Bird Sightings

By Thomas Weston

A day off on Lundy never really goes the way you thought it would! A cosy, relaxing lie in before a nice stroll to the Landing Bay was the initial idea when we went to sleep last night, but we awoke early and looked at the rain radar which looked cloudy and not wet. We knew a storm was coming, but we thought why not undertake census and then take a trip to the Landing Bay in the afternoon.

We got up and started census. The wind even between our house and Millcombe Valley started increasing but we persevered. A singing Dunnock was nice to hear from the Ugly, and out in the Landing Bay, a single Great Northern Diver, a couple of passing Gannets and 3 Oystercatchers were the best. Moving on round to St John’s Valley, we almost thought about forfeiting census and treating ourselves to that day off, but we chose to continue despite the weather. Amazingly, 7 Razorbills and 3 Shag were off Benjamin’s Chair, having not been present here recently due to the swell, and the now resident pair of Mallards were on Rocket Pole Pond.

Caspian Gull in Lower Lighthouse. ©Thomas Weston

However, this is when the wind increased even more, the cloud base dropped to less than 50m above the island and the drizzle started. A female Merlin zipped past us as walked SW Field and in the distance, we could see gulls. We decided to walk to Old Light and then view the flocks from a distance. It worked well, and we worked our way through the flock with binoculars. The usual Herring Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, and Great Black-Backed Gulls were seen until one gull stuck out from the flock. Our initial thought was a 2^nd calendar year Caspian Gull, if it was it would be the first for the island. The plumage looked great, and we have both seen this species in Skagen, Denmark previously. But we thought it cannot be! So we took some photos and sent to a few people who could provide a second opinion. Firstly, Liam Langley, a seabird researcher who has a passion for gulls and IDing them too, we thought he would be the first best shout and hopefully could look at the message in good time. Second, Simon SC, the head of Skagen Fuglestation who had seen hundreds, if not thousands of this species, and finally Simon Kiese, a birder from Germany of which the species breed. Between the Watertanks and Quarter Wall, we had responses from all three saying that they agreed it is a 2^nd calendar year Caspian Gull – a first for the island! Amazing, and worth the drenching that occurred after on our way back to the village having completed census.

After some respite from the weather and some lunch we headed to South Light to have a look around the lighthouse. The front had passed, and the weather cleared from the west, so we were treated to some sunlight. It was great to have a look around the lighthouse and nice to see some species on the way too. This including a Red-necked Grebe in the Landing Bay, a flock of migrant Meadow Pipits arrived from the East and a Red-throated Diver to the south of South Light. As the afternoon was getting on, we made the decision to head back to the Village and enjoy a more relaxed evening. What a day, and what a day off!

By Eleanor Harris

Today really feels like the first day that spring has sprung on the island since we arrived with warm and mild weather after the cold from the storm. A real and noticeable change has come with many signs around of what is going come. It was a beautiful morning to be out and about for sure. On my walk to work in Housekeeping I had a few Starlings showing well and some rather friendly House Sparrows outside the laundry a nice start to the day. 

Whilst I was Housekeeping this morning Thomas headed off to complete census with some of the highlights being a Female Sparrowhawk, Jackdaw, Male Kestrel on Quarry Cottages and 18 Pied Wagtails. Signs of spring are all around the island with birds starting to think about breading so some exiting few months ahead of us, but we will keep you all posted on this so watch this space!!

Meanwhile, Simon and the team headed up North to Gannets Combe to continue tree planting with the help of some of our guests. A very successful time was had, and we look forward to you seeing the efforts of their hard work when you visit next.

Landing Bay View ©EleanorHarris

At my tea and toast break I decided to head for a short walk to see what I could find in Millcombe.  It was great to be out and about on such a clear day with views of the mainland, the first for many days. I headed to the Ugly and on my way saw a Robin and a few Dunnocks. The highlight came with a Red Throated Diver hanging out in the Landing Bay, lovely to see in full summer plumage!

Before heading back to work it was great to have some outside time and feel the warm sun after the cold and grey days. Signs of spring are around with a Peacock and a Large White Butterfly seen in Millcombe and the Village which are some of the first of the new season.

Whilst working we had reports of a Basking Shark in the Landing Bay from two staff members and their guests, this was a rather exciting as they are rarely seen from Lundy. Tara rushed down to the bay but was unable to catch a glimpse of this elusive creature. After work both me and Thomas went to have a look from the Castle but sadly it had moved on before we reached the area. On the way though we did have some excellent views of a female Merlin looking rather dramatic against the clear open Lundy skies. It was not a wasted trip as we had some incredible views of a Gannet feeding in the bay with three Shags. It is rare to see then this close, so it was super cool and a great finish to the working day.

