Bird Sightings

A calm day with sunshine and blue skies saw a smattering of fresh migrants recorded across the island - including the 2nd record of Yellow-browed Warbler for the autumn, found in Millcombe pines during the morning census. The Short-toed Lark continues its stay and was seen feeding on the main track between Quarter wall and Halfway wall by visiting birders in the afternoon. 57 Blackcap and 8 Chiffchaff were the first increase in records since the large fall on the 24th of September. 19 Goldcrest represents the highest count for September thus far, with 3 Firecrest joining them. A single Spotted Flycatcher was seen around Millcombe and ringed in the early evening. The fine weather proved suitable for diurnal migrants with a Grey Wagtail and 3 Tree Pipits, the highest day count since the 16th, overhead. Hirundine passage appears to have slowed despite the good weather, with 34 Swallow and 9 House Martin seen. 2 Whinchat and 4 Wheatear were recorded - a 'large' individual ringed in the evening was confirmed by biometrics as an adult female 'Greenland' Wheatear (ssp. O. o. leucorhoa). Two drake Wigeon were seen again in Barton Field, 3 Water Rail heard including a bird at Pondsbury, and a single Cormorant flew high over Millcombe in the afternoon. A Golden Plover was heard briefly on the airfield during the clear night also.

Short-toed Lark, on track near Pondsbury - Tom Williams

Wigeon, St Helen's Field - Joe Parker

The eagerly anticipated first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was found in the early afternoon of the 26th at Quarter Wall Copse by Angus, after an apparent mid-day arrival of migrants including 4 Firecrest and 3 Spotted Flycatcher, plus a Marsh Harrier in-off at the Landing Bay. The Short-toed Lark has been seen daily and continues to show well, feeding on the main track between Pondsbury and Halfway Wall. 2 Whitethroat seen on the morning of the 25th seem to have departed the island, along with the majority of migrant warblers from the fall recorded on the 24th. A flyover calling Tree Pipit was recorded during census on the 25th, and single Grey Wagtails were also logged on the 25th and 26th. 2 Whinchat were seen on the morning of the 27th associating with Stonechat at Old Light and Pondsbury, with 1 recorded on the 26th and 2 on the 25th also. On the wader and waterfowl front, 4 Golden Plover were logged on the 25th, 2 Teal have been seen at Pondsbury on the 25th and 27th, and 2 drake Wigeon in Barton Field on the 25th, decreasing to a single bird on the 26th and 27th. Strong westerly winds on the 25th led to an increase in seabird sightings, with 87 Gannet seen passing the island as they re-oriented out of the Bristol Channel, with single sightings of Common Gull on the 26th and 27th also noted. Some notable sightings from the MS Oldenburg on a return journey outside of the Lundy recording area on the 26th included Balearic Shearwater, 2 European Storm Petrel, 4 Manx Shearwater, 12 Kittiwake, 30 auk sp., and an Ocean Sunfish.

Firecrest, Millcombe - Tom Williams

Grey Heron, Pondsbury - Joe Parker

A great spell of birding opened with the Wood Warbler lingering overnight to 22nd, showing well in Millcombe sycamores. A mobile first-winter female Great Spotted Woodpecker bounced around Millcombe and Benjamin's Chair between 22-23rd, while a female-type Common Redstart flitted around Old School and a Lapland Bunting showed well just south of Gannet's Combe on 23rd. However, this was all quickly overshadowed by the discovery of a Short-toed Lark feeding along the main track near the Pondsbury area and Halfway Wall on 23rd - constituting the 24th island record - and stayed the following day, remaining very faithful to the main track.Wood Warbler 22 September © Ashley Saunders

The Red-breasted Flycatcher has now cleared out, last recorded on 21st, but the light wader passage continues, with a single Golden Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, and 6 Snipe logged on 23rd. A modest fall of passerines enjoyed on 24th, featuring 86 Chiffchaff, 240 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, singles of Redpoll and Reed Bunting plus Meadow Pipit passage peaking at 246 individuals moving south. The Goldcrest tally rose to 14 individuals, outnumbering Firecrest 7:1, while the ringed Spotted and Pied Flycatcher continue to linger. Passage Grey Wagtail are now being logged daily in small number and migrants ducks accompany the adult Grey Heron at Pondsbury, peaking at 5 Wigeon and 5 Teal on 23rd.

Lapland Bunting 23 September © Angus Croudace

Short-toed Lark 23 September © Angus Croudace

Short-toed Lark featuring finders Thomas Weston & Eleanor Harris in background 23 September © Angus Croudace

A day of two halves, with a windy overcast morning and a sunny, calm afternoon which brought out much more activity. A total of 62 Blackcap were recorded in Millcombe, including just 10 from census - there was a modest arrival in the afternoon. Four Spotted Flycatcher, two Pied Flycatcher and three Firecrest were all in Millcombe. One of the Pied was new in, the other a ringed individual who has been present by Millcombe pond for well over a week now. At 0830am our first migrant Chaffinch flock of the autumn came in-off over the Landing Bay, with 27 birds dumping onto the island somewhere north of St Helen's Copse. The main highlight of the day beside the Red-breasted Flycatcher continuing it's stay was a stunning Wood Warbler found by visiting birders in Millcombe, showing at point blank range at times, oblivious of its observers. A short more favourable period in the afternoon allowed for a bit of hirundine passage, but 180 Swallows remained at the end of the day, and roosted in Millcombe.

Other log book totals included: one Wigeon, six Teal, two Water Rail, one Ringed Plover, three Snipe, female Sparrowhawk, female Merlin, 13 Skylark, single Reed Warbler, ten Sand Martin, 430 Swallows, 39 House Martin, four Willow Warbler, eight Chiffchaff, ten Blackbird (some new in), seven Whinchat, six Wheatear, one Grey Wagtail, one White Wagtail, eight Pied Wagtail, 34 Meadow Pipit, five Rock Pipit and 31 Chaffinch.