Lundy Hen Observatory Replace – Fifth-Eighth September

The settled climate has continued this week, winds remaining as mild easterlies other than a a lot gustier morning on the Fifth. The Fifth was very quiet, however the week received rather more thrilling on the Sixth-Eighth, with 4 Wryneck on the island for 2 days in addition to a first-year Woodchat Shrike on the Sixth.

First yr Woodchat Shrike on Sycamore above Millcombe Pines © Angus Croudace

Now that we’re into the swing of autumn numbers of Sylvia warblers are beginning to rise, with a couple of dozen Blackcap and Whitethroat sometimes pushing up Millcombe. Counts of 41, 65 and 40 Willow Warblers on the 6-Eighth, with a noticeable swap to juvenile birds reasonably than the adults that dominated the sooner counts within the season. A few Reed Warblers, Chiffchaff and Widespread Redstart seen every day, and one Sedge Warbler on the Sixth (Pondsbury) and Eighth (Millcombe pines). There was a small push of Firecrest, with 5 on the Sixth. Final yr the best Firecrest rely was three on the ninth September, with different counts of three later in October. The push this week is prone to characterize native mainland breeders, with Scandinavian birds forming the majority of our passage in October. 

Firecrest, Millcombe © Angus Croudace

Flycatchers have been a jov to observe, with the east aspect positively buzzing with them. Max counts of twenty-two and 45 Noticed Flycatcher on the Sixth and seventh and 18 and 24 Pied Flycatcher on the identical dates. For comparability, final yr peak counts of Pied Flycatcher have been 6 in early September, and max rely of Noticed Flycatcher was 20. It is a nice comparability which exhibits the influence of the sustained easterly winds that we now have been experiencing. Seven Whinchat on the seventh and 11 on the Eighth are nice indicators of extra autumn migrants transferring by way of, as are Tree Pipit (two over Millcombe on the seventh, and at the least 4 over the island on the Eighth). One or two Siskin have additionally been heard flying over Millcombe two for the reason that Sixth.

Noticed Flycatcher above Millcombe © Angus Croudace

One Swift and one Sand Martin over on the Sixth together with a small push of 250 Swallows. 5 Home Martin on the seventh have been accompanied by a trickle of 60 Swallow. A Collared Dove was seen over Millcombe and on the roof of the barn on the Sixth. The autumn has been sluggish on the raptor entrance, with just one feminine Sparrowhawk seen on the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth.

Two Golden Plover over Millcombe on the seventh, with 5 Ringed Plover additionally recorded north of Quarter Wall. One Widespread Snipe at Pondsbury on the Fifth and Sixth and three on the Eighth. An east coast seal survey additionally turned up a Widespread Sandpiper at Brazen Ward and two Turnstone at North Mild, in addition to a rely of 26 Oystercatcher. Wader passage is vastly under-recorded on the island and alternatives similar to accompanying the marine group on seal surveys is a superb excuse to choose up a few of these birds. One other Widespread Sandpiper was heard from Millcombe within the night on the Eighth. A Gray Heron has nonetheless been noticed most days.

The primary-year Rose-coloured Starling continued to seventh, seen with the opposite starlings as usually as it’s alone across the village and Millcombe. The Pintail has been current till the seventh, spending extra time round Pondsbury than Millcombe.

By way of ringing effort, the sunshine winds for the reason that Sixth have meant that the mist nets in Millcombe have been open every day with highlights of three Wryneck ringed (one was caught within the Heligoland entice on the Terrace). A few nice night classes on the seventh and Eighth picked up a dozen flycatchers. Our visiting ringers proceed to ring about 20 Manx Shearwater over on the west coast, with a few Storm Petrels picked up too.

Wryneck, Millcombe © Angus Croudace