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		The first day of the month started with Ernie Davies finding a first year winter female Bluethroat at Quarter Wall, which was probably a different bird to the one seen at Pondsbury. Nigel Warren reports that there were still a few Firecrests around and a Merlin had been present for the last few days. The Common Rosefinch was still present.
		Tony Taylor, Richard Taylor and Neil Croton were on the island for the first week of September primarily to ring Manx Shearwaters and report that they managed to trap and ring some sixty nine birds, including thirty nine chicks. On the 4th Richard Taylor saw an Osprey moving south and the next day, the group were watching a juvenile Common Crossbill also flying south down the island, but this bird stopped in Millcombe, before making repeated trips flying off the island and returning. On one return trip it spent a while perched on the ridge of the church roof. Tony reports a downy Water Rail chick as well as a full grown juvenile in Millcombe and also a chick calling at Pondsbury. Other breeding birds included four young Swallows which fledged during the week from the Church porch, while a very late brood of Swallows had only just hatched above the fire truck. Andy Jayne was also on the island from the 2nd to the 6th of September and adds, a Sanderling flying past the boat just a few miles from the island, on his arrival. Also a Firecrest in the Rhododendrons near Quarterwall Copse on the 4th. On his departure Andy saw a juvenile Puffin on the sea, only eight minutes after leaving the Landing Bay. Highest counts for migrants were as follows; three Whimbrel, two Swifts, four Sand Martins, some sixty Swallows and eight House Martins. There were six Tree Pipits, six Yellow Wagtails , two Whinchats and twenty Wheatears. Warblers were represented by a single Sedge Warbler, single Blackcap and three Whitethroats and twenty Willow Warblers. In addition there were up to ten Spotted Flycatchers, seven Pied Flycatchers, and seven Goldcrests . On the 10th of the month a Pectoral Sandpiper was seen by Grant Sherman, Stuart Levy and Chris Flowers feeding on the pool by the main track south of Quarter Wall. On the 14th a Western Bonellis Warbler was reported by the walled gardens in Millcombe and a Tawny Pipit at North End. Recent reports from the log book confirm these sightings and when more details become available we will add them. The Wryneck was still present in Millcombe on the 15th. There are also reports of an Icterine Warbler around the same time, again more details will follow hopefully. Latest reports, from the 16th, are of an Ortolan Bunting in Millcombe Valley, and a Dotterel at North End. On the 25th Ivan Lakin was on Lundy and reports a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwings,Firecrests and three Redpolls. He also saw a Lapland Bunting. The next day a Merlin was present along with Tree Pipit, Grasshopper Warbler, and Crossbill. The Lapland Bunting was also present. On the 27th there is a record of a presumed, though not confirmed, Marsh Warbler, which was present in St John's Valley for an hour and a half. Also present were Reed Warblers, two Grasshopper Warblers, three Firecrests and two Redpolls. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was also present and a Treecreeper. Also on the 27th Nigel Warren, Ernie Davies et al were travelling to the island and during their croosing saw what they considered to be a Killer Whale. They also saw on the island a Common Rosefinch, two Lapland Buntings, two Firecrests, two Pied Flycatchers, two juvenile Reed Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler. On the 28th there were two Yellow browed Warblers a Bluethroat,eleven Redpolls four Crossbills and a possible Booted Warbler. Both the Bluethroat and the possible Booted Warbler were seen at Pondsbury, but the Warbler was extremely elusive and only gave brief flight views to begin with. After a few hours of continued searching and some better views it was confirmed as a Booted Warbler. The Booted Warbler was found after Phil Abbott saw a passerine skulking around Pondsbury which with the help of the rest of his group turned out to be a Bluethroat. It was while searching for this that Ernie Davis and Brian Heaseman saw another similarly skulking passerine which they tentatively thought to be a possible Booted Warbler. It was only after several hours of viewing that the group, joined by Ivan Lakin, finally got good enough views to confirm it's identity. The Common Rosefinch was also present today and an increase in Firecrests with up to four individuals. On the 29th, after clear skies and strengthening winds there was no sign of either the Booted Warbler or the Bluethroat. Still present however were the Common Rosefinch, some fourteen Redpolls and a single Yellow browed Warbler.Ivan Lakin reports an Arctic Skua and Nigel Warren commented that the island was heaving with Goldcrests, with some sixty birds ringed in just one day. And finally on the last day of the month Nigel reports some very windy conditions with just the Common Rosefinch and two Firecrests present.
		The month started with the last sighting of a Puffin from the island. On the 26th a juvenile Knot(see photos page) was seen, and this stayed till the end of the month and became a very confiding individual, spending much of it's time around the Tavern ! Tony Taylor, Richard Taylor and Neil Corton were travelling over on the 30th and from the Oldenburgh saw twenty Common Terns and two Black Terns just one kilometer from the island. The birds were fishing close to a large floating log and using it as a perch. A Wryneck was seen on the wall along Tillage Field where it was trapped and ringed by Tony Taylor et al (see photos page).
		In the first two weeks of the month there were regular sightings of a Great Spotted Woodpecker and then on the 25th a juvenile bird was also seen. A couple of days later the juvenile was seen again with a suspected broken wing and finally on the last day of July, feathers from a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker were found on the Upper East Side Path. On the 12th and 13th Robert Hurrell reports from the Great Lundy Row 2008; on the 12th a small group of Common Dolphins near Rat Island. Good numbers of Manx Shearwaters heard calling over the campsite and towards Seal's Hole cliff and the Old Light. On the 13th two Tufted Ducks, male and female, on Pondsbury and two female Mallards. A single Puffin seen on the water in Jenny's Cove and another bird flying out of sight under the cliff. Robert also reports seeing several juvenile Wheatears, a Swallow brrod being fed in buildings near the shop and Peregrine over the church. Mid month two Tufted Ducks were present on Pondsbury and remained for two days. Liz Cleary reports seeing a male and a female Tufted Duck on the 16th to the 18th, presumably the same birds. A Black headed Gull was recorded on the 23rd and there were regular sightings of Kestrel during the month. Puffins appear to have fared well with six chicks, four at St Philip's Stone area and two at Jenny's Cove. These figures are based on fish deliveries into burrows and sightings of two different chicks at St Philips. See photos page for Puffin video grabs by Grant Sherman.Grant reports that some birds were still present in late July but only returning to feed their chicks. By this time all the Guillemots and Razorbills had left the cliffs.
