Bird Sightings

Our first Wheatear arrivals touched down on 7th, preceded by a stunning re-sighting of one our colour-marked wheatears at Nouadhibou, Mauritania on 2nd - that's some 4,500 km away! The earliest ever Lundy Sedge Warbler was also logged on 28th, smashing the previous record (7 Apr) set in 1940.

There was limited island coverage until the 10th due to time off island around the Bird Obs Council AGM and RSPB-led Biosecurity training. Teal numbers have dwindled as the month progressed, dropping down to one pair by 25th. A single Stock Dove on 21st became the first record of the year, along with two Collared Dove logged individuals between 11-16th in Millcombe. Water Rail recorded daily in Millcombe through the month, never exceeding two individuals. Another quiet month for wader movements, with the only two Golden Plover logged during a nocturnal survey around the Airfield.  Auks are being recorded in the low thousands more consistently along the west coast, and the first (47) Puffin were logged 11th among accompanying the 1,230 Guillemot and 1,715 Razorbill across the S and W coast from Benjamin's Chair to Janny's Cove. Light Great Northern Diver passage detected through the month saw singles off the SE coast, supplemented by a Red-throated Diver on 6th. First returning breeding Manx Shearwaters were detected on 9th March, calling over the village. Cormorant logged on 4 days between 17-30th

A brief female Sparrowhawk sighting on the evening of 26th over Millcombe was never encountered again. Hints of corvid passage came in the form of two Rook, one on 12th and a second bird overnighting 28-29th, coinciding with peak Carrion Crow counts of 47 and 38 respectively. Blackcap started trickling through from 20th while a scattering a single figure Chiffchaff counts were observed through the month, the first double-digit 'chiff' total arrived on 25th, just before the first (2) Willow Warbler were logged on 26th, opening the way for a mini-fall of 29 individuals the following day. Firecrest were ever-present in singles, with a short-lasting influx of four detected on 25th, coinciding with a modest arrival of Goldcrest, reaching 10 on 28th. Black Redstart were recorded across Benjamin's Chair, South West Point sidelands, North End, Landing Bay and the Village. The first White Wagtail on 11th and a male Bullfinch graced Millcombe between 16-18th. Linnet and Goldfinch began being recorded on a daily basis from 12th, with the only Siskin appearance on 13th and a female Reed Bunting at Quarter Wall on 28th.Ringed as 2nd calendar-year male at Pilots Quay 1 Jun 2024, this male Wheatear was photographed at Nouadhibou, Mauritania, on 2 Mar 2025!

Extended easterlies made for difficult field conditions but saw Slavonian Grebe recorded daily up until 5th while the Red-necked Grebe remained elusive, logged on 1st, 8th and 12th Feb! A single Golden Plover on 19th represent only notable wader appearance beyond the overwintering Woodcock, Jack Snipe and Common Snipe. Teal were present throughout, peaking at 5 male and 3 female on Pondsbury. Kittiwake were recorded daily, with day counts maxing out at 1,668 and 727 individuals, most of which involved in mega feeding frenzies of the east coast. Slight Common Gull passage detected in early February peaked at six individuals on 1st. From single figure auk counts in early February, it was great to enjoy over 3,000 Guillemot back on breeding ledges from 17th, while Razorbill numbers peaked at 506 on 22nd. Red-throated Diver were present off the SW and SW coasts between 4-16th, involving at least three different birds while Great Northern Diver were logged daily up to 19th when island coverage waned. A single Cormorant on 3rd became the first record of the year and the appearance of a male Kestrel over Millcombe on 12th was a welcome arrival to the island. The overwintering female Merlin has been sighted sporadically around southern half of the island throughout the month.

Turning to passerines, Skylarks have been being recorded daily from 3rd as breeding birds filter back on to territories and the overwintering Chiffchaff continued to frequent the Millcombe/village area up to 22nd. While Quarter Wall Copse is criminally under-watched, coverage on 11th resulted in detecting the overwintering Goldcrest. Starling maxima counts peaked at 124 on 5th & 18th. Black Redstart records were restricted to Benjamin's Chair and Pilot's Quay from 11-16th. Single Grey Wagtail sightings on 17th and 19th February became the first records of the year. A male Snow Bunting present at Halfway Wall up to 16th, supplemented by a small flock of three birds near the Old Hospital on 1st and 9th. 

