Lundy Birds: nineteenth to twenty fifth September

January 26, 2023

11

Continuation of the settled climate situations (dry and
mild winds) for the beginning of the week. Robust south westerly winds with some
scattered showers on Thursday twenty second, after which extra average winds
from the north Friday twenty third and Saturday twenty fourth earlier than
returning to calm on Sunday.

Teal proceed to be seen sporadically at Pondsbury,
with a excessive depend of 4 on the twenty third. Water rail have additionally
been making themselves identified, with a person ‘squealing’ in Smelly Gully nineteenth by means of twenty first, and two birds recorded on the twenty third.

A flock of 13 Oystercatchers appeared by North Gentle
on the nineteenth. A single Ringed Plover flew over on the 19^th
and 25^th, a Dunlin on the 20^th, Whimbrel on
the twenty first and one other single Lapwing on the twenty fifth over Millcombe. Snipe continued to be picked up on the morning census
till a excessive depend of 4 on the twenty first, after which no extra had been
recorded till two on the twenty fifth.

A short sea watch from the Ugly within the murky skies following
the climate of the twenty second most notably picked up an Arctic Skua
and 4 Manx Shearwater. Manx Shearwater had been additionally recorded on the
twenty first and the twenty fourth, with the best depend being seven
people. 5 gGannets had been additionally seen from North Gentle on the twenty second. One Razorbill and a flock of 12 Frequent Scoter flew previous the south west level on
one other quick seawatch. Two Gray Heron had been noticed within the touchdown bay
on the twenty first, and a person was seen a number of occasions on the twenty second flying over the south of the island.

Sparrowhawk presence continues, with a excessive depend of
4 birds accompanying a second fall of passerines on the twenty third after the robust south westerly winds abated. A Merlin dropped in on the
twenty first and twenty second, and the person was seen proper throughout the island. A
Quick-eared Owl was twice seen from Tibbetts, round nightfall on the twenty first and twenty second.

Merlin, Quarter Wall © Tom Wright

Larger numbers of Skylark proceed with 13 on
the twentieth and eight on the twenty fifth. The twenty third was a
exceptional day for Swallow passage, with an estimate of 12,000 birds
shifting south over Lundy. Amongst the swallows had been roughly 100 Home Martin.
Excessive counts of 18 and 20 Sand Martin had been recorded on the nineteenth and twenty third respectively.

Transferring onto warblers, seven Willow Warbler had been
recorded in Millcombe on the twenty first and one or two Chiffchaff had been
recorded most days. One Sedge Warbler was searching for the shelter round
authorities within the average winds of the twenty third and a Reed Warbler
was recorded on the nineteenth. Blackcap have been current all
week, however the largest counts have come towards the tip with 52 on the twenty third and 37 on the twenty fourth. The twenty fifth proved to be the busiest day
of the week with 76 Blackcap, 19 Goldcrest, 8 cChiffchaff,
a Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and a Firecrest,
that had additionally been recognized on the twenty fourth. Firecrest had been additionally recorded on the twentieth and one was ringed on the twenty third. A Yellow-browed Warbler was recorded by
our new volunteer assistant wardens on the nineteenth, first on the Quarry after which calling in Millcombe.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Quarries © Angus Croudace

The juvenile Rosy Starling continues to be current on the island, most frequently seen on the Church Tower. On the twenty fourth it was with a flock of 300 Starling in Decrease Aerogenerator Area. Ring ouzel had been recorded in singles nineteenth by means of twenty first. Wryneck had been continued to be discovered with one on the nineteenth and twentieth, and two concurrently in Smelly Gully on the twenty first.

Rosy Starling, Church © Angus Croudace

Three Noticed Flycatchers had been seen on the nineteenth with one other on the twenty first. A Pied Flycatcher ringed in Millcombe on the twenty first was retrapped once more on the twenty third and seen once more on the twenty fourth and twenty fifth. A Black Redstart was seen on the twenty third with a Whinchat in South West Area on the twenty second. A giant inflow of Robins has been famous over the previous few weeks with a excessive depend of 30 seen in Millcombe and alongside the Decrease East on the twenty fifth. Low variety of Wheatear are nonetheless being seen with excessive counts of three on the twenty first and twenty fourth.

Wheatear, Previous Gentle © Tom Wright

There was continued overhead passage of pipits and wagtails this week. Single Yellow Wagtails had been recorded on the nineteenth, twenty first and twenty second. Gray Wagtails had been extra frequent with a complete of 5 seen or heard on the twenty first, three on the twentieth and twenty fifth, two within the twenty third and singles the remainder of the week. Not less than two Pied/White Wagtails, with a excessive depend of 5 on the twenty fourth, had been heard flying over every single day this week. A continental White Wagtail was confirmed in Excessive Road Area on the twenty third. Tree Pipits are nonetheless being picked up with ones on the twentieth and twenty second and three on the twenty first. Excessive counts of 200 and 150 Meadow Pipit had been recorded on the twenty third and twenty fifth respectively.

A juvenile Hawfinch was recorded in Millcombe on the nineteenth and a juvenile Frequent Rosefinch was ringed on the twenty third. A single Siskin was recorded on the twentieth as was a Lesser Redpoll.