Lundy Chook Observatory Replace 18th-Twenty third September

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 masking the remainder of the island away from the village on the hunt for vagrants! Different miscellaneous data 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 document shot of Little Bunting (centre) with Linnet © Angus Croudace

After the robust westerlies, the climate calmed slightly 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 means 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 solid 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 achieve 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 slightly 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 Area. 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 had been picked up each the 18th and Twenty third with an extra 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 initially of the week, however by the twenty second we had 38 birds recorded. A Music Thrush was in Millcombe on the twenty second and the primary Ring Ouzel of the season had 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 Fortress 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 slightly 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 sometimes picked up round Pondsbury/Quarter Wall. The Gray Heron remains to be often seen, typically flying over the fortress right down to the Touchdown Bay. A flock of 12 Cormorant had been seen heading south off of the east coast on the 18th with an an identical sized flock additionally seen on the twenty first. 

On the 18th 27 Oystercatcher had been picked up shifting north alongside the east coast. A flock of 5 Snipe had been within the flash in SW Area 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 robust winds on the coast, first from the east, then the west and presently from the south! 5 had been seen from the Lambing Shed to the church on the twenty second.