Nice little run of island rarities and oddities over the last week. The Landing Bay Red-necked Grebe remained settled and (incredibly) was accompanied by a Slavonian Grebe from 27th, both seemingly absent on 30th. This marks the first 'Slav' since Feb 2011 and the only the 13th year in which this species has occurred since Lundy Field Society recording began in 1947. Great Northern Diver numbers have fluctuated between one to three throughout and a record island count of 34 Purple Sandpiper passed North Light on 25th.

Numerous seawatches from the Ugly have been fruitful of late, featuring a first-winter Little Gull feeding with Kittiwake on 26th (and again off North West Point on 30th), becoming the 14th island record. Incredibly, the same seawatch yielded an unseasonal Manx Shearwater ahead of Storm Éowyn! An influx of 51 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the sea in the Landing Bay 24th was followed by passage of 19 Common Gull off the east coast on 30th, coinciding with a small pod of 5 Common Dolphin feeding offshore. A Snow Bunting was at Halfway Wall on 25th, presumably the same bird located in the same area back on 5th and the Millcombe Chiffchaff continues to overwinter in Smelly Gully. The Pondsbury Teal count peaked at eight birds on 25th, with a Reed Bunting present thoughout. And it's been rather quiet on the raptor activity with the female Merlin only logged over the village on 20th and a scattering of Peregrine returning to territories.

Year list: 59 species

Slavonian Grebe in the Landing Bay, 27 Jan © Joe Parker

Great Northern Diver in the Landing Bay, 24 Jan © Joe Parker 

Nice birding over the last 10 days enjoyed a 7th for the island, large bait balls attracting seabird and cetacean interest and signs that spring is just around the corner.

The 12th opened with new-for-year Skylark and Reed Bunting at Pondsbury while a female-type Black Redstart - absent from usual south coast haunts - occupied North End. The first Pied Wagtail appearance arrived on 16th, followed by another record on 18th coupled with a whisper of Meadow Pipit movement involving two birds in-off at Rocket Pole. The first Linnet of the year featured over the village on 15th, increasing to two birds associating around Upper Millcombe until 21st. Millcombe continues to be immersed in the subtle, high-pitched tik calls of Song Thrush, while up to three Redwing logged near daily and a single Fieldfare in St Helen's Field on 20th. The Smelly Gully Chiffchaff is still going strong and present throughout and was accompanied by second individual near the Casbah on 21-22nd. Concluding the passerine roundup, the small overwintering Stonechat population remains thinly distributed across the island with a pair at Jenny's Jove, a female near the Castle and a male at North End.

Guillemot and Razorbill numbers are increasing offshore, with the species mix weighted heavily towards Razorbill peaking at 223 off the Landing Bay on 19th. While traipsing across the island on letterbox maintenance duties, Shop Manager Sue Waterfield logged two ledges crowded with Guillemot near St Philip's Stone on 22nd. Fulmar sightings are beginning to increase, with singles logged during seawatches from The Ugly on 22nd and 23rd.  A large feeding frenzy involving 1,196 Kittiwake two kilometres offshore along east coast, was accompanied by 678 Herring Gull on 15th, followed by light Great Black-backed Gull passage on 23rd involving 18 individuals moving north along the east coast. Gull feeding frenzies have been a feature of the east coast, finally attraction the attention of 15 Common Dolphin on 19th, with the same pod logged again close in at Brazen Ward three days later. The Landing Bay Great Northern Diver has remained elusive, but present up to 19th.

Great Black backed Gull in flight, 13 Jan © Joe Parker. Light passage north along east coast on 18 Jan

The full moon phase halted any nocturnal survey efforts but conditions are improving for the weekend ahead. Golden Plover were logged on several occasions south of Quarter Wall, peaking at 7 settled in High Street Field on 19th. Kestrel and female Merlin remained present around southern quarter throughout and a second female-type Merlin was observed bombing around North End on 12th. Peregrine territories are starting to be reclaimed, with pairs back at Gannets' and the South Coast, the latter being kept busy jostling with territorial Raven. A ringtail Hen Harrier made a welcome appearance on 18th, pushing north over High Street Field and brief Stock Dove appearance on 16th was kept alert by constant raptor threats.

However, Bird of the week is unquestionably awarded to the Landing Bay Red-necked Grebe on 22-23rd, constituting only the seventh island record. The last bird (logged in winter 2016/17) overwintered and stayed into early May! Will we be treated to a stunning summer plumage in a few months, only time will tell... In the meantime, let's see what Storm Éowyn brings.

Year list: 56

Red-necked Grebe in the Landing Bay, 23 Jan © Joe Parker