		Andy Jayne was on the island from the 3rd to the 10th and reports the following; on his first day Andy and Kevin Rylands had brief flight views of a probable Short toed Lark, but it was not seen again. A Cuckoo was present in St Helen's Copse the next day and then on the 6th there were two Spotted Flycatchers in Millcombe and a Sparrowhawk along the east side. The lack of migrants turned Andy's attention to the breedings birds, the highlight of which was the successful breeding of Water Rails in lower Millcombe. An adult and at least two chicks were seen on the 4th and another Water Rail was heard up at Pondsbury. Up to sixteen Puffins were recorded during the week, mainly by Grant Sherman, with most sightings from the St Philip's Stone area and Jenny's Cove, but also from North Light and more surprisingly on the sea south of the Rocket Pole. Two Oystercatcher chicks were at Miller's Cake and two pairs of House Martins were prospecting around Old House, the Tavern and the Barn. A fledgling Song Thrush was seen in Millcombe, where there was also a Chiffchaff regularly singing. A Sedge Warbler was holding territory in typically vociferous fashion at Pondsbury throughout the week. Andy's highlight of the week was a drab Common Rosefinch that he found near Governmnet House on the morning of the 9th. He didn't see it again until the following afternoon when it proved to be a first summer male, and was heard singing from various points around Millcombe.
		A Little Egret was reported on the first day of the month. On the 3rd a Honey Buzzard was seen which stayed the following day and then on the 5th a Golden Oriole. A male and female Tufted Duck present on Pondsbury arrived on the 9th and still present on the 13th. Other usual migrants through in the first week include Yellow Wagtail, Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, Sedge and Reed Warblers and Wood Warbler. The ringed Turtle Dove still on the island on the 8th and the following day produced Siskins , Lesser Redpoll and a male Bullfinch. recent news from the island however is of a male Collared Flycatcher seen yesterday, the 12th, at the Quarries. Nicoal Saunders, the island warden, reports " that a male Collared Flycatcher was seen by Louise Jones at 10.30am while walking along the lower east coast path. Louise was absolutely convinced of it's identification, is familiar with Pied Flycatcher and has seen Collared Flycatcher before in Poland." she continues that " as she neared the Heligoland trap on the lower east path she saw a black and white bird fly over her which she instinctively thought was a Pied Flycatcher, it landed on a rock above the path about 25 yards from her and her heart nearly missed a beat when she saw a pure white complete collar !" On the 13 th nine Common Terns were seen on the crossing to Lundy. Strong north easterly winds meant the boat waiting for the sea to subside, while five Puffins were seen in Jenny's Cove, but had to return to Devon without landing. Tim Jones, Tim Davis and James Diamond arrived on the island on the 14th and report that on Pondsbury there were Mallard ducklings and the pair Tufted Ducks still present, including a Dunlin. Migrants include a Cuckoo, Whinchat three Spotted Flycatchers two Whitethroats two Willow Warblers and a single Chiffchaff. An immature Great Northern Diver still in the landing Bay is presumably the long staying individual. Unfortunately however there was no sign of the male Collared Flycatcher reported two days ago. The pair of Tufted Ducks stayed until the 14th and were seen by many observers. Another Honey Buzzard was seen by Tim Davis, Tim Jones and James Diamond on the 20th as they walked down the Beach Road to catch the boat. The bird flew in over the landing bay, flapped overhead, did a couple of turns around Millcombe and was then chased off northwards by a Herring Gull / Ten minutes later it was seen flying off south east over the South Lightheading for the mainland of Devon/Cornwall. Another exciting record for the island was of a Nightjar seen resting on a rock in part of the remaining Rhododendron clumps alonside Lower East path between Quarter Wall and the Terraces. The bird was seen by James Diamond at 11am on the 17th but flew off as soon as he approached, though it was seen again at dusk flying alongside the Rhododendrons below the Time Keeper's cottage by Tim Jones. On the 19th Tim Davis, Tim Jones and James Diamond saw a very pale Short toed Lark which they watched for some forty five minutes by the main track at North End between John O'Groats and the head of Gannet's Combe. They report that the bird was regularly disturbed by walkers and each time it flew off into areas od scattered heather and lichen covered granite, but always returned to the main track. Other reports from the month include female Bullfinch on the 9th with up to eight Redpolls on the same day. Also that day Pied Flycatchers reached a maximum of three different birds. There was a small fall of forty five Spotted Flycatchers on the 17th and two Wood Warblers also pesent that day. Very few reports of Stonecahts with just a single pair breeding on the west side between the Old Light and Battery Point. During the 19th and 20th several thousand Swallows were seen moving through the island but not the impressive count of three thousands six hundred House Martins seen by Tim Davis, Tim Jones and James Diamond on the 20th - a Lundy record. Seabirds had maximum counts of five hundred Razorbills and two hundred Guillemots. A single Sanderling was seen on the 16th. Other waders included a flock of ten Dunlin in flight near Pondsbury and a maximum of fifteen birds on the 16th. Whimbrel was also reported but only single birds. Finally the first House Sparrow chicks fledged on the 16th - an unusually early date. The adult population is now estimated at between eighty and a hundred individulas.
		At the beginning of the month Nicola Saunders reports nesting Shags in Jenny's Cove on the 4th and on the 10th a pair nesting north of St Phillip's Stone.The first Manx Shearwater was seen from the Oldenburg on the 2nd and again on the 8th. Other seabirds included counts of some two hundred Kittiwakes, five hundred Guillemots and a hundred Razorbills on the 8th.There was a maximum count of forty Fulmars on the 9th. On the 5th a Woodcock was recorded and two days later a Black Redstart. Swallow numbers were around twenty birds with two Sand Martins and up to fifty Meadow Pipits and ten Skylarks. On the 8th of April Grant Sherman saw a Puffin on the sea and then briefly on land on the west coast. James Leonard was on the DBWPS day trip to the island ( 27th ) and reports a few Manx Shearwaters seen on the way out to the island and three Storm Petrels. Colin McShane was ringing on the island and caught some seven Grasshopper Warblers and Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. Their hightlight was a Turtle Dove. A Ring Ousel was seen near Quarter Wall and a Blue headed Wagtail was also present on the 27th along with Merlin and Swift. Some three thousand Swallows passed through the island that day. John Connolly also reports from the trip on the 27th, that the Turtle Dove, a juvenile was trapped and ringed and shown to the visiting birdwatchers by the ringing group. John further reports seeing the Blue headed Wagtail, two White Wagtails and many Wheateras. The Ring Ousel was seen by many peole in the fields south of Quarter Wall. There was a constant stream of Swallows with good numbers of House Martins and a few Swifts and Sand Martins. Seabirds were well represented with the usual sightings including several Puffins and off North End some Manx Shearwaters. Recent news from the end of the month include a Golden Oriole seen by Sophie Wheatley and caught the following day by Colin McShane. On the 29th a Ringtail Harrier was reported and on the last day of the month a Dotterel and a Whimbrel just north of Quarter Wall.
