Bird Sightings

Barnacle Geese were the highlight of the day, with a flock of 3 seen flying around the south end early morning, and a flock of 4 picked up mid-afternoon ranging between Pondsbury and the village. This is the 13th record of Barnacle Goose for the island and the first since 2022. 33 Redwing were recorded, the highest count of these migratory thrushes of the autumn so far. A Ring Ouzel was also briefly seen and heard at the Timekeeper's Hut in the evening. At Pondsbury a Reed Bunting, Teal, and Whinchat were recorded, with an additional Whinchat recorded on Ackland's Moor. A single Lapwing and 3 Golden Plover were the highlight waders, and 5 Firecrest were recorded in Millcombe.

Barnacle Geese © Adam Hobbs

Redwing at Old Light © Tom Williams

A good day for waders with singles of Dunlin, Curlew, and Lapwing, as well as five Golden Plover and ten Common Snipe. A Short-eared Owl was seen in the afternoon around Halfway Wall following one being ringed the previous night, the first ringed on Lundy since 1966. A Great Northern Diver was seen in the Landing Bay alongside an adult Black-headed Gull, later in the day a first-winter Black-headed Gull was in Barton's Field. A Snow Bunting was seen at the north end , 2 Whinchat were on Ackland's Moor, and 3 Wheatear were logged across the island. in Millcombe a late Spotted Flycatcher joined a Lundy Field Society work party, and 4 Firecrest were recorded on census. The Short-toed Lark was seen today for the 15th day, after not being seen on the 6th. 

Kestrel preening above Mousetrap © Neil Barnes

The highlight bird of the day was a juvenile Purple Heron seen in the afternoon flying north approximately 1km off the east coast of the island. This is the second record of this species on the island this year, a first in Lundy history. Three juvenile Grey Heron were seen in various locations, with two having roosted in Millcombe. A mobile Cormorant was seen throughout the day. A late Spotted Flycatcher was seen in the village and later ringed in Millcombe. Seven Firecrest were recorded in Millcombe and St Helen's Copse. Two Whinchat were seen at Ackland's Moor in the morning. Three Water Rail were recorded in Millcombe including a showy bird on the pond. Two Sparrowhawk and a Merlin were also seen.

Juvenile Purple Heron, seen distantly from Millcombe flying north up the east coast © Tom Williams

A Grey Wagtail headed northwest over Millcombe at dawn, with three Firecrest and a Sparrowhawk also logged in Millcombe throughout the day. Three Siskin were a notable sighting with limited finch migration recorded this autumn. A Lapwing was seen around Ackland's Moor. One Wheatear was reported, and a Spotted Flycatcher frequented the Teasels in the village. A Cormorant was seen on the water at Pondsbury, and a single Grey Heron flew south past the terrace in the afternoon. Seawatching produced 92 Gannet, 4 Kittiwake, and 5 Auk sp. . The Short-toed Lark was also seen for the 13th day.

Short-toed Lark (3rd October) © Tom Williams