Bird Sightings

By Thomas Weston

Sunfish at North End by Thomas Weston

Foggy yesterday, but we found a Sunfish at North End. Yay! The only pic I can contribute to the blog today!

The fog was strong again today and lingered over the top of the island. The ringers down in Millcombe were having a quieter session before heading home, and I passed by on census. Census was a good one, migration notching up a little with a day of thrushes. Reports of Redwing and Song Thrush (totalling less than ten) were seen by guests, but none of the former and just three of the latter were noted on census. However, 23 Robins, 24 Stonechats, and 11 Blackbirds were high counts for the census area, being counted as I moved in and out of the misty fog that lay on the top of the island for most of the morning. In Millcombe, numbers of Swallows were okay, but low. No obvious migration of this species was seen today, so we presume the 34 birds counted were sort of stuck on the island and could not see the mainland to depart. We presume the single House Martin was stuck too, as it was seen flying up and down the east coast. Not ideal. Howevere, there were signs of movement, with 7 Goldcrest, and 72 Meadow Pipits noted. In the trees above the Casbah a Yellow-browed Warbler was heard calling deep in the Sycamores. In the bushes below, 19 Dunnocks (a high count), 7 Chaffinches (still really low), 10 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, and 5 Siskins made up the rest of the small but decent arrival. Residents were present in good numbers with 10 Wrens, 4 Ravens, 3 Water Rails, 11 Carrion Crows, 2 Peregrines, 3 Rock Pipits, a single Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Oystercatchers, and 11 Shags all within the general Millcombe area, seen from various vantage points. Finches along the route really have not taken to migration, or not quite to Lundy yet. The Skiskin were nice, but seeing 6 Goldfinches and 15 Linnets was very low for the time of year. In the Village, after navigating through the fog, 8 Mallards, a male Kestrel, and 84 Starlings were the best of the rest. 

An afternoon in the Tavern for me, with not much to report from my side, but the visiting ringers had a probable Little Bunting, another Yellow-browed Warbler was seen, the Snow Bunting was still in residence, and 2 Lapland Bunting appeared as the cloud cleared. The Common Redstart from a few days ago, relocated to the Beach Road where it found a rock now aptly called Redstart Rock. In Millcombe, a Spotted Flycatcher and Firecrest were nice late migrants, and a Golden Plover and Snipe were the only waders seen today. 

By Greg Lee

When heading back to the Lodge last night, I had noticed that the mist had rolled in from the sea, only clearing at dawn, just before I began my census for the day.  It perhaps wasn’t surprising that there hadn’t been a substantial arrival of migrants. Instead, it was a select few highlights down in Millcombe including a couple of Pied Flycatchers, a ringed Yellow-browed Warbler (from yesterday), a Song Thrush and a small collection of Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Firecrests. The upper section of the island was very quiet indeed, but this wasn’t particularly surprising; in fact, the main highlight of it all was wearing my new wellies and my socks keeping warm and snug. Something that wouldn’t have happened with my old pair or my walking boots.

Yellow-browed Warbler by G.Lee- Colour-ringed as part of an ongoing project into the migration of this Siberian species

We are lucky to have a few other birders on the island at the moment and so a few other interesting sightings during the day included at least two other Yellow-browed Warblers, the Snow Bunting at Rocket Pole, a very late Swift at Halfway Wall, and a Common Redstart along the Beach Road. 

