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Saturday, November 23, 2024

Lundy Fowl Observatory Replace 18th-Twenty third September


Robust winds have been a characteristic of the previous week. We watched the climate charts at the beginning of the week with curiosity as a fast-paced heat entrance zipped throughout the Atlantic. Off the again of this method (the remnants of a hurricane) the west coast of UK and Eire have acquired a report breaking inflow of American vagrants previously few days, which have all been carried astray by the sturdy winds. Lundy has shared a small a part of the autumn with two particular person Pink-eyed Vireo touchdown in Millcombe Valley on twentieth. One was ringed, after which retrapped three days later having placed on one gram of weight. These are the eleventh and twelfth information for Lundy, the one which entered the nets was the seventh to be ringed, and they’re the earliest information by 8 days.

Pink-eyed Vireo in Millcombe © Luke Marriner

Pink-eyed Vireo within the hand at Brambles Villa © Angus Croudace

As much as 4 Wryneck continued their keep till the twenty first, however have not been picked up since. The final day the Rose-coloured Starling was seen was the twentieth, however there is a good probability it’s nonetheless right here – the main target has been on ringing in Millcombe and overlaying the remainder of the island away from the village on the hunt for vagrants! Different miscellaneous information of be aware this week embody a Sandwich Tern heard calling from Millcombe on the Twenty third, a first-year Osprey headed south over Rat Island on the 18th. The primary-year Barred Warbler which was ringed on the seventeenth was nonetheless current on the 18th across the Decrease Backyard. A really sensible Wooden Warbler was caught in Millcombe on the twenty first. A Little Bunting was seen feeding with a small flock of Linnet on the monitor close to the Lambing Shed on Twenty third. 

Wooden Warbler ringed at Millcombe © Brittany Maxted

A report shot of Little Bunting (centre) with Linnet © Angus Croudace

After the sturdy westerlies, the climate calmed somewhat bit permitting our extra typical migrants to proceed their journey south. On the twenty first we had an enormous fall of Blackcap with 350+ on the island and over 160 ringed. The bracken was alive with ‘flocks’ of them making their manner alongside the east coast and ending up in Millcombe. This quantity had roughly halved by the twenty second, with birds being ringed on day two principally lighter and with decrease fats and muscle scores. This properly evidences the development of stronger birds shifting on extra rapidly, with these in much less good kind remaining to feed up for a one other day or two. 

A small supporting forged of 4 Widespread Whitethroat, three Reed Warbler  and three Grasshopper Warbler on the twenty first. One of many Reed Warbler had been right here a short time, retrapped after initially being ringed a fortnight in the past, with a whopping weight acquire of 10g – 14.5g, and fats/muscle scores of 1 growing to six and three respectively! Willow Warbler numbers have decreased dramatically with 20 on the 18th however none on the Twenty third. Chiffchaff numbers have been somewhat steadier with 5 on the 18th and 4 on the Twenty third, with a peak of 11 on the twenty first

The identical ringed Pied Flycatcher and single Whinchat above Millcombe have remained current all week, together with a Yellow Wagtail in Barton’s Subject. Two late Noticed Flycatcher joined on the twenty first and twenty second, and two Gray Wagtail on the twenty first. About 8 Wheatear most days with a peak of 17 on the twenty first. Three Siskin have been picked up each the 18th and Twenty third with a further single on the nineteenth. There have been three Firecrest on the terrace on the twentieth, with singles in Millcombe on the 18th and twenty second. Goldcrest have numbered round 20 at the beginning of the week, however by the twenty second we had 38 birds recorded. A Track Thrush was in Millcombe on the twenty second and the primary Ring Ouzel of the season have been seen above Authorities Home on the Twenty third, with three people together with one male. 

Skulking Pied Flycatcher which has outstayed all others by over every week. © Angus Croudace
Whinchat nonetheless above Millcombe most days (right here on the allotments) © Angus Croudace
Ring Ouzel north of Fort Cottage © Chris Blackmore

A little bit of a Hirundine push midweek with 450+ Swallow and 54 Home Martin on the twenty first and 250/70 respectively on the twenty second. There have been 13 Sand Martin picked up on the twenty first and 31 on the twenty second. Swallows continued to maneuver somewhat on the Twenty third with 110 recorded, however single figures of Martins.

Water Rail have been calling intermittently in Millcombe, with as much as two birds calling every day for the reason that 18th. A Teal remains to be often picked up round Pondsbury/Quarter Wall. The Gray Heron remains to be commonly seen, typically flying over the fort all the way down to the Touchdown Bay. A flock of 12 Cormorant have been seen heading south off of the east coast on the 18th with an equivalent sized flock additionally seen on the twenty first. 

On the 18th 27 Oystercatcher have been picked up shifting north alongside the east coast. A flock of 5 Snipe have been within the flash in SW Subject on the twentieth. A Turnstone was heard and seen flying over St John’s Valley on the twenty first. Rock Pipits have been sheltering within the village this week, maybe due to the relentless sturdy winds on the coast, first from the east, then the west and at present from the south! 5 have been seen from the Lambing Shed to the church on the twenty second.

There have been a variety of rainbows between squalls this week. © Angus Croudace

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