		Richard Campey was on the island from the 3rd to the 7th of March and reports that during some mixed weather of bright and windy days bird movements were fairly quiet. Two Stonechats were present in Millcombe and the Great Northern Diver was still around the landing bay area, and stayed throughout. A small group of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were on the airfield along with nineteen Carrion Crows. Richard also noted many Minotaur Beetles along the east side, all of them males. A few days later there were still many of these beetles but this time all females, with a few males present digging in burrows. On the 4th the wind turned north easterly and it was a bright day with Meadow Pipit numbers increasing. Most surprising was a Grey Wagtail flying over Jenny's Cove, which then later on was seen, more typically, around the Lower Millcombe Pond. A Rock Pipit was also seen around the top part of Jenny's. Carrion Crows had increased to thirty one birds. The next day with the wind staying largely north easterly there was a discernable increase in Meadow Pipits up to about a hundred and fifty. Three Stonechats were present in Millcombe along with two Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail . On the 6th it was overcast and cold with no significant changes in bird numbers. The following day a Kestrel was seen. Trevor Dobie reports that the following week was domniated by strong north westerly winds and there was a record of Sand Martin on the 13th and at least four Goldcrests were present in Millcombe. He also noted an increase in Chaffinch numbers and Pied Wagtails . James Leonard arrived on the island on the 15th and he reports that a south east wind had brought in at least fifty Chiffchaffs the next day, a single Sand Martin and a few Swallows. Grant Sherman saw a Black Redstart. Chaffinches topped a count of twenty five, with four Goldcrests and two Bramblings. Birds of Prey were represented by a singles of Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, in addition to the usual abundance of Peregrines. The long staying Great Northern Diver was still present and Oystercatchers reached seventeen. James also reports that Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Fulmars were in and on their nest ledges. A Water Rail was seen by Roger Furzedon outside Barton Cottages. There was a maximum count of fifty Fulmars on the 25th and Sophie Wheatley (assistant warden) saw eight Cormorants the same day and then Nicola Saunders (warden) saw a fuurther six birds on the 27th heading north along the west coast. It appears the long staying Great Northern Diver has finally left. At the end of the month maximum numbers of Guillemots were five hundred, with fifty Razorbills ten Skylarks, some fifty Meadow Pipits, five Pied Wagtails and eight Wheatears. On the 27th there were twenty Swallows at Pondsbury. Cormorants rounded off the month with five birds seen from Millcombe on the 27th and singles on the last two days of March.
		The long staying Great Northern Diver was still very attached to the Landing Bay. On the cliffs James reports Fulmars visiting their nest sites, as are Guillemots with more than one hundred and fifty in Jenny's Cove and some twenty Razorbills sat on the water. There was a maximum count of four hundred Kittiwakes off shore and around Pondsbury nine Snipe. Also of note were singles of Fieldfare and Redwing. .
		A Great Northern Diver was present for most of the month and showed daily in the Landing Bay for the last two weeks of January. Seabird activity on the west coast around Jenny's Cove, St Phillips Stone and St Mark's Stone had maximum counts of three hundred Guillemots and some five hundred Kittiwakes feeding off the east coast for a few hours on the 24th. A guided walk by the warden Nicola Saunders on the 22nd produced a fleeting view of a Short eared Owl just south of Pondsbury. At the end of the month James Leonard reports a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches around Millcombe and further afield three Snipe two Teal and single Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and a Golden Plover. At sea rafts of auks with up to a hundred birds and gull numbers increasing to one hundred and fifty Herring Gulls , some forty Great Black backed Gulls, twenty four Lesser Black backed Gulls and more than nine hundred Kittiwakes. At the North End there were sixty Fulmars. On the last day of the month, and present all month, the Great Northern Diver was still present in the Landing Bay.
		James Leonard reports that on the day he arrived on the island for the last week of the month a Grey Heron landed on the 22nd but was soon harassed by Gulls and quickly disappeared out to sea. A Great Northern Diver was present in the Landing Bay for five days and was seen actively feeding on fish. Birds of prey included several Peregrines one Kestrel and one Merlin. James had a maximum count of six Water Rails two of which were seen scuttling around outside Millcombe House. Other sightings included six Oystercatchers, five Lapwings and a Snipe near Quarter Wall. Gull numbers peaked at three hundred and twenty Herring Gulls on the west coast, about fifteen Greater Black backed Gulls and just a single Lesser Black backed Gull. Auks were represented by some two hundred and fifty Guillemots. Passerines were understandably scare but did include a wintering Blackcap, two Stonechats, two Fieldfares and twelve Redwings in addition to about fifteen Chaffinches and some twenty or so Goldfinches. Other sightings in the log book recorded a Little Egret and a single Snow Bunting.
		The first day of the month held the final prize for Andy Jayne's two week stay on the island in the form of a Little Bunting which he found in Millcombe but sadly only had brief views of. Also in the valley he saw a very striking nothern/eastern Chiffchaff - not tristis as it had a "normal" Chiffchaff call. There was a good movement of Chaffinches and other birds included a ringtail Hen Harrier and a couple of Firecrests. Also in Millcombe a Lesser Whitethroat, one of the latest ever, but still some way off the 19th November 1954 record. A Manx Shearwater was again heard calling at night. On the 5th Pete Davies found a stunning adult male Red breasted Flycatcher in Millcombe. The bird showed all afternon. For the week beginning on the 9th James Leonard reports a largely rain free week with good weather and still plenty of Chaffinches around with numbers up to one hundred. Some eleven Goldfinches two Greenfinches and, although decreasing during the week, a maximum of twenty Siskins. A couple of Bramblings were also present. Thrushes were still evident with the best day on the thursady including thirty four Blackbirds, six Song Thrushes with Redwings and Fieldfares present all week. Other passerines included one Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs, and a single Goldcrest. Three Water Rails present in Millcombe. ther highlights included a Woodcock and up atb Long Roost a Black Redstart . James counted up to two hundred Herring Gulls in Jenny's Cove and three hundred and fifty Auks far out to sea along with a single Manx Shearwater. Birds of prey were reasonably numerous with at least two Merlins, two Kestrels, one Sparrowhawk and enough Peregrines to keep the two hundred and fifty Starlings on their toes. .
