Bird Sightings

Swallow in the Village. ©Thomas Weston

A very wet census today as a cold front sat above Lundy for most of the day. Unfortuanetely the harsh reality of migration was seen with a couple of deceased Swallows found today - presumably cold, wet and tired.

Millcombe was quiet with a single Sedge Warbler near Government House; a single Grasshopper Warbler at the bottom of Millcombe; 5 Woodpigeons in Smelly Gully; and 5 Wrens, 9 Dunnock, 2 Goldfinches, 5 Blackbirds, single Song Thrush and 4 Robins seen throughout the valley. A pod of Common Dolphins encouraged 12 Gannets, 14 Shag, a single Kittiwake and 2 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls in the Landing Bay whilst at Benjamin’s Chair/Rocket Pole Pond 23 Herring Gulls, 38 Razorbills, single Fulmar, 20 Carrion Crow, 2 Ravens, 2 Skylarks, 2 Linnets, single flyover ‘alba’ Wagtail and 6 Meadow Pipits were spotted. The plateau was quiet with a Mallard and 3 Wheatears on the Airfield; a single Whimbrel in Brick Field; a single Sand Martin and 36 Swallows flew North; 69 Starlings in Tillage Field; and 19 House Sparrows in the Village.

Other sightings included a Great Northern Diver and more surprisingly a Black throated Diver both in the Landing Bay. The latter is a rare species for the island.

A Short-Eared Owl near Pondsbury. ©Richard Campey

A breezy cold day again, and rain from late morning all day resulting in not many birds seen. The standout highlights were a Common Sandpiper on the Beach Road, a Short Eared Owl seen near Pondsbury, and a few passage hirundines throughout the morning. The weather was not ideal for all migrants with one a small flock of grounded Swallows and Sand Martins staying only a couple of metres above the waves near the Jetty and a Grey Heron passed away near Quarry Pond.

Census counts from today included a single Mallard, 5 Woodpigeons, 34 Herring Gulls, 4 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 48 Razorbills, 2 Shag, 3 Peregrine, 9 Carrion Crow, 2 Ravens, 9 Carrion Crows, 4 Skylarks, single Sand Martin, 20 Swallows, 3 Blackcap, single Sedge Warbler, single Goldcrest, 10 Wrens, 37 Starlings, 8 Blackbird, single Song Thrush, 5 Robins, 5 Wheatears (4 Greenland subspecies), 3 Dunnock, 18 House Sparrows, single Pied Wagtail, 5 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinch, 27 Linnets and 17 Goldfinches.

Drake EurasianTeal at Pondsbury. ©Richard Campey

We think our Eurasian Teal brood remined hidden today but one of the drakes was particularly showy!

A soggy Skylark at Quarry Cottages.©Thomas Weston

A slight Northerly breeze after days of breezy, cool weather led to an increase in migrants and a slight fall overnight. Walking through Millcombe Pines, the appearance of a female Pied Flycatcher, and small flocks of Willow Warbler totalling 30 was a welcome surprise. The Ugly was quiet but in the Landing Bay 10 Shag, a single Great Black-backed Gull and the single winter plumaged Great Northern Diver were present. Walking through Millcombe, 8 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, a single Grasshopper Warbler was reeling, a single Chiffchaff, 14 Wrens, 2 Woodpigeons, 9 Blackbird, single Chaffinch, single Song Thrush, 7 Dunnock and 12 Robins were noted. On the South Coast, an Oystercatcher was calling below Benjamin’s Chair, 4 Whimbrel (2 calling off the South Coast dropping into Tent Field and 2 in the Watertanks), 104 Razorbills, a single Fulmar, 7 Gannets feeding around Common Dolphins, and a single Rock Pipit with food was seen. At Rocket Pole Scrape and Southwest Field there was a Dunlin, 2 Stonechat, 9 Wheatears, 5 Pied Wagtail, single ‘alba’ wagtail and 9 Meadow Pipits. Near Old Light, a single Kestrel, single female Merlin, 19 Carrion Crow, 2 Ravens and 9 Skylarks were noted. A nice passage of hirundines consisted of 57 Sand Martin, 277 Swallows and 8 House Martins. Around the fields, 38 Herring Gulls, 12 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 24 Linnets and 17 Goldfinches were present. In the Village, 40 Starlings, 18 House Sparrows and 8 Mallard including 4 ducklings were seen.

Whinchat along the Upper East Path near Quarter Wall Pool. ©Richard Campey

Quarter Wall Pool was busy with the first Whinchat of the year that showed incredibly well!

A Sand Martin around Quarter Wall Pond. ©Richard Campey

A Seabird Jenny’s check resulted in 51 Puffins, 110+ Razorbills, 1350+ Guillemots, 34 Kittiwakes and 26 Fulmars. A continued passage of hirundines resulted in 27 Swallows passing through North in 20 minutes plus small flocks of Sand Martins too. Elsewhere, a report of a Stone Curlew was super exciting but unfortunately the bird was not subsequently seen.

We are currently going through quite a breezy period with low temperatures bracing the island, resulting in a definite lack of migrant activity. Today there was a strong East wind resulting in the majority of birds keeping low to ground. However, the locals are breeding and there are signs that we will be graced with lots of juveniles on the island soon. This was the 5th brood of Mallards recorded this year already.

A Mallard brood outside Brambles accomodation. ©Thomas Weston

Census counts from today included 16 Mallard (12 duckling), a single Woodpigeon, 17 Herring Gulls, 2 Lesser-Black Backed Gulls, 134 Razorbills, single Fulmar, 6 Shag, 27 Carrion Crow, 8 Ravens, 7 Skylarks, 2 Swallows, 2 Willow Warbler, 8 Wrens, 34 Starlings, single Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, single Robin, 4 Wheatears, 9 House Sparrows, single Pied Wagtail, 13 Meadow Pipits, single Chaffinch, 11 Linnets and 3 Goldfinches.

EurasianTeal brood on Pondsbury.©Richard Campey

Today also saw the first Eurasian Teal brood of the year with a female spotted with 10 ducklings on Pondsbury.

A Whimbrel on Brick Field. ©Richard Campey

Nearby, a Whimbrel was on Brick Field.