Lundy Bird Observatory
@lundybirds
Bird and other wildlife news from Britain and Ireland's newest Bird Observatory, re-accredited in 2023. www.lundybirdobs.org.uk
An upper level low coming in this evening so lots of cloud and maybe some rain in the morning? Will it drop anything in? Today a Green sandpiper and 3 Grey Heron noteworthy plus all round island count of 252 Shag
Celebrating 20yrs Rat free this year! One of the biggest successes on the island is the seabirds, but for Manx Shearwaters it has been phenomenal. One of our box birds from today, the fact we have 15,000 and they breed successfully was unthinkable 30yrs ago!
The first cloud in a couple of weeks and 18 more new Willow Warblers plus a retrap from 2025 and one from Friday. A scattered number across the plateau so roughly 40 on island so far. Our breeding adult and juvenile Spotted Flycatchers ringed and census found a Sedge Warb in a grass field!
28 Willow Warblers processed this morning. @birdguides.bsky.social
Red-rumped Swallow over Village for past hour @birdguides.bsky.social
Current influx of Red veined Darter to the island currently. Our 3rd ever for the island came in May, Our 4th came last week, our 5th (pictured) was yesterday and we have the 6th and 7th ever today! A sign of things to come...
An excellent opportunity for 14 young birders to visit Lundy, boat and board included -- lundybirdobs.org.uk/news-and-sig... Additional funding for young people to get out to a bird obs, through the BTO here -- www.bto.org/our-work/you...
A bit of a wet, windy, and foggy island today so nothing to report and no sign of our recent rarities. Expecting they will make an appearance when the fog lifts. @birdguides.bsky.social
The 2nd calander year male Golden Oriole caught and ringed this morning in Millcombe. No sign of our second green/female type unfortunately. Photo by Maddie Kirby. @birdguides.bsky.social
Golden Oriole and the most unexpected bird of the year, in my opinion, a Corncrake were the best of the bunch yesterday. Only a couple of pictures of the highlight species, so here is a pic of a Small Adder's-tongue Fern a great non bird to see! @birdguides.bsky.social
Melodious Warbler was an all too brief bird in the Laundry Garden today. At least 1 of the 2 Golde Orioles were seen and heard again. Grey Heron have been rarer than Orioles this year, so today's bird was our first in over a month. @birdguides.bsky.social
Turtle Dove, 2 Golden Oriole, Hobby, and Hoopoe yesterday. @birdguides.bsky.social
Turtle Dove in the inversion today, a deluge of migrant moths and butterflies plus at least one Golden Oriole remains (the green female). @birdguides.bsky.social
And a 5th has joined our 4th. Loitering around Quarry Cottages. Also 3rd record of Red-veined Darter for the island today. @birdguides.bsky.social
Small increase in migrants today in Millcombe including 'new in' 3 Reed Warbler, 6 Sedge Warblers, and 7+ Spotted Flycatcher with a further 5 elsewhere.
Cuckoo present for 3rd day today. A lovely 2nd calander year male. @birdguides.bsky.social
If anyone wants to hazard a guess at our current selection of Yellow Wagtails please feel free. The first is the easiest, second a little uncertainty and third we would love to know! Any guesses?? @birdguides.bsky.social
Sunny skies and our Golden Oriole is still present for it's 4th day on the island. Currently in Millcombe this evening. @birdguides.bsky.social
Grey headed Wagtail fountain his afternoon/evening. 8th island record. This follows from a Tufted Duck (28th record) and a 2nd calander year male Golden Oriole for the second day. @rarebirder.bsky.social
First Turtle Dove, Crossbill and Little Egret of the year on the island today. Lovely 2 Wood Warblers including one singing throughout the whole day!! Plus a Hawfinch in off the sea and feeding showing well on and off. What a day 😃 @rarebirder.bsky.social
Dotterel female at North End throughout the day before flying high North and out to sea this afternoon. @rarebirder.bsky.social
Nightingale the best from the nets this morning. Small arrival of other warblers including 5 Sedge caught and ringed. @rarebirder.bsky.social
An Eastern Subalpine Warbler male caught and ringed in Millcombe this morning was undoubtedly the rarest bird caught whilst ringing. 8 Sedge, Reed, 5 Whitethroat very good for recent days. Nightingale the 10th since 2000. Better pics on request. @rarebirder.bsky.social
Our returning female Blue headed Wagtail today with a good selection of other drift migrants: 3 brit Yellow wa Reed Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler, 30+ Willow Warblers, 15+ Chiffchaff, 7+ Whitethroat, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Common Redstart, 2000+ Swallows, 200+ Sand martin, 60+ House Martins.
Only our 3rd Pied Flycatcher of the year on the island, however the first one to be caught and ringed in Millcombe. Other migrants include Curlew, Whimbrel, 4 Greenland Wheatear, nice arrival of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and some Blackcap plus steady passage of hurundines.
Blue-headed Wagtail male on Barton's Field today. The first Yellow Wagtail of the year. Also control migrant Goldfinch ringed in April 2025 caught this morning. Awaiting response...
A day of island scaricities today... - Cormorant, not pictured. - Black-headed Gull roaming around the fields though preferring Tillage and Barton's Field. - Greenfinch adult male associated with the Goldfinch flock. - Sandwich Tern x2 in the Landing Bay. - Hooded Crow, not pictured.
Tree Pipit and Redstart new for year this morning. Female Firecrest caught and ringed in new arrival of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler yesterday evening.
Some nice research being undertaken by Imperial University students at the moment looking at Manx Shearwater colony calls and individual dialects. An excuse to undertake some Manx Shearwater ringing resulted in 27 birds (10 retrap and 17 new). Oldest retraps from 2010, 2012 and 2013! Success.