		The island re opened on the 4th. Tim Jones and Tim Davis were among the first birders to visit, arriving on the 6th. They report a fairly quiet start to the month with their best birds being two Mistle Thrushes and two Firecrests on 6th and a Lapland Bunting and the first Brambling of the year on 7th. On the night of the 7th Kate and Liza Cole heard a Manx Shearwater calling near Hanmers. The following day in Millcombe there was a Red breasted Flycatcher and two Yellow browed Warblers. Nine Golden Plovers passed through on 9th and there was a Yelllow-browed Warbler in the small quarry just south of VC Quarry. This bird was still present on 10th and possibly a different Red-breasted Flycatcher to that seen on 8th was watched at close range in Millcombe. A Grey Plover and a Lapland Bunting flew over the main track at the head of Gannets’ Combe on 10th. Other birds present on the island in small numbers between 8th and 10th were Woodcock, Ring Ouzel, and Merlin and Firecrest. On the evening of the 9th Chris and Carol Baillie found a Manx Shearwater on the ground near Brambles. Chris commented that the pectoral muscles seemed a bit on the meagre side but otherwise it appeared in good health (see photos page). Richard Patient, Ade and Steve Coopper arrived on the 11th, which also brought quite an influx with up to eight different Yellow browed Warblers. This in addition to two Yellow Wagtails and a Black Redstart. At least eighty Siskins were present, some three hundred Chaffinches a single Brambling and a Firecrest. On the 12th a Great Northern Diver flew south at cliff-top height just off the West Side! Richard Patient found a female Common Scoter off the South End. Richard, Steve and Ade found up to three Balearic Shearwaters off the East Side between Quarter Wall and the Landing Bay. On the 13th Richard Campey, Tom Bedford and James Diamond arrived on the island in addition to Kevin Rylands and Ivan Lakin. A quiet crossing, had a few birds but some twenty Common Porpoise. Before the boat arrived on the island Tim Jones had seen an Arctic Skua resting on floating debris; which it used as a perch from which to launch itself and parasitise a group of Kittiwakes. A Balearic Shearwater was again seen off the East Side. Later in the day Ade Cooper saw a Richard's Pipit near Half Way Wall and also by Pondsbury a Short Eared Owl. There were record numbers of Yellow browed Warblers in Millcombe with up to at least eight different birds. Siskins appeared almost everywhere south of the Quarter Wall and made assessing numbers very difficult but around four hundred was a conservative estimate. Other sightings included Merlin, Sparrowhawk and hundreds of Chaffinches. On the 14th Siskin numbers had increased to a staggering one thousand on the island. A Richard's Pipit was seen again at the Old Light and on Castle Hill by Richard Patient while Ade Cooper again saw a Richard's Pipit near Halfway Wall. There were some seven Yellow browed Warblers still present in Millcombe Valley and at least five Black Redstarts on the island. Out to sea two Balearic Shearwaters and a light phase Arctic Skua were present. Steve Cooper recorded up to sixteen Snipe, and a Firecrest was seen near Rocket Pole by James Diamond who also flushed a Lapland Bunting in South West Field. There was a record number of eighty Robins. A female Common Scoter was seen off Rat Island in the evening. On the 15th a Richard's Pipit was present on Castle Hill although very elusive. More on this to follow from Richard Patient. Four Yellow browed Warbler and a Tree Pipit in Millcombe. A Lapland Bunting flew over the terraces. The first south-west winds for over a week brought a significant movement of seabirds early and late in the day, with large numbers feeding off the East Side in the middle of the day. There were hundreds of Kittiwakes and Gannets offshore with at least three Balearic Shearwaters and record numbers of Arctic Skuas (at least eleven) and Great Skuas (at least six). Other species included two Common Scoters, four Manx Shearwaters, a Black-headed Gull, ten Common Gulls and two Common Terns. Single Snow Buntings were seen at Castle Hill and by the main-track gate in Quarter Wall. Richard Campey found a Water Rail chick in lower Millcombe – the second confirmation of breeding this year. The next morning (16th) the elusive Richard's Pipit was again seen briefly on Castle Hill before it joined a group of passing Meadow Pipts and flew high south off the end of the island. At least two Yellow browed Warblers remained in Millcombe and one more in St Helen's Copse. A Firecrest was seen in the Sycamores by Millcombe House. There were still several hundred Siskins on the island, though many had left overnight. Blackcaps had increased and there were two Pied Flycatchers on the east side. Off the South end a single Balearic Shearwater, Arctic and Great Skuas were seen. In the afternoon another Richard's Pipit was seen on the airfield, possibly the bird seen two days earlier. It flew down to the south west corner. One or two Pied Flycatchers were seen around Quarter wall, the Lower East Side path and Quarter Wall Copse. On 17th two Yellow browed Warblers were seen, one in Millcombe and one in St Helens Copse and Merlins were still very active over the top of the island. Two different Richard's Pipits were present and a Firecrest in Millcombe. Siskins were still all over the place although numbers had dropped to around four hundred, and there was an influx of Stonechats with up to 30 present. Tim Jones heard a Lapland Bunting over South West Field. Tim Davis glimpsed the Water Rail chick again in lower Millcombe. On the 18th light south easterlies provided a very impressive first few hours of visible migration. which included thousands of Chaffinches, Ivan Lakin and Kevin Rylands carried out detailed counts of birds flying overhead and recorded some five thousand Chaffinches between 08.30 and 09.30 am in addition to at least thirteen Bramblings and sixty Fieldfares a hundred and fifty five Redwings. Over the top of the island up to four Merlins were present and most unusual for Lundy a flock of corvids which included some thirty-one Jackdaws and eighteen Rooks. Three Yellow browed Warblers and four Firecrests were present and in the southwest corner of the island at least seven Lapland Buntings. One Richard's Pipit was still present, being seen and heard over Quarter Wall and – a few moments later – over Castle Hill. James Diamond found a male Great Spotted Woodpecker on the Terrace, which Tim Jones and Tim Davis relocated in the late afternoon in the small copse below Hanmers. It was not seen the following day. On 19th a Richard’s Pipit was well watched on Castle Hill and a Lapland Bunting flew over Old Light. There was an even more impressive visible migration between sunrise and mid-morning, including near record numbers of Fieldfares (1,180 estimated), along with nearly 10,000 Chaffinches and smaller numbers of Redwings (650), Blackbirds (80), Song Thrushes (80) and Ring Ouzels (7). Three Lapwings put in an appearance over the south of the island. A lively discussion in the Tavern on the evening of the 19th concluded that all in all, at least three different Richard’s Pipits, plus a large unidentified pipit, had been seen between 13th and 19th October. Richard patient writes........... " on the 14th I recorded a Richard's Pipit flying around the Old Light calling in the morning - presumably yesterday's bird - and then in the afternoon at the Castle I saw and heard a large Pipit. Initially assuming it to be the Richard's Pipit I gradually became convinced that it was in fact a Blyth's. This conclusion was based upon the bird's structure and particularly the vocalisations given - identical to those I have heard uttered by many hundreds of Blyth's in China. However when Steve Cooper and others were summoned it could not be relocated during several hours of searching. The