Lundy Hen Observatory Sightings Archive: Lundy Hen Observatory Replace – eleventh

March 5, 2024

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Prevailing south-westerlies carrying heavy rainfall in a single day begin this era. A brilliant, nonetheless and heat day on the twelfth performed host to our first giant thrush passage. The winds subsequently swung north-west inflicting the temperature to drop on Saturday 14th earlier than then changing into reasonable easterlies on Fifteenth-Sixteenth.

A single Redshank has been current for the reason that thirteenth and noticed in all types of quirky locations together with the puddle exterior Castles on the street; the drainage ditch by the Church; in flight low amongst Millcombe; most notably, caught within the cattle grid by the Black Shed! Upon discovery, Lundy regulars Julian and Mark rapidly enlisted a close-by plank, offering a ramp for it to ascend out of its predicament safely. It was seen feeding once more on Barton pond on the Sixteenth, and was caught and ringed on the night of the Sixteenth – the primary Redshank ringing file for Lundy. We’re amazed that it hasn’t but met the sharp finish of considered one of our Peregrine Falcons, not like a single Inventory Dove which arrived on the Sixteenth however did not final past lunchtime.

Redshank Barton Discipline © Richard Campey

A feminine Teal has been picked up on Pondsbury every day, with two new in Mallard on the Fifteenth including to our typical depend of 13. A single feminine Frequent Scoter was within the Touchdown Bay on the Sixteenth, with 16 seen on a seawatch on the thirteenth. An arrival of Water Rail on the 14th led to an autumn excessive depend of 5 birds, together with one above Quarry Seaside with the remaining in Millcombe. One Lapwing flew across the village round daybreak on the 14th. A considerable amount of Golden Plover arrived with a max depend of 29 on the twelfth, with one flock joined by a Whimbrel on the thirteenth on the airfield. A number of Jack Snipe arrived on the thirteenth and have been recorded every day since.

Frequent flocks of Frequent Snipe had been an uncommon sight for Lundy, seen all around the island throughout this reporting interval, with a most flock measurement of 26 on the twelfth. Singles had been flushed all around the island way more commonly than is typical together with in Millcombe Wooden and the Higher East Coast Path, hinting that there is likely to be a considerable enhance in numbers. One other two nights dazzling shone a complete new gentle on the dimensions of Snipe passage by Lundy. On the night time of the 14th Joe and Luke ringed an unbelievable 55 Frequent Snipe in addition to single Jack Snipe and 5 Golden Plover. In a single night time, this smashes earlier all-time information for the island of 46 Frequent Snipe ringed 1947-2022 and 5 Golden Plover in the identical timeframe. On the night time of the Fifteenth an additional 20 Frequent Snipe and one other Jack Snipe had been ringed, after which one other 10 Frequent Snipe and a 3rd Jack Snipe on the Sixteenth! These efforts had been all south of Quarter Wall, there have been no retraps on the primary night time and only a couple on the efforts of the following two evenings. Thus, it’s clear that Lundy is totally swimming in Snipe for the time being! Our logbook reads 55 which is already an file breaking autumn day depend, however might numbers even be in extra of 200 in actuality?! The earlier autumn passage file was a flock of 30 birds in November 1985.

Frequent Snipe flock over Airfield © Angus Croudace

Frequent Snipe, Millcombe Drive © Angus Croudace

The thirteenth and 14th noticed numerous seabirds loafing or feeding off of the island, with 2270 Kittiwake on the thirteenth and 1000+ on the 14th. A Mediterranean Gull and 6 Frequent Gull shut in beneath the Terrace on the Fifteenth. Singles of dark-morph Arctic Skua had been seen off of the east on the 14th and the Sixteenth. A Nice Northern Diver was once more within the Touchdown Bay on the eleventh, thirteenth and Sixteenth,

