Bird Sightings

by Kirsty Cox

This week has been a week of ‘lasts’ as on Monday I come to the end of my time on Lundy. It has been quite the three months and I can’t quite believe it is coming to an end. 

Today was my last East Coast Survey and this is also my last Blog, so another two ‘lasts’ ticked off!

I started with some ID work in the office which led to more updates to the ever evolving Seal Report I am writing as I managed to ID one of the tagged seals that I had photographed earlier in the season. She has visited Lundy before and is a West Hatch rehabbed seal known as Combe Florrie Tutti Frutti.

Then I walked to the north end to start my survey at 11.35. It was a lovely day to be walking the East Coast - the wind has dropped and although it was overcast, there was no rain. The north end of the island was suspiciously quiet seal wise but I realised why when I reached Quarry Beach and there were 68 seals hauled out! That counts as the biggest haul out this season by some way as all the others have all been around 30-40. It was just wonderful to see them relaxing undisturbed on the beach. Spot the Seals at Quarry Beach!

And I was also treated to the sight of a new white coat pup! There hasn’t been a new one in two weeks now so I had thought it was unlikely there would be any more but it felt very special to see another one before I go. So, for a last East Coast Survey it was certainly eventful!

Creating the survey album and processing the photos in the office took a while but it meant I could also have a catch up with Thomas who had done census this morning and had also been up to visit the Storm Petrel colony at the North End. There were some amazing counts on the island today with lots of visible migration. At log the final numbers were 444 Woodpigeon (the highest Lundy count ever!), 1191 Starlings, 108 Song Thrushes, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1592 Redwing, 34 Blackbird, 27 Fieldfare, a Ring Ouzel, 10,111 Chaffinches, 15 Brambling, 3 Greenfinches, 131 Siskins, a Lapland Bunting, 9 Snow Buntings, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Woodcock, 3 Snipe, 2 Merlin, 5 Sparrowhawk, 81 Skylark, 4 Swallows, 17 Chiffchaff, 31 Blackcap and an Eastern Lesser Whitethroat. 

And that’s the end of my last Blog post. Thank you for reading - it has been lovely to meet people visiting Lundy who have said that they have enjoyed hearing about the seals over the past months. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to count myself as part of the Lundy Conservation Team this season and to feel as if I have contributed in a very small way to the protection of the amazing Grey Seal population here. Thank you for having me Lundy!

by Greg Lee

A drop in the winds today which made for a good change across the island. This led to a good increase in visible migration of passerines over the island with the first four-figure count of Chaffinches this autumn with a couple of Bramblings, 50 Siskins, two Snow Buntings and singles of Grey Wagtail, Lapland Bunting and Greenfinch joining these numbers. The bushes were a little bit quieter with the lingering Eastern-type Lesser Whitethroat at the Quarries and six each of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest with a Woodcock also flushed in Millcombe. At least two Merlins were seen across the island, presumably enjoying the steady influx of prey-items. Offshore there was a strong collection of seabirds with a couple of of hundred Auks, 79 Kittiwakes and 82 Gannets, a sight that has been scarce so far this autumn. A pair of Teal seen by Thomas at Pondsbury included a potentially interesting bird, if it lingers it will need some close analysis.

Teal at Pondsbury by T.Weston

With a change in the direction of the winds, conditions are looking good for an increase in visible migration towards the end of the month, but we shall see what happens!

by Greg Lee

With a very strong F8 westerly wind blowing through, the addition of rain and fog made for a very quiet day on the island, although it made for an excellent opportunity to do some office jobs. Birding highlights were few and far between but a Merlin was whizzing around the South End, a visiting Feral Pigeon was loitering around the Village and one of the Sparrowhawks was patiently watching a small flock of Chaffinches from the Sycamore tree by Government, I was able to sneak up on the latter as it was staking out a potential hunt, the wind making sure it didn't turn around and see me, which it never did. 

The Sparrowhawk, unaware it was being watched.

by Kirsty Cox

In a short break between weather hitting us from Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, there was an opportunity today for the helicopters to run, so a Sunday unexpectedly became a travel day which meant I was on Housekeeping. 

But first thing, making the most of the window of calmer weather, I was able to get out and do a full pup check for the first time since the 22nd. Since then the winds have been too strong for me to get to all the check points. There were a number of seals hauled out during the check which was good to see following the stormy seas. Sadly there was no sign today of the smaller pups who are still around but there was a weaned and moulted pup on Quarry Beach and another in the Landing Bay. 

Back at the office, there was time for toast before heading out with the Housekeeping Team. There were ten properties in total to clean across the island ranging from Tibbetts in the north to Castles in the south. It was so windy that we had to coordinate getting out of the Land Rover without getting blown away, especially when we were up at Old Light! 

However the main event of the day was at lunchtime when we made a trip back to the village to say goodbye to Emma. As she boarded the helicopter the staff were all there to wave her off and Cornelius, the helicopter pilot, even treated her to a fly by over the island! Emma arrived on Lundy on the 31st March and spent the first months she was here working as the Seabird Fieldworker and then stayed on when the seabirds left to take on the role of Volunteer Assistant Ranger. She has been a core member of the Conservation Team this season and will be much missed. We wish her all the best for all her future endeavours! Emma Abel and Herring Gull Chick!