next day four further observers also saw and heard the bird but it remained incredibly elusive, and it wa sfinally seen flyiny strongly south out to sea with Meadow Pipits at 10830am by James Diamond...." On 20th, there was another early morning movement of thrushes and finches, though numbers of both were lower than on the previous day, with a mere 5,000 Chaffinches passing through! Mixed in with the finch flocks around 9.00am the distinctive flight calls of a Woodlark and a Corn Bunting were heard by those standing rooted to the spot on Castle Hill. Richard Campey and Tom Bedford found a Richard's Pipit by Quarter Wall and a Lapland Bunting on the Airfield. Two Lapwings were seen flying over the Brick Field and a Turnstone was sitting on the shore of Rat Island as Oldenburg pulled out from the jetty. A Brent Goose was seen on the 21st by Grant Sherman in the Landing Bay. It was still present on the 25th on the sea off St Helens Copse and confirmed by Andy Jayne as a Dark bellied Brent. Andy Jayne also reports two Lapland Buntings present on the 23rd, with Merlin, Woodcock and Grasshopper Warbler. The next day two Woodcock were present, four Black Redstarts and a single Brambling. On the 25th Andy saw three Golden Plovers a Merlin, Woodcock, Brambling and five Lesser Redpolls. On the evenings of the 25th and 26th a Long eared Owl was seen by the ringers and they caught and ringed a Treecreeper. Andy reports for the 26th sightings of Mistle Thrush, House Martin and Reed Bunting. James Leonard and others saw an adult Water Rail fly out of Millcombe pond and then James watched a juvenile in Smelly Gully for ten minutes. James has paid particular attention to the Water Rails on Lundy this year and has suggested the following conclusion; The Water Rail chick found in August by a visitor at Quarter Wall indicates a breeding success in this area. The further sightings in Millcombe, including Richard Campey's sighting of a chick in Millcombe (also seen later in the week by Tim Davis) suggests at least two broods from Millcombe, while the Quarter Wall "find" confirms that they have bred in at least two sites. There is no evidence of Water Rails having bred on the island for over a hundred years ! Richard Campey has wondered if the rat erradication programme has contributed to the birds successful breeding. On Saturday the 27th thick fog limited observations to just a single Woodcock . The nest day Andy Jayne saw the Brent Goose flying past Rat Island. Tony Taylor was on the island for the week 20 - 27th October with a group of ringers and has sent in the following, Tony notes that Thrush and Finch passage was good but not on the scale of the previous week. Tony, Rob Duncan and a small team of ringers worked from Dawn to Dusk throughout the week and caught some 1115 birds. This involved a smaller percentage of Chaffinches and Blackcaps than usual for the time of year, but more Blackbirds and record numbers of Redwings and Siskins. There were no major rarities but some interesting insights into the origins of migrants. Unusually Fieldfares outnumbered Redwings on most days, in terms of birds seen, though as usual the Fieldfares were much harder to catch. Also very few Goldcrests seen, with a maximum day count of just three, but they caught one bird which was noticeably large and greyish, indicating continental origin. They caught six Continental Song Thrushes in the week, along with some British ones for direct comparison, and most of the Robins looked like paler, greyer continental birds. Most of the Chaffinches were big North European birds too. Another nice comparison was of Redpolls. They ringed eight Lesser Redpolls on the 25th (the previous best ringing total was five for a whole year) and then another two on the 26th, when they also caught a Mealy Redpoll and were able to watch it in the field with the Lessers. The Grasshopper Warbler on the 23rd is the latest ever Lundy record and turned up in a net sited in St John's Valley. This bird's measurements and it's colder colouration pointed to the subspecies straminea from Eastern Russia and Asia. Other birds caught and ringed included a Water Rail in the Terrace Trap and Ring Ouzel, Firecrest and a female Sparrowhawk in Millcombe. Sightings included two Stock Doves on the 25th and 26th, twenty Swallows on the 25th and four Reed Buntings on the 26th. Andy Jayne reported a Firecrest in Millcombe and a small influx of Blackcaps, Thrushes and Finches including six Brambling on the last day of the month. Most perculiar sighting or rather noise may be the Manx Shearwater Andy heard calling sevearl times on the West Side near Old Light, and along with the one heard calling earlier in the month these constitute very late dates indeed. .
		In the first two weeks of the month a total of fifty five young and fifteen adult Manx Shearwaters were caught and ringed on the west side of the island, south of the Battery by David Price, Adrian Plant and Tony Taylor. A single Storm Petrel was also caught. There was a trickle of migrants with maximum counts of six Tree Pipits, two Grasshopper Warblers, twenty Willow Warblers, eight Spotted Flycatchers and six Pied Flycatchers. Water Rails were heard frequently and one was rescued by Tony Taylor from a drain at Brambles. On the 12th a juvenile Rose coloured Starling was seen around the village and a Barred Warbler was caught and ringed by David Kightly in St John's valley. .
		James Leonard was on the island from 11 - 18th of the month and reports:Birds of prey present included a Buzzard two Kestrels and a Merlin . Water Rails were still calling in Lower Millcombe and around the pond area. North Westerlies in the middle of the week produced four Spotted Flycatchers some thirty Willow Warblers three Chiffchaffs a Whitethroat and a Goldcrest. Two Serbian birdwatchers on the island reported two Whimbrel, two Snipe and a Ruff . They also reported several Twite in a flock of eighty Linnets and a Great Tit heard but not seen. Most of these birds had disappeared by the friday but there were recently fledged Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Robins and Wrens . James saw a Storm Petrel on the return boat crossing. On the 25 August Tim Jones and Tim Davis visited the island and they report a millpond like crossing but only three Manx Shearwaters and a couple of auks . They also saw Sand Martins migrating over the sea and three Meadow Pipits tried to land on the Oldenburg. On the island there were some hundred Sand Martins feeding round the mouth of Millcombe. Other migrants were five Pied Flycatchers two Spotted Flycatchers a Whitethroat and a few Willow Warblers with just a single Chiffchaff. Juvenilles of Swallow, Goldfinch, Stonechat and Wheatear were present. At the end of the month a well meaning visitor found a small bird at Quarter Wall and took it to the warden. It turned out to be a Water Rail chick which has confirmed all the reports of strange Water Rail noises akin to those made while breeding. See photos page. The chick was successfully returned to where it came from. Water Rails become independant from the nest at a very early age and given the vocal nature of the species it is most probable that it was re united with it's parents very quickly. .
		At least one Puffin chick has been seen one the west coast near St Philip's Stone. Photographed by Grant Sherman - please see photos page. James Leonard, Grant Sherman and Nicola Saunders saw a male Scaup on the 18th which was still present on the 20th on Pondsbury. This is only the fifth record of this species for the island, and, the first since 1994 which was also a male on Pondsbury - see photos page. James also reports Water Rails at both Millcombe Pond and Pondsbury. A Sedge Warbler was also seen at Pondsbury. While kayaking round the island Stuart Leavy managed a superb photograph of a Puffin adult on the water off the North East point just up from Gannets Bay.