Redstart by N. Barnes

By Thomas Weston

Most likely our last Wheatear of the year on Brick Field by Thomas Weston

Today was a very busy migration day. The visiting ringers were in Millcombe and manned the nets all day. There was excitement in the bushes, but surprisingly not a lot in the air to begin with. Census was a good one – a day of nice species, and good company. Walking down through Millcombe, the valley was alive with birds. There were at least 14 Robins scattered around, and a healthy number of Dunnocks with 7 recorded. Stonechats have been a good migrant species the last few days and today saw a flock of 5 noted including 2 caught and ringed whilst I walked by. By around 08:30, the ringers were busy in Millcombe with a Yellow browed Warbler caught, ringed and colour ringed (with another later to add to the project), lots of Blackcaps (32 on census), Chiffchaffs (18 on census), a couple of Blackbirds (6 seen throughout the route), a Whinchat and a female Pied Flycather all caught and ringed in Millcombe, all being seen around census time. Nine Wrens were quite low and quiet, though obscured by the other species around. Low numbers of finches were seen across the route, which is odd being a time where movement is high. However, this did include 4 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, and 4 Linnets. Resident species such as 10 Carrion Crows, 17 House Sparrows, 46 Starlings, and 7 Ravens were nice to spot and our now resident Water Rail in Smelly Gully. Out in the Landing Bay, 2 Oystercatchers, a Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Shags, a single Swallow, and a single Rock Pipit were seen, so a quiet state of affairs. In the woods, going off to Brambles and Government, a Song Thrush was a new migrant, and a Firecrest and 8 Goldcrest were of note. The team of ringers by this point started catching Meadow Pipits with 193 seen migrating south past, though with the wind being slightly south-west, most movement was on the east coast again. A Tree Pipit flyover was of note. It's getting slightly late for this species but this bird has been seen well in Barton Field previously. Over South West Field, a female Merlin flew high south, and then departed out to sea. In the same view there were two Peregrines showing really well, circling up and heading off to the west. Walking the Airfield, alba wagtails were the most commonly found migrant with 11 seen throughout the route. In addition, a single Wheatear will almost likely be one of the last this year, and a female/1st-year Redstart in Brick/Tillage Field was the best on the way back from a very quiet Belle Vue Cottages.

Joining the ringers from around 10:30, a very high number of birds were ringed right up to 18:00 resulting in 509 birds caught and processed. There was an upsurge of Meadow Pipits and Swallows with the odd House Martin mixed in throughout the afternoon. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the island, two Snipe at Pondsbury, another Yellow-browed Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher were both on the Terraces, with a fourth and final Yellow-browed Warbler at St Helen's Copse. This busy, bird-filled day was rounded off by a Snow Bunting being found at Rocket Pole Pond this evening and showing incredibly well to those who saw it.    

By Eleanor Harris

Today started off as a rather foggy day with low cloud and dampness in the air. As it was a busy busy change over and travel day we were all out and about doing a variety of different jobs. Today me, Thomas and Greg were all housekeeping so were on the look out for some good birding highlights as we were out and about. Simon and Tara were sorting the boat out, with Kirsty conducting pup checks and seal police. 

As the cloud and fog lifted, our team of visiting ringers were out and about in Milcombe and St John's Valley with all the nets open. It was a busy day with many birds processed and ringed including a few Goldcrest, Firecrest, Swallows, House Martins and much more. It was great to see the nets open with the valley a hive of activity – a real change from yesterday’s blustery day. Two single Brambling were heard over Milcombe today by Nik Ward, the first of the year. Today it was alive with birdsong and a welcome change from the windy days we have had this week, when it was difficult to hear or see anything. As we were housekeeping it was noticeable that there was a big passage of hirundines flooding through the island – a really beautiful sight to see on such a clear and calm day. Walking from around the south it was noticeable that the temperature and humidity were pretty high. It felt more like a spring day than an autumn day so it will be interesting to see what the next few days will bring. 

On the other housekeeping team, Thomas and Jane Starkey heard a Golden Plover circling over Old Light – a lovely autumnal wader. It is great to see the waders returning with other wader records today including a few Snipe. 

Sunset at SW Point by EleanorHarris

As it was a clear evening, me and Thomas decided to make some dinner and spontaneously walk it to South West Point with a well earned cup of tea to watch the sunset. It was rather magical over there, with orange and golden light – a gorgeous sunset for a busy day. A few Gannets were out at sea with Meadow Pipits and Linnets in the area. After the sun went down we headed back to the Village for Wildlife Log meeting the new birders who are visiting. 

A very successful day overall with some other finds including a Grey Heron over Millcombe, Wryneck in Smelly Gully and a female Kestrel over St Mark's Stone.