Lundy 1st-11th May 2021 Part 2 The bigger stuff

The bigger stuff - this time in every sense, weather and birds. After my arrival on saturday and the previously reported warblers and flycatchers there was a big influx of Swallows that day some 3500 and an incredible 1500 House Martins. The following day and early morning rewarded me with a Corn Bunting - a big bird for Lundy and only my second ever on the island. Here a heavily cropped image of it in St John's Valley. It hadn't been seen for a few days so I was very pleased to re locate it. It had the habit of flying down the valley and completely disappearing somewhere round Brambles.

Another big event was the rainbow that tried to touch the Ugly flagpole but just fell short.

Three big ones were next in the form of three Whimbrel feeding in the helicopter field. They looked settled but I was concerned that they would simply fly off if I approached too close and too quick. So there followed a slow slither along the ground towards them. It took much longer than it would have 10 years ago! but I eventually managed to get close up and at ground level -

Whimbrel do look a bit like Curlew but they have a shorter bill with a more down-curved tip, and when compared to a curlew, it has a strong head pattern – the brown crown showing two dark bands separated by a narrower, pale center stripe as seen here.

There is much debate on Whimbrel migration with suggestions of a single flight from coastal Africa to Iceland. Some do breed in Northern Scotland but whichever these birds were they are always a great species to see on Lundy.

And then came the really big one............

My notes for Monday the 3rd read...........

and then it hit.............

Now you see it and next day we didn't !

Winds logged at 67 mph and gusting higher. The Tipee went taking a huge chunk of granite wall with it. I had a couple of walks out but difficult to breathe head on and in a few of the windy pinch points hard to stay on my feet - unsurprisingly not many birds ! Pictures never really do it justice (here many hours before it fully hit) and I still struggle to upload video - but it was a big storm

The second gale was a mere force 8 but was more unpleasant as it was accompanied by constant rain and fog.

Big things don't get much bigger on Lundy than birds with big attitudes, in fact a species that, in my opinion owns the island. All birds from pipits to waders must surely feel somewhat apprehensive on the island with the master killing machine for company. I am of course referring to the Peregrine. Even in high winds it is constantly seen looking for prey and if you are lucky enough to see a stoop and a pair hunting together it's quite an incredible spectacle of nature......... photographing these things at high speed is a challenge! Here a bird hunting The Terraces

Creeping up on a perched Peregrine is very difficult as their eyesight is so much better than that of a human. They nearly always lift before you get anywhere near enough for a photograph let alone a good view through the binoculars. Their constant surveillance makes it near impossible. This bird was hunting the Terraces and I saw it from a distance. I watched it through the binoculars and each time it turned away to view another area I walked forward stopping immediately it turned it's head towards me. This took quite a while but eventually I was close enough to grab an image.......... a sub adult bird, perhaps why it was slightly less wary but seeing this so close was a real moment to remember...............

And so to the other big brute of Lundy -

Ravens --- a real delight

The final part to follow with the "remainders"...........