		On the 11th Andy Jayne found a male Red backed Shrike on the Quarry Terraces. Grant Sherman also saw the bird briefly in the morning the next day at the east end of Quarter Wall. Andy also reports, other late migrants included a Turtle Dove in Millcombe valley on the 7th and 8th and a Whinchat by the Rocket Pole on the 8th. There was at least one Spotted Flycatcher present till the 10th and a Hobby along the East Side on the 10th and 11th. However Andy says that his most intriguing record occured in the early hours of the 12th while listening to manx Shearwaters, he heard a Water Rail calling from the small pond just south west of Quarters (by the Lifeguard shed).It was not the familiar squealing sound but a much softer call that Andy recognised the birds make during the breeding season. He listened to a recording when he got home just to confirm it. He summarises that it's a very late date for a migrant but breeding seems even more unlikely! Also on the 11th Steve Rosser reports some fifty Starlings. On the 12th of the month Steve saw a Spotted Flycatchers with two juvenilles in the rhododendrons just south of the heligoland trap on the east side terraces. The next day he witnessed a feeding frenzy off the North End which had forty Gannets and more than one thousand Manx Shearwaters . On the 14th a male Cuckoo was present. On 21st Adrian Foss saw at least seven Storm Petrels following the Oldenburg on the crossing and possibly even more in the wake of the boat. .
		Tim Davis, Tim Jones and James Diamond were still on the island, and, on the 1st of the month saw Osprey and, Hobby. They report a large passage of Wheatears, up to some eighty birds, and twenty Swifts passing through. Corvids were now represented with a count of fifty five Carrion Crows. James Diamond saw the Osprey flying over the church and it was also seen by Tim Davis as it flew over Millcombe and then continued to drift north along the east side of the island. James Diamond found an Ashy headed Wagtail. A Hooded Crow was seen by James Diamond in the Tillage Field on 4th of the month and spent most of it’s time in the Brick and Tillage Fields, Acklands Moor and the Airfield. It was still present on the 12th and always in the company of a flock of fifteen Carrion Crows . Also on the 4th James’attention was drawn by gulls calling around the south end of the island and he then saw an Osprey cruising down the east side of the island. He watched it from the Terraces and within less than a minute it had passed him and headed off north. The next day a Long eared Owl was found in Millcombe. The bird was very pale in the face (see photographs page) and underparts. It spent the whole day sat in the depths of a Sycamore tree just above the Battlements and was seen by several hundred people as they made their way to the boat. It was present until early evening but not seen again the next day. Richard Campey was on the island from the 5th to the 12th and reports that continuous gales and rain made observations difficult, in addition to three days of fog! However a Wood Warbler was present until the 6th and spent the mornings singing in Millcombe. A female Ring Ouzel was calling around VC Quarry. The island was virtually devoid of warblers with only a handful of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, the occasional Blackcap and Sedge Warbler. On the 7th Richard saw two Dunlin just north of half way wall. On the 8th he saw a flock of thirty seven Oystercatchers from the lower east side path just north of St Helens Copse. With an additional twelve extra birds seen this gave a total of 49 birds present – a maximum count ever on the island. There was a small passage of Swallows with a maximum of three hundred on the 11th. Two Cuckoos were seen in St Helen's Copse with one of the birds singing all day (in the rain ).At sea Manx Shearwaters were seen most days and Richard saw three Puffins at St Philips, while Sophie Wheatley, the assistant warden, found five in the same area standing by burrows. Five Cormorants flew over the island heading North and a separate bird was sat on the water off North End. Richard commented that there were very few birds for the middle of May on Lundy and it was probably the worst continuous Spring birdwatching weather he has encountered in thirty years. James Leonard was on the island the following week and reports that it was much the same as Richard's previous week with little movement of Passerines. A total of just three Willow Warblers , one Sedge Warbler, a single Chiffchaff and three Spotted Flycatchers . The Hooded Crow was still present and a Whooper Swan turned up on Pondsbury on the 16th, but was not seen after the 17th. A Yellow Wagtail was present all week. James reports a big passage of Manx Shearwaters usuallly seen after 4pm daily and on the 17th some fifteen hundred Swallows. James did manage to increase the Puffin count to six. On the 19th Maurice Clements saw a Red rumped Swallow off the east sidelands. It was jsut before 3pm when Maurice was making his way from Pondsbury to the east side, via the slope above the Terrace Heligoland trap. As he looked down there were many Swallows around and then he spotted a Red rumped Swallow in amongst them. He commented that it was just like seeing them back in Spain. Latest news from the island on the 25th by Grant Sherman is of two European Bee-eaters seen on wires behind the Marisco Tavern. Sarah Dalrymple also reports that the two birds were seen by some thirty visitors and islanders between 10.15 and 10.40 am and her photos will appear on the website shortly. .
		The Whooper Swan was still present on Pondsbury up to the 5th of April. Grant Sherman also reports seeing Puffins on the morning of the 5th. Two birds were seen, both on land, coming out of burrows at St Philip's Stone. Encouraging news. Roger Fursden, the island engineer, saw a Wheatear which he believed to be a Black eared Wheatear on the 8th. He commented that the bird first appeared near his window and he saw that the back and mantle were an obvious orangy colour. He breiflty relocated the bird but unfortunately it didn't stay long. Roger will be submitting a rarities description. A male Sub alpine Warbler was seen in the lower gardens in Millcombe on the 10th. Andy Jayne was on the island from the 11th till the 14th and reports that on his arrival he found the south of the island alive with Willow Warblers. He estimated a minimum of two hundred individuals along with up to forty Blackcaps. In the area between Quarter Wall and Pondsbury he saw a Short eared Owl and a male Redstart. Hirundines were much in evidence with a steady passage of Swallows heading north, totalling hundreds of birds during the afternoon. Among them were some hundred Sand Martins and two House Martins. Mid afternoon Andy heard that a male Sub alpine Warbler had been seen in Millcombe. He spent the afternon looking for it and eventually found it at 5.50pm in the short vegetation on the bank above the walled gardens where it showed very well down to five yards for about twenty five minutes. He also found two Grasshopper Warblers. The next day Andy went out early to look for Puffins and saw at least four on the sea just north of Jenny's Cove. Many of the previous day's Willow Warblers had moved on, though there were still about a hundred present, along with at least ten Blackcaps. There was no further sign of the Sub alpine Warbler and the passage of hirundines had almost dried up with just twenty Swallows and eleven Sand Martins during the day. The Redstart was still present and a female Ring Ouzel just north of Quarter Wall. A female Merlin was along the West Side and a female Sparrowhawk and single Fieldfare were in Millcombe. On the 13th Andy reports that it was even quieter with just a handful of Willow Warblers left. An early walk to the North Light was rather unproductive with just twenty or so Manx Shearwaters over the sea and the usual sightings of Peregrines. A female Kestrel was seen over Millcombe. The afternoon saw a flock of ten House Martins, a Grasshopper Warbler by the Blue Bung and three White Wagtails arrived to join the eight Pied Wagtails that were already present. A Chiffchaff in the "secret garden" showed cahracters of the abientus race. Andy managed to photograph the bird but was experiencing some technical difficulties with his camera. On his last day the female Ring Ouzel was still just north of Quarter Wall and the female Sparrowhawk along the East Side. The male Redstart was at the top of Millcombe. One interesting observation was a total lack of Dunncoks. On the 16th a Black Redstart was reported. Three Whimbrel were seen on the 19th and two days later a Common Sandpiper. Also on the 19th were five Ring Ouzels. On the 20th James leonard saw what could well be a second male Sub alpine Warbler. On the 21st James found a Canada Goose in the Landing bay. A Wood Warbler was seen on the 26th. On the 28th of the month Tim Davis, Tim Jones and James Diamond visited the island for a week. Their reports are as follows: In the last few days of the month they saw a few Pied Flycatchers and four Tree Pipits in addition to a pair of Garganey which were seen on Quarter Wall pond and also Pondsbury. They also had a Great Northern Diver flying high over the island. Up to four Whimbrel were seen, and, on the last day of the month a wader roost on rat island included three different species ! Curlew, Whimbrel and Bar tailed Godwit. One Water Rail was present in Millcombe. Corvids were well represented with three Rooks on the 28th and a single Jackdaw, down to one Rook the next day and Jackdaw still present. .