Camping Field View. ©Eleanor Harris

The plan for the evening is to relax and do some Night Catching the first of the season. Overall, it has been a great day with signs of spring surrounding the island and beautiful clear skies. We will see what the weather brings in the next day or so and how spring progresses on the island.

Snipe in the hand and ringed under licence. ©Eleanor Harris

A little update on our Night Catching was that it was a great evening overall with a Common Snipe and a Skylark ringed and processed on a calm and clear night. We will keep you posted throughout the upcoming season on our nighttime adventures!!

By Thomas Weston

Last night was mostly wind, rain and hail, so to wake up to a glimmer of sunlight was a nice change to yesterday’s weather. The wind did not die down until the afternoon, and hail showers passed through throughout the morning, but it was great to be out.

Pair of Mallards in Rocket Pole Pond - Don't forget to record breeding evidence. ©Thomas Weston

Census started well with a few Chaffinches calling in Millcombe, and our hardy flock of 6 Woodpigeons sheltering just below Government trying to get out of the wind. The Landing Bay was something from another world with flat conditions making it easy to pick out our winter plumaged Great Northern Diver close offshore. Walking round to Benjamin’s Chair was a different state of play, with towering waves and no auks on show today. However, a friendly pair of Stonechat and a flock of very peachy Meadow Pipits were nice to see. Rocket Pole held a pair of Mallards. We have started recording any signs of breeding evidence on the island so if you spot any birds showing signs of breeding (singing, nest building, presence in good habitat, feeding chicks etc) then please let us know.

Female Sparrowhawk in the Lambing Shed ©Tom Carr

My first hail storm soaking of the day followed as I walked through South West Field. However, a small flock of Herring, Great Black-Backed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls were a good consolation. The Airfield was quiet, and missing the daily sheep feeding resulted in slightly lower numbers of Carrion Crows today. A brief bit of sunshine resulted in two singing Skylarks whilst another nice flock of Meadow Pipits near Quarter Wall were lovely to see. Quarter Wall Copse was very quiet and the walk back to the Village did not yield many birds. However, farmer Tom sent a great photo of a female Sparrowhawk in the Lambing Shed, after a tasty House Sparrow or Starling methinks.

Spot the Cormorant!

Admin and lunch called but a brief chat to Lundy regular Myra was very lovely. She has just arrived to the island for a short stay and within an hour she had already found a potential Cormorant in the Landing Bay. A scarce species and the first for the year so a quick walk to drop bits off in the Gas Store resulted in confirming the Cormorant as well as seeing a distant Red-throated Diver flying in from the North, and a resting Guillemot as well as gulls heading from the Mainland from the East. A great day and a productive one too!

By Thomas Weston

Today has been a day of wind, wind, wind! Gusts of up to 40mph have battled the island from the west and resulted in low cloud and drizzly outbursts of rain too making Lundy particularly wet and windy today.

However, wind did not stop census today. It was a quiet one for sure with nothing more than 6 Woodpigeons, a single Wren who flew into my legs, and a female Sparrowhawk perched by Old School being the only species of note in Millcombe – in fact the only species seen in Millcombe!! It is amazingly hard to imagine that deep in the undergrown there are Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds thinking about breeding soon. Not to mention all those migrants waiting to come over to the island and pass through to breeding grounds further North!

Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls at the Watertanks. ©ThomasWeston

The strong west winds resulted in a sheltered Landing Bay with a small flock of Shag hidden close to the shore and a single Oystercatcher on the rocks. Alas no sign of the Great Northern Diver today, though it could well be out there somewhere amongst the waves. Walking into a blown-out St John’s Valley, and eye watering views over Benjamin’s Chair resulted in no birds being seen, however some impressive big waves and being intermittently blown sideways was the ‘highlight’. Southwest fields yielded a couple of Meadow Pipits, though they stayed low and sheltered. The Lighthouse Fields and the Watertanks Pool was productive for gulls, with large flocks totalling 288 Herring Gulls, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 11 Great-Black Backed Gulls. There were a few Mallards on the Pool and a few suspect pairs in prime breeding areas so we hope they are soon to be sat on eggs when the weather warms up! Back to the Airfield and the usual Skylark was seen, not singing his heart out but hunkered in some long grass looking rather cold. Quarter Wall and the walk back into the Village was wet and windy, though invigorating to be out in weather so extreme.

The Conservation Team then met up for hot drinks and a chat about some upcoming projects, exciting times ahead and we look forward to bringing more updates to you when we can. However, with the weather closing in even more and cloud cloaking the island, this afternoon’s bird reports are few and far between, though a female Merlin at Castles was seen by one of the staff.