Nice Northern Diver Touchdown Bay © Angus Croudace

It has turn out to be considerably busier on the raptor entrance, with a number of Merlin people arriving with the Redwing on the twelfth, leading to a day depend of 4 birds and a number of other every day since. Two Brief-eared Owls have been current for the reason that twelfth additionally, though are very unpredictable and elusive, with sightings starting from the bracken on the east, cliffs within the Touchdown Bay, gorse in South-west area in addition to within the heathland within the north. A ringtail Hen Harrier has been picked up at Quarter Wall/Pondsbury for the reason that thirteenth. So as to add to those headliners are our persevering with supporting solid of three Kestrel, as much as eight Peregrine Falcon and a feminine Sparrowhawk.

Merlin Quarter Wall © Richard Campey

Brief-eared Owl Lighthouse Discipline © Tim Jones

Merlin double act on the North Finish © Angus Croudace

Redwing ‘tseeped’ overhead by the night time of the eleventh, with counts ranging from 6.30am leading to a complete of 700 birds recorded in the course of the day throughout the island. 47 Fieldfare had been amongst them. Since, about ten Fieldfare have been recorded every day and small numbers of Redwing (72 on thirteenth, and about 20 every day since). Amongst the thrush arrival on the twelfth had been 16 Ring Ouzel, 22 Track Thrush and one Mistle Thrush.

First-year Male Ring Ouzel in Millcombe (observe the worn tail feathers) © Angus Croudace

Ring Ouzel Jenny’s Cove © Tim Jones

Some Skylark proceed to maneuver overhead with some flocks of as much as 20. Excessive day depend on this interval of 85 on the twelfth, however sometimes 30-50 recorded every day. 530 Meadow Pipit round or over on the twelfth with round 150 file every day since. Swallow have milled round once more with over 100 recorded every day however no actual devotion to pushing ahead. The Home Martins noticed have nearly all been in small flocks which might be extra clearly pushing south, together with a complete of 52 on the 14th.

The primary Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was very elusive in Millcombe on the Fifteenth and nearly utterly silent. Chiffchaff day counts sometimes break 20, and we’ve got loved a late Reed Warbler by Millcombe Home. On the advantageous day that was the twelfth there was one other arrival of Blackcap, with 45 throughout the island, principally in Millcombe, round a dozen have stayed for a couple of days to feed on the now dwindling blackberries. A Lesser Whitethroat confirmed effectively on the gorse by Rocket Pole on the Fifteenth, and a late Frequent Whitethroat was above Smelly Gully on the 14th. A Firecrest was in Millcombe together with two long-staying Noticed Flycatchers. These birds (lastly) left within the clear skies of the 14th to proceed their lengthy journeys, with the chance that the flycatchers might be destined so far as South Africa! Goldcrest counts have sometimes been 20 with a peak of 37 on the 14th.

Lesser Whitethroat Rocket Pole © Tim Jones

A Black Redstart was at North Mild on the eleventh. Between one and 6 Wheatear have been recorded every day on this interval. One Gray Wagtail over on the Fifteenth in addition to a White Wagtail in Barton Discipline on the 14th.

Lastly, the Sixteenth was the primary day of notable Chaffinch passage this season, with 50 rising from roost in Millcombe and departing because the solar rose. All through the day a reasonably fixed stream of small flocks had been transferring south, principally sheltering from the easterlies within the lee of the west coast. The entire determine was c1500 for the day. Amongst had been 4 Brambling (after the primary of the autumn was heard on the eleventh) and two Greenfinch. A bunch of 4 Lesser Redpoll feeding in Millcombe on the twelfth, 11 throughout the island on the Fifteenth and 4 on the Sixteenth. The primary Lapland Bunting of autumn was round Pondsbury on the Sixteenth and a few Reed Bunting have handed by every day, with a excessive depend of 5 on the 14th.

A few late Clouded Yellow butterflies, notable Crimson Admiral passage with over 100 on the twelfth and a few Painted Women, Small Copper and Hummingbird Hawk-moths every day are the very best of the Lepidoptera.