Bird Sightings

By Tim Davis and Tim Jones

‘An Easterly Breeze’. So reads the title of one of the ancient pictures in the lounge of Big St John’s. The title lacks an exclamation mark, as it depicts a full-blown gale, as has been the weather during the last several days of our much anticipated spring visit. The two of us date back rather a long time in Lundy terms, 1973 for TD and 1984 for TJ. In spring 1999, whilst sitting in Jenny’s Cove watching seabirds, in particular the dwindling number of Puffins at that time, we had the mad idea to write a book on the island’s birds. Eight years later ‘The Birds of Lundy’ saw the light of day. We had no idea it would change our lives where Lundy is concerned.

Occasionally, when on the island, we are invited to carry out the daily census, as was the case for 23^rd April, when Observatory Warden Thomas had the day off to celebrate his partner Eleanor’s birthday. And what a time they had, walking to North Light, ‘clicker’ in hand counting Swallows as they went. In all, they logged 1700 birds, while the overall number of Swallows for the day was 3000. Other highlights for them were a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper and a “stratospheric” Osprey heading for Wales.

Earlier, we had been having a hugely enjoyable time walking the regular census route which begins and ends at the Tavern door. Millcombe features early in the circuit and is always a high point for us. On this occasion we were lucky enough to add Blue Tit to the record, a single bird that had arrived on Lundy two days previously; once an almost annual bird on the island, particularly in autumn, Blue Tits now seem to be increasingly uncommon. Other highlights were a Spotted Flycatcher, one of the first for the year, in Millcombe and three newly fledged Ravens with their parents along the South End, and two other young Ravens in a nest along the West Side. On the downside, it was very evident that Swallows migrating through Lundy were having a hard time feeding in the constant strong and chilly easterly wind, birds sitting on bramble bushes and even on short grass. The census route took us along the South End as far Rocket Pole Pond, across South West Field up to Old Light and over Ackland’s Moor to Quarter Wall, the outer limit of the recording area. Normally, a cursory look down into Quarter Wall Copse reveals a few birds, but holding binoculars steady in the very strong wind proved impossible and as for hearing song or calls, forget it!

Some of the Swallows were clearly tired and resting on brambles © Tim Jones

Whilst returning to the Village along the main track we ran into a small cluster of people who appeared to have lost something and be peering down at the ground. It turned out they were lichenologists (folk who know about lichens!), including our North Devon friend Maxine Putnam. Accompanied by Simon and Tara, they were investigating the lichens on Brick and Tillage Field walls. John Skinner kindly showed us the lichen Lecanora gangaleoides through his hand lens, describing them, beautifully, as looking “like lots of jam tarts”! John had already found 17 species in just a few metres of wall. Impressive.

We finished up census with White and Yellow Wagtails in Barton/St Helen’s Fields and a breeding plumaged Dunlin on Barton Pond.

A Spotted Flycatcher was also logged on census in St Helen's Field © Tim Jones

In the afternoon, we descended Montagu Steps to sea level. En route, we enjoyed sightings of a female Merlin at South West Point and a Whimbrel stalking around the seaward edge of South West Field. Descending the, in places, precarious route down to sea level, we managed to photograph two additional Wheatear colour-ring combinations, which, with other recent sightings brings the total number of individuals sighted so far this year to a magnificent 52. Before girding our loins for the climb back up, we enjoyed views of Shags taking nesting material into cliff-side breeding crevices on and around Goat Island, displaying Rock Pipits and a pair of prospecting Oystercatchers. In grassland by the edge of the path, we found a Small Mottled Willow – a migrant moth.

So drew towards an end another wonderful day on a special island. With migration still in full swing, who knows what the coming days will bring!

House Sparrow in the Village © Thomas Weston

By Thomas Weston

Census was a success, even in strong east winds. The Tims were one of the first seen people whilst Eleanor and I walked into Millcombe. Migrant wise, a single House Martin, 7 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Common Redstarts – one in Millcombe and one at Benjamin’s Chair, 4 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, single Blackcap, 3 ‘Greenland’ Wheatear, 3 nominate Wheatear, and a Cormorant passed by and were recorded. The wind was tough going but we found nice flocks of Linnets, Goldfinches, and the ‘normal’ pair of Chaffinches all in and around the area. A Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, and feeding parties of Herring Gulls and Lesser-Black Backed Gulls were noted. However, the most unusual species was a Rock Pipit, a species we have been a bit concerned about due its absence around the island during census, or on walks. The only pic was this House Sparrow in the wind. 

We let the wind die down and went to check the Manx Shearwater boxes on the West Coast. We checked all boxes and discovered a new bird for the year, a bird carrying a GLS tag which is super exciting. We also heard a possible Dotterel flying around, but unfortunately, we could not see the bird, as well as 2 Swifts on our way back.

Common Redstart at Dead Cow Point © Thomas Weston

After some admin tasks, I went to show Greg the Seabird Station and the Puffin Survey Site. We could not find any waders along the west, but we found a new male Common Redstart, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, and a Whitethroat, and a range of nominate and Greenland Wheatears. The best came in the form of a pod of Common Dolphins and a couple of very close Harbour Porpoise both attracting Gannets, Manx Shearwater and even a few Puffins.

A successful day!

By Emma Abel

 Osprey over the Airfield © Thomas Weston

Marsh Harrier male over the Airfield © Thomas Weston

Blue Tit in Millcombe © Tim Jones

Black Redstart male at North Light © Tim Jones

By Tara McEvoy-Wilding

An early start this morning to check the moth trap! We got a total of 28 moths including; 1 Angle Shades, 5 Marbled Coronet, 8 Common Quaker, 5 Brown Silver Lines, 7 Early Grey, 1 Silver Y and 1 Oak Tree Pug.

Marbled Coronets looking fresh! Photo by Emma Abel

I spent the morning in the office until midday when we set off on a whole island seal survey for the Seal Research Trust’s Spring seal census. We split the island into 5 sections and walked along the coast path looking for seals hauled out on the rocks and swimming in the sea. I had the southeast section, which had a grand total of….. 0 seals! This was most likely due to the strong easterly winds! Others had more success and 82 seals were recorded in total. However, this is significantly less than the 184 that were spotted at this time in 2025.

No seals on the south east!

Although the seals didn’t like the easterly winds, the migrating birds didn’t seem to mind them! The Terrace was busy with 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler in the Willow trees. Millcombe was also busy with Sedge Warbler, a male Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher sighted.

Pied Flycatcher Photo taken by Greg Lee

Other exciting sightings included a Yellow Wagtail flying past the Tavern toilets, a Ringed Plover in Middle Park, 1 Jackdaw in Tillage field and a Collared Dove on Quarters' roof! Lots of Wheatears arrived today, causing chaos on the west coast as they bothered the birds that had already arrived and set up their territories.

Wheatear photo taken by Greg Lee

In the late afternoon I went to check the Manx Shearwater boxes on the west coast. All were unoccupied apart from one box which contained a bird sat on an egg! The first of the season! In the evening, bats were spotted flying around the village. Simon got out his bat detector and identified them as Common Pipistrelles! Overall a busy day with lots of wildlife action!