31st March – Singing Brambling in Millcombe

In what may well be a Lundy 'first' (if anyone reading this knows better, please do let us know!), the male Brambling that has been frequenting Millcombe was heard singing first thing yesterday morning, Saturday 31st, by Dean Jones.

Also on 31st, Tony & Ann Taylor, enjoying their final day on the island for this trip, reported a flock of 10 Cormorants flying north up the East Side at midday, a Woodcock in flight from St John's Valley towards the Village, a Collared Dove in Millcombe, a Coal Tit "very mobile and noisy around Millcombe", a male Stonechat at Benjamin's Chair and a potentially newly arrived Chiffchaff in the same location. The boat crossing back to Ilfracombe brought two Manx Shearwaters and "masses of Guillemots and Razorbills".

Tony has also been able to confirm that two additional colour-ringed Wheatears seen by Dean on Friday 30th had both been ringed in 2017, when they bred together on the Pilot’s Quay slope. "This year, however, the male appears to have paired up with an unringed female and the two of them were chasing the colour-ringed female."