Bird Sightings
11th - 27th January 2024
The island has now reopened after a busy 3-week long 'shutdown' of vital maintenance works. The Purple Sandpiper record count was broken yet again, this time involving 14 individuals at Brazen Ward on 13th. A visit to Jenny's Cove that afternoon welcomed the first returning Guillemot (108) to ledges in preparation for the upcoming breeding season, joined by six Fulmar inspecting old nesting sites and the first Herring Gulls returning to their breeding colonies. Pondsbury featured two drake Wigeon, joining a mixed flock of nine Teal and 15 Mallard while 6 Common Snipe roosted in the surrounding area. The overwintering female Merlin has been seen most days over the village, keeping the c200 strong Starling flock wary. Redwing numbers are pretty stable, averaging around the low double digits most days and a female Greenfinch put in a brief appearance at Millcombe Pond on 13th. A nocturnal survey the following day caught up with the female Snow Bunting originally ringed in SW Field on 30th Dec 2023 - a surprise given the absence of any daytime observations! The session also included a venture north of Threequarter Wall, ringing a new Woodcock at Widow's Tenement. A visit along the Obs census route on 27th encountered 322 Herring Gull feeding in Brick Field and preening at Quarter Wall Pond. A short stint from The Ugly at midday enjoyed 89 Kittiwake and six Common Gull feeding off the east coast, however the continued absence of divers continues!
Happy New Year
Very unsettled weather at the start of January delayed any quality birding to kick-start the year. Undeterred, a trip down to Brazen Ward on 2nd was rewarded with a record-breaking count of 13 Purple Sandpiper at high tide. The first decent weather window arrived on 7th, with light easterlies delivering a female-type Black Redstart at Benjamin's Chair. However, the dry, relatively conditions weren't to last, and the following evening brought a light dusting of snow, rarely experienced on Lundy! A brief nocturnal survey around the village on 7th welcomed the first use of the ringing pliers for 2024, ending on two Common Snipe and a retrap Woodcock from December 2023. Another session three nights later logged a total of 32 Common Snipe (predominantly feeding in Lighthouse Field) and a single Jack Snipe, plus 4 hardy Pygmy Shrew scurrying around South West Field in the dark. Highlight of the evening was awarded to retrap Common Snipe originally ringed on the island back on 4th November 2023. Every retrap and ringing recovery helps us to build a clearer picture of the movements of wintering Snipe across the island.
Retrap Woodcock in South West Field, 7 Jan © Joe Parker
9th - 31st December 2023
A Great Northern Diver has been frequenting the Landing Bay, although appearances have been sporadic. Further offshore, distant auks actively commuting and feeding with a minimum count of 500 Guillemot and 200 Razorbill was logged on Boxing Day. A big clearout of passerines has left Millcombe feeling like a ghost town, only the calls of squeeling Water Rail and ever present Robin song break the silence. Two Woodpigeon are remaining faithful to the valley as well as the small Woodcock roost. Pondsbury remianed quiet. activing as a day-time roost site for Snipe and peaking at 11 Teal on 13th. Nocturnal surveys have become less frequent as focus turns to the desk. However, a spell of ringing sessions in the run up to new year resulted in a last minute flurry of activity, including a star bird and another all-time ringing total broken (for Jack Snipe)! Over two evenings, 7 Woodcock, 8 Jack Snipe, 4 Common Snipe and a Snow Bunting were ringed marking the perfect ending to a sensational year on Lundy!
First-year female Snow Bunting trapped and ringed on 30th Dec © Luke Marriner
New Lundy Bird Observatory Website
We've been very busy behind the scenes. Let's bring you up to speed...
Early November saw the sad departure of our two excellent Bird Obs volunteers Luke Marriner and Angus Croudace. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank the both of them for their stellar effort, enthusiasm and time in the field! 2023 has been a sensational season for so many reasons and I'm sure everyone will join us in wishing both of these birding machines the very best for the future! There has also been further staffing changes on the island with Joe Parker (Bird Obs Warden) recently appointed as Head Warden following Rosie's recent departure from the Trust. Visitors to the island over the last two summers may be familar with Tara McEvoy-Wilding, and we are delighted to announced that Tara will be joining the conservation team as Assistant Warden from mid-March.
We're thrilled to launch the brand new Lundy Bird Observatory website! The new site hosts detailed information about the Obs, various project work and importantly a new calendar for bird ringing group visits. Landmark Property Bramble Villa East is usually held back during spring (April/May) and autumn (September/October) for Bird Observatory bookings until around six months in advance. To take advantage of this and reserve part of this block booking, explore our Visiting Lundy page and contact the Bird Observatory Warden by
We have also just launched our seasonal volunteer positions for 2024. We're looking of a cohort of volunteers to join our team to gain experience in conservation while living on a remote island and enjoying the stunning array of wildlife, land and seascapes across the high-profile reserve. Sounds ideal right? Well then what are you waiting for - apply now! The roles range from a Bird Observatory Assistant Warden, Seabird Assistant Warden, Atlantic Grey Seal Assistant Warden and Assistant Ranger. This is a fantastic opportunity for a bird ringer to join the recently re-accredited Observatory after enjoying a sensational season this year! Full information about all of the roles and how to apply can be found on the Landmark website here.
Discover more information about the roles and how to apply here.
Time in the field has drastically reduced on a skeleton team. Birding highlights kick started with a Short-eared Owl flushed from Gannet's Combe on 5th November, shortly followed by a Waxwing (likely a different to the individual ringed on 31st Oct) seen in Millcombe on 9th November before an interesting Redpoll put in a brief appearance in the valley. Water Rail can be heard frequently around Millcombe and a small but consistent Woodcock day roost is located below Millcombe House. It's been very quiet with waders, largely represented by four Golden Plover passing west over the helipad on 13th November between flights and 6 Purple Sandpiper at Brazen Ward and a Lapwing at Pondsbury on 2nd December. Barton's Field has been a magnet for Jack Snipe but nocturnal surveys have largely been non-existent oweing to inclemment weather or full moon phases. Divers have been thinly distributed along the east coast with an adult Great Northern Diver off Brazen Ward and a juvenile around the Landing Bay along with a Red-throated Diver. Feeding parties of 60 Gannet have been a feature off Lundy's shores, sometimes featuring a pod of 20 Common Dolphin. Merlin are a regular (if fleeting) sight over the village, along with Kestrel and Peregrine. A first-year Yellow-legged Gull tracked north along the east coast on 11th November, Skylark have now cleared out, peaking at 16 birds on 11th November and a large movement of Woodpigeon in North Devon in late November resulted in a noteable flock 250 individuals over the village on 28th November. It's also very quiet on the finch front, with a handful of Brambling records logged between 8-15th November.
Angus Croudace birding Millcombe on 10th November
Luke Marriner seabird monitoring on 5th June
Decent candidate for Arctic Redpoll, Millcombe on 9th November © Angus Croudace
Did you catch us chatting seabirds with BBC Radio Devon on 13th November? Catch up on BBC Sounds here!