Bird Sightings

The seafood buffet to the east of Lundy continued to draw in punters, including 216 Razorbills, 264 unidentified Auks, and 56 Kittiwakes. The stars of the show were the gulls, with 168 Herring Gull, 59 Great Black Backed Gull, 12 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 13 Black-headed Gull and 6 Common Gull present. 4 Yellow-browed Warblers called the island home for the day, one in Millcombe, and three further along the east coast. 358 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare and a single Ring Ouzel also paid a visit. Beyond Quarter Wall, the first Hen Harrier of the year was seen, along with a large flock of 44 Snow Buntings. 3 Merlin, 3 Peregrine and 2 Kestrel shared the now crowded airspace. 

The prolonged spell of calm weather produced excellent conditions for spotting cetaceans. 9 Harbour Porpoise were seen off Rat Island, South-west Point and North Light. Yesterday 13 Common Dolphins were feeding to the west, and earlier, on October 27th, 8 Bottlenose Dolphins lingered playfully in the same area.

Part of the Snow Bunting mega flock

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Today saw another wave of thrushes pass over the island, with 448 Redwing, 38 Blackbirds, 5 Fieldfares and another Ring Ouzel logged. It was a good day for finches too, with 596 Chaffinches, 8 Brambling, 63 Goldfinch, 60 Siskin and 2 Hawfinch. 461 Starling added to the Scandinavian flavour. The calm weather encouraged 76 Skylark into the air, along with 5 Red Admiral and 3 Painted Ladies. To the east of the island, the sea continued to churn up some tasty morsels for 220 Gannets, 50 unidentified Auks, and 55 Kittiwakes. 12 Blackcap were beaten to the tally by 13 Woodpigeon. Over at Rocketpole Pond, 3 large Mirror Carp were gazed upon, we can only speculate their age ...

It doesn't get better than a Ring Ouzel

No sign of the Pallas Warbler in the morning, although a Yellow-browed Warbler milled around Millcombe Pond. Instead, the day was dominated by a six thrush Lundy special. 1253 Redwing, 75 Fieldfare, 28 Song Thrush, 25 Blackbird, 6 Ring Ouzel, and 2 Mistle Thrush made themselves known. A Lapwing called over the Airfield, and Ringed Plover poo-eeped over Millcombe. 8 Snipe and a pair of Jack Snipe were seen in the evening. Out at sea, 20 Gannets fed to the east, including a high proportion of young birds. To the southwest a flock of 10 Common Scoter flew east. An Olive Tree Pearl Moth escaped the keen eyes of 11 Chiffchaffs and 2 Firecrest. 

Fieldfare and Song Thrush

A dawn check of Barton’s Field was marked by the absence of the Barnacle Goose, a sad day for Lundy, but a detour on census to the Terrace revealed a Pallas’ Warbler, a consolation of sorts. The ‘flying sugarcube’ showed well, flitting from bramble to bracken, in search of juicy Lundy craneflies. At dusk it was seen again, weaving its way through willows with a Yellow-browed Warbler. Despite the faltering light, its head glowed like torchbeams from three eagre dazzlers, guiding its beak along each branch. A second Yellow-browed Warbler was found nearby in Rüppell’s Quarry. 6 Water Rails railed whilst 2 Firecrests fed on the ivy at Millcombe, a welcome source of nectar for 5 Red Admirals. 3 Brambling shared the trees with 191 Chaffinches. 113 Redwing stüüüfed in the air and fields.

Pallas' Warbler enjoying a big juicy cranefly