		James Leonard was on the island from the 16th to the 24th and reports; a Great Northern Diver was present in the landing bay. With some fresh easterlies viewing was difficult in Millcombe but two Goldcrests and two Chiffchaffs were putting up with the windy conditions. A Merlin and female Sparrowhawk were also present. A Whooper Swan arrived on Pondsbury on the 25th of the month. It stayed for the rest of the month and was also seen using the Rocket Pole area. This is the first spring record of this species on Lundy, all others having been in October, November and December. .
		No reports for February. .
		The beginning of the year brought with it some returning Fulmars to the island with up to twenty on the 14th and ten at the end of the month. A wader Survey was carried out by Peter Leavy, Nicola Saunders, Grant Sherman and James Leonard. The only waders recorded were Oystercatchers with nine different birds surveyed on the 19th and 20th and six on the 22nd. All these birds were on the east coast and in the southern half of the island. However on the 24th a survey was carried out between the Cheeses and North Light and some seventeen different birds were seen. Other sightings during the month included a Water Rail on the 12th with up to three present on the 23rd and 25th. There were ten Lapwing on the 25th following some harsh weather on the mainland. Up to eleven Meadow Pipits and eight Rock Pipits recorded on the 21st. Wrens were present throughtout with a maximum of four on the 25th. Seabirds included small numbers of and Razorbills seen visiting the cliffs and a maximum of four hundred at sea on the 21st and 25th. Highlight for the year so far was a Little Auk seen by Nicola and Sophie on the 16th, the second year running for this species which is extremely rare in the south west. A Great Skua was reported on the 20th. A hanfull of Redwings and Fieldfares towards the end of the month, and three Goldcrests. .
		James Leonard has sent in the following sightings; the eight Pink footed Geese were last reported present on the island up to the 5th. At least one Merlin was present since October and right through December, with two birds a male and female together on the 28th. As usual Water Rails were present in Millcombe. A single Manx Shearwater was seen from the North End on the 28th with at least forty Razorbills and thirty five Guillemots . The day before a mixed flock of Razorbills and Guillemots were seen off North End. Kittiwakes were reported of the East Side on most days with a maximum of seven hundred on the 28th. A flock of twenty Lapwings were seen on the 20th and four Golden Plovers on the 26th. Thrushes were represented by eight Fieldfares and two Redwings on the 23rd but only one Redwing was seen after that. At least six Goldcrests were present with two in Millcombe Valley on Christmas Day and four on the Quarries on the 28th. Chaffinches reached double figures at the end of the month and Goldfinches managed eight individuals. Many thanks to all who have sent in sightings and photographs to the site and wishing you a Happy New Year from Richard Campey
		James Diamond was on the island at the beginning of the month and has sent the following highlights: the Pink footed Geese were still present with nine individuals, down from ten birds on the 26th of October. James reports that they were very elusive being seen only at dusk and dawn and they appeared to be leaving the island during the daytime. A Snow Bunting was seen by Ernie Davis near Pondsbury. A Blackcap was present on the 6th. Three Balearic Shearwaters seen by James were amongst a seabird feeding frenzy off the east side of the island on the 7th and the 8th. A Hen Harrier , ringtail, was much in evidence between the 6th and the 8th and roosted at Pondsbury. Also at Pondsbury was a Short eared Owl . On the 10th there were single Firecrest, Black Redstart and Great Northern Diver. At least two Merlins were present daily and James recorded some six hundred Redwings and Fieldfares seven hundred Chaffinches and five Bramblings all on the 10th. Sophie Wheatley, the Assistant Warden has sent in the following reports; on the 16th Guillemots and some eighty Razorbills were still present and five hundred plus Kittiwakes the next day dropping to about two hundred on the 26th. There were six Purple Sandpipers at Brazen Ward on the 18th and a Great Northern Diver still hanging around on the 17th. On the 20th of the month James Leonard reports that there are still nine Pink footed Geese still present. At the end of the month Redwings and Fieldfares were still being reported in small numbers On the 26th Nicola Saunders repoted the Pink footed Geese still present, though their numbers had dropped to eight. Still present on the 28th and still eight in number. .
