls, 3 Gannets, 33 Shag, 3 Kestrel, single Peregrine, 41 Carrion Crows, 3 Ravens, 2 Sand Martins, 9 Swallows, 59 Blackcap, single Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Reed Warblers, 12 Willow Warbler, 29 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrests, 3 Firecrest, 12 Wrens, 95 Starlings, 6 Blackbird, 28 Spotted flycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 9 Robin, 12 Wheatears, 3 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat, 2 Dunnock, 17 House Sparrows, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtails, 6 Tree Pipits, 18 Meadow Pipits, single Rock Pipit, 6 Chaffinches, 30 Linnets, and 22 Goldfinches.

Along the Terraces 50+ Blackcap, 5 Whitethroats, 14 Spotted flycatchers, and a female Redstart. In Millcombe later this morning yielded a Red-backed shrike, the first one this year and a rather scarce bird for the island too! Meanwhile, there were 3 Spotted flycatchers and 2 Wheatears on South Light.

Ringing

A successful hour in the afternoon resulted in over 50 birds caught including a House Martin and a nice mix of Blackcap and other migrants.

Another stray Manx Shearwater appeared between Old School today.

Page 27 of 82

External links

Bird Sightings

September 12th Sightings - Showery pulses downed another Wryneck

September 11th Sightings - Some Nice Birding

September 10th Sighting - A Pomaraine Skua

Ringing

September 9th Sighting - A Red backed Shrike

Ringing

Bird sightings archive