Lundy Part 2 - a hint of Siberia

16 - 20 October 2021 - afternoon of Saturday 16th, post Red-eyed Vireo

After the surprise visit of an American vagrant the late morning continued with light to moderate southerly winds which once again made it feel unseasonably mild for an autumn Lundy trip - remarkably all my clothing was dry. Back to Government house for a belated second breakfast and as I approached the "blue door copse"( a slight exaggeration ) but it describes where it is, there was a Spotted Flycatcher feeding from the tops of a sycamore.

Spotted Flycatchers are always a joy to see on migration especially as they are declining in much of their range. This bird was feeding actively and no doubt preparing itself for it's southward journey to spend the winter in Africa. Always amazing to think of the harsh journey it will encounter to arrive there and hopefully return to the UK next spring.

My ankle was improving fast but I restricted myself to birding in Millcombe. As I emerged from what turned into lunch the first bird I saw was the Red-eyed Vireo just by the top end of path in scrub opposite the plantation.Brilliant ! now a chance to get some close up images and ditch the heavily cropped pics from Smelly Gully. Hmm with that thought I took a couple of steps forward and never saw it again.

So birding continued in Millcombe and I was lucky enough to encounter Jacques and Rob just as they were processing what they believed to be a Siberian Chiffchaff. I have always loved warblers which I guess is a consequence of starting my real birding life when living on Lundy (1978-1980). They are the real spirit of the island for me and while aware of the Siberean race it was about a decade or so ago that my friend Tom Bedford had us relentlessly chasing a bird which he believed showed tristris (Siberian) characteristics. So it was great to see a potential individual in the hand and still, rather than fleeting glimpses up and down a knackering St Helen's Copse. Siberian Chiffchaff is one of the five sub species of Common Chiffchaff though thoughts on this are continually changing and it may become a full species in it's own right one day. There is much detailed literature on the origins of tristris and interbreeding with other subsidies which combined with dna is giving a clearer picture and equally sometimes (due to residual dna) more complicated picture. So leaving that aside I asked Jacques what he thought made this bird a tristris candidate. I was then treated to the "Jacques masterclass"

So overall it has grey-brown upper parts (no hint of greeney olive on crown or mantle), white/creamy underparts and a rusty buff tinge to the supercilium. Browny "tobacco" like ear coverts. Also after some research books indicate a whitish lower eyelid which can be seen in this bird. There are more more detailed subtleties but this was enough for my brain. When released it gave a Dunnock or often described as bullfinch type call, monosyllabic and quite different to Common Chiffchaff.

... and a bit later in complete contrast ; the ever elegant and comparatively gaudy Grey Wagtail

After Millcombe it was another walk around South End up past the Water Tanks and on to the Terraces - my first decent proper trek. I felt good, the ankle was near repaired and I headed out with optimism that the ankle was sorted for the rest of the trip. Hmmm little did I know! However for the time being I was entertained by a stunning Common Redstart by the Water Tanks and a Black Redstart in Stoneycroft garden.

Here is a Black Redstart on the picnic table at Stoneycroft.

Poking around the Water Tanks was my first Common Redstart of the trip which was playing a game of cat and mouse with me, never showing fully and when it did come out it had a trick up it's auxiliaries by perching on a wire in order to obscure me getting the shot I wanted.

If I had hours to spend in photoshop and actually knew what I was doing I guess I could remove the offending wire, but I'll stick to my motto of "more than a minute - bin it" approach to any editing.

While looking at the two Black Redstarts flying west to the wall leading up to Stoneycroft, I spied the Common Redstart again and went in pursuit. It was feeding on caterpillars and was difficult to approach so I left it to fatten up.

The day ended as it begun for me, in Millcombe, and as the sun set it produced a great effect on the flagpole at the Ugly as it had done for many days.

Sunday 17th October - South End and to the Terraces, I was walking like a racing snake! in fact several people commented on my gait and speed and it was while on the Terraces I received a text from Tim Jones who had just seen a Great White Egret, and was giving precise directions of it as it flew over Millcombe/landing Bay and headed out to sea. The perfect directions and for once an immediate signal had me watching the bird until it was just a dot leaving Lundy. A Lundy tick for me, and only the second ever record for the Island after last year's sighting of three birds heading north past the Terraces. Nice!

At Quarter Wall Quarry a Black Redstart was feeding, another first me, "a location first" this time for Black Red in this spot.

I spent much of the rest of the day kicking round south end, trying to re locate a Common Redstart that Tim Davis had just two meters away from him at South West Point, and without a wire in sight! I failed. But Ravens as ever at Benji's Chair put on a great display.

So with South End being my home for the majority of this trip ---- here are a few images

and a couple from the phone........

here akin to a scene from "the wicker man"

I returned to Government House with thoughts of Pondsbury, and a full day's birding with photography to follow tomorrow -

Monday 18th October and penultimate day on the island. A short walk outside Government House and it was clear the weather had taken a turn for the worse. It was breezy, and there was drizzle, so I took a turn around the Ugly where Tim Jones and I were treated to some heavy duty Peregrine action, as two adult birds decided to give one of the immature birds a right seeing off. All too fast for me, until after the action as one bird cruised past to alight in St Helen's.

The drizzle turned heavier, fog started to arrive and my ankle went again.

Tuesday 19th October - our designated day to leave. An early morning belt of thunder felt like it was directly above Government house and awoke everyone on the island. The ensuing westerly gale force winds cancelled the boat and the low cloud base cancelled the helicopter. I recovered, quite quickly this time, with the weather being an excuse to stay in.

Last day Wednesday 20th October - we had been allocated first flight on the helicopter, so it was a quick dash to Millcombe early am where Tim Jones found a Red-breasted Flycatcher perched in front of him in Millcombe Wood. It then disappeared, but we were able to get good but brief views in the rain, just before departing for the mainland via my favoured mode of transport.

James Diamond (left) and Tim Jones on board for the jump to Hartland Point.........

A great trip all in all and luckily I didn't miss a major rarity north of Half Way Wall! I shall have lasting memories of Redwings pouring into Millcombe Valley, the sound and sight of Siskins covering Millcombe and being seen in most parts of the island, the Red-eyed Vireo and opportunities for photography in the unseasonably mild weather.

Postscript ...........

Surgery on ankle appears to have been very successful. I'll be fully mobile again in a few weeks if all goes according to plan. Can't wait........