Bird Sightings

Thank you to the Oldenburg staff for allowing the Conservation Team to undertake a quick whole-island boat survey of the island. Sightings included 26 Oystercatchers, 22 Great-Black Backed Gulls, 22 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 74 Herring Gulls, 2 Raven, 2 Peregrines, 78 Puffins (see our recent highest counts for more information), 79 Seals, 47 Shags, 2 Gannets, 2 Rock Pipits, 126 Fulmar, 407 Razorbills (big undercount), 1726 Guillemots (big undercount), 85 Kittiwakes, a Common Sandpiper (island scarcity), and a Bar-tailed Godwit. A few photos from the trip below…
Guillemots on Gannets Rock. ©Thomas WestonGuillemots on Gannets Rock ©Thomas WestonRazorbills in Gannet Coombe. ©Thomas Weston

Greenland Wheatear on the Airfield. ©Richard Campey

A quieter day on the island but some migrants are still pushing through the cooler wind. A survey at Jenny’s Cove resulted in 79 Puffins, 559 Razorbills, 641 Guillemots and 44 Fulmars spotted on the cliffs. Visible migration was quite strong with 2 Rooks attempting to migrate out from the NW and a passage of hirundines again. On the way back, a Yellow Wagtail was in Barton’s Field feeding with the horses, more ‘Greenland’ Wheatears were noted on the Plateau including a flock of 14 noted near Pondsbury this afternoon (no rings seen so undoubtably new in). At Pondsbury itself a small flock of Mallard and a pair of Grey herons were seen! In the Village, 2 Collared Doves were seen by the Camping Field.

Ringing

A late night resulted in birds being caught on the Airfield after midnight. This included a nice small catch of ‘Greenland Wheatear’ with some of these storing a large quantity of fat and muscle.

Not many sightings today. However, the highlights included a Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler singing in Millcombe, a second Cuckoo in Quarter Wall Copse and a Redpoll species flying around Millcombe. The Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin remained on the Lower Lighthouse Field. There was no sign of any Orioles, Herons, Shrikes etc today.

Ringing

Bar-tailed godwit caught and ringed on nocturnal surveys. ©Thomas Weston

A busy morning with roughly ~50 birds caught in Milcombe including a small fall of migrant warblers. A nocturnal survey resulted in a nice mix of species caught before midnight. The Bar-tailed Godwit was only the 2^nd ever ringed on the island with the previous record being in 1979.

Big migration day with lots of Lundy scarcities about today....Ring Ouzel on the Old Hospital. ©Thomas Weston

Census counts this morning were completed in beautiful weather again today. There were a few highlights including a male Ring Ouzel who was around Rocket Pole before alighting, circling, gaining height and heading high North out of view; a Rook flew low South past Quarter Wall; a Yellow Wagtail in Barton’s Field and a Greenfinch. Other totals included 2 Mallards, 5 Woodpigeons, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 7 Herring Gulls, 3 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 163 Razorbills, single Fulmar, 2 Shag, single male Sparrowhawk, pair of Kestrels, 3 Peregrine, 33 Carrion Crow, 4 Ravens, 9 Skylarks, 10 Sand Martins, 24 Swallows, 10 House Martins, 7 Blackcap,  4 Sedge Warblers, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 13 Wrens, 58 Starlings, 10 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 8 Robins, 14 Wheatears, female Stonechat, 7 Dunnocks, 11 House Sparrows, 4 Pied Wagtail, single Tree Pipit, 11 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinch, 46 Linnets and 11 Goldfinches.

Bar-tailed godwit in Lower light. ©Myra Allen

Little Ringed Plover in Lower Lighthouse Field. ©Myra Allen

Other birds seen outside of census included a showy Ring Ouzel female at Quarry Cottages/Old Hospital, the Canada Goose remained on Pondsbury; a Grey Wagtail came in off at the Quarrys and went North; an adult Night heron remained in Millcombe; a Siberian Chiffchaff was trapped and ringed in Millcombe; a male Pied Flycatcher was seen in St Helen’s Field (4 seen across the island yesterday); a decent passage of hirundines with 3 Swifts, 294 Swallows, 8 Sand martins and 9 House martins seen in half an hour; and the standout highlights in Lower Lighthouse Field where a Bar-tailed godwit, the first Grey Heron of the year, 2 Ringed Plovers and the islands 8^th Little ringed Plover.