		News of a Red breasted Flycatcer in Millcombe on the 5 th 6th and 7th seen by Joshua MaCallum Stewart and Jane Gooden near Brambles . From the 7th to the 14 th Steve and Ade Cooper, John Oates and Richard Patient have sent in the following notes: The Red breasted Flycatcher was still present on the 7th and it remained until the 10th when it was ringed. Otherwise, they report, seawatching was the order of the day as groups of seabirds gathered off the protected east side of the island and included fifty Kittiwakes an Arctic Skua , five Sandwich Terns, three Acric Terns three Common Terns and a Manx Shearwater, but their highlight was a group of up to five Balearic Shearwaters, though there may have been at least eight birds present. The next day they found a Yellow browed Warber with a small group of Goldcrests in St Helen's Copse and unable to resist more seawatching they saw at least four more Balearic Shearwaters and a Common Tern. Turning back to Millcombe a Redpoll was causing some interest as the bird showed some of the characteristics of the north western form. The bird was first heard calling, and seen, as it flew over Quarter Wall Copse. Later it settled in Millcombe. On the 9th the Common Redpoll had gone but three Lesser Redpolls were present in addition to Reed, Snow and Lapland Buntings all of which remained till at least the next day. Some Willow Warblers were present and a along with a hundred Goldcrests. Some fifty five Skylarks passed through and a Whinchat was present which stayed for a couple of weeks. The group describe the 10th as the day with the best variety.Peter Rothwell was making his way down the zig zag path to Quarry Beach when he heard a rustling in the grass and dead bracken in the area just below where the Rhodendrons have been recently cleared, and saw a bird trying to get into some cover. Peter reports that as the bank is very steep at this point it wasn't having much success and did appear quite weak. He photographed the bird as best he could ( see photographs page ). After looking at the photographs and consulting a few other people he was fairly sure the bird was a Spotted Crake . It certainly was ! Visible migration was excellent and indicated by a passage of one thousand, three hundred and fifty Meadow Pipits during a co-ordinated count. In addition there were twenty three alba Wagtails , six Firecrests , four of these together in Millcombe and two near Quarter Wall, up to forty Siskins and a Pied Flycatcher . At sea they recorded one hundred and thirty Gannets and an Arctic Skua off the south west. A Subalpine Warbler was trapped and ringed in Millcombe by John Walshe. The bird was also re caught two days later and John reports that it had put on a gram of weight in the two days between capture from 10.5 to 11.5 grams. John concludes that assuming it incresed weight at the same rate it would have weighed 15 grams when it was last seen on the 20th, which is the maximun weight for this species. John also considers the bird to be an Eastern Subalpine Warbler due to it's wing length being 65mm but he does make the point that other measurements show considerable overlap and therefore the evidence for it being this race is only slight. Also on the 10th Matt Twiggs, Ian Moore and Malcolm Shakespeare had a Pomarine Skua on the crossing and in addition to other sightings in Millcombe a Red breasted Flycatcher a Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher , a Lesser Redpoll also a Lapland Bunting near Pondsbury. On the 11th a Wryneck was present in Millcombe Valley and two Acrocephalus warblers also, one an obvious Reed Warbler but the other which was seen by two observers was steadily making it's way up Millcombe Valley and showed features of Blyth's Reed Warbler . This bird managed to evade any ringing nets and also it's identity. Some eleven Chiffchaffs were seen and two Pied Flycatchers . At sea two Arctic Terns were recorded. The next day seawatching produced three Common Scoter , thirty Guillemots seventy Razorbills thirty five Kittiwakes and another Balearic Shearwater . John Walshe retrapped the first winter Subalpine Warbler . The 13 th was again good for visible migration with more than two hundred Chaffinches and twenty Siskins . The Subalpine Warbler decided to show itself to those who had previously missed it in the hand. On their final day the winds increased making observations difficult and their only birds of note were a Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler and three Firecrests in Millcombe. On the 14th Tom Bedford, Richard Campey, Tim Davis, James Diamond and Tim Jones were on the island for a week in addition to Ivan Lakin and Kevin Rowlands. On the crossing to the island a Sunfish was seen. Bird highlights for this week started with a Snow Bunting above Pilots Quay found by Ivan and a Lapland Bunting heard in south west field by Richard Campey. Merlins were present on top of the island in addition to Golden Plover and a handfull of Swallows . A Pied Flycatcher took up residence at Quarter Wall and became regular there for several days, then later two were regular in Quarter Wall Copse. A number of Firecrests were still present in Millcombe and the East side path. The number of Ring Ouzels in Millcombe rose to at least five individuals and with other sightings by Quarter Wall the maximum number of birds recorded were eight. On the 14th James Diamond saw a Short eared Owl being mobbed by crows over the airfield and on the 18th another or possibly the same bird was seen by Kevin Rowlands and Ian Lakin at night on the track to Castle Hill. An Osprey was seen off the east side fishing by Ivan Lakin and Kevin Rowlands and watched for quite a while moving up an down the east side. Ivan also reported seeing a Sooty Shearwater off the east side. On thursday the presumably thought departed Sub alpine Warbler reappeared in the lower gully of Millcombe Valley and showed on and off for the next couple of days. Then James Diamond found a Cetti's Warbler in the same spot on friday. Tim Davis was the first to see a group of seven Pink footed Geese flying off the east coast. The birds eventually settled up by Pondsbury and then made their way to feed in Brick and Tillage fields. They roosted overnight at the south end of the island and were still present on saturday. On their last day a Richard's Pipit was heard calling and seen flying over the field east of the shop by Tim Davis et al, and heading south. Despite searching over Castle Hill it couldn't be re located. At least two Lapland Buntings were with Skylarks on the village side of the airfield. The following week Tony and Jonathon Taylor, Rob Duncan et al were on the island. Tony reports that the Pink footed Geese numbers rose to ten early on with nine birds still present on the 28th. A Balearic Shearwater was seen off the east side by Mike James, Julian Allen and Alex Lea. The Cetti's Warbler was ringed on the 23rd and Yellow browed Warbers also ringed on the 24th and 28th. Late summer migrants included two Pied Flycatchers on the 24th and one or two Willow Warblers through the week with Whinchat still much in evidence till the end of the month. Unlike most years, there were no Swallows. During the week Tony reports that a hundred Blackcaps were ringed. On the 27th there was a big movement of birds dominated by some eleven thousand Chaffinches but surprisingly small numbers of other species which normally tend to move together such as Goldcrests, Firecrests and Siskins . Tony expected to see many more thrushes and finches with so many Chaffinches , though they did record hundreds of Starlings and Redwings but very few Fieldfares . There was a noticeable increase in Song Thrushes and a few Skylarks . Clouded Yellow and Humming bird Hawk Moths were still present. .
		The Swallows nesting in the church and pig shed still present at the beginning of the month and on the 1st a Ringed Plover, two Swifts and a Blackcap. From the 8th till the 10th a Common Buzzard was present and several sightings of Sparrowhawks and up to six Kestrels. Helen Booker found at least fifteen unfledged Manx Shearwaters in burrows on the west side by the Old Light on the 12th and 13th of the month. Two Dunlin were seen on the 1st and the 17th and a single Lapwing and two Snipe on the 9th. Guillemots were seen regularly from the boat with occasional Storm Petrels. Shaun Barnes found the remains of a Corncrake on the 9th. A late Swift was seen on the 10th with up to five hundred Swallows and counts of one hundred Sand Martins. Yellow Wagtails reached a maximum of eight. With the winds changing north westerly a fall of seventeen Wheaters dropped in on the 14th along with a few Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs . Also during this period up to six Pied Flycatchers and seven Spotted Flycatchers. On the 12th and 13th Redstarts were on the island along with second or even maybe even third broods of Stonechats with a maximum of of twelve individuals. A juvenile Woodchat Shrike was seen in St John's Valley and upper Millcombe by M. Shakespeare and M. Twiggs and again in St John's by James Leonard and Grant Sherman. Non bird sightings for the first two weeks included up to twelve Hummingbird Hawk Moths on the Fuchsia in Millcombe and both Common and Bottlenose Dolphins plus a few Basking Sharks. LATEST NEWS is of Yellow browed Warbler on the 17th and a Woodchat Shrike , Common Rosefinch , Dotterel and one thousand plus Meadow Pipits all on the 26th. More details follow soon.
		Two Dunlin were seen early in the month.They did however managed to evade a couple of Sparrowhawks present on the island, one of them a juvenile, clearly taking lessons from it's parent, as the adult took a House Sparrow from the bushes by Government House. Juvenile Wheatears were seen down below Benjamin's Chair along with other young of Meadow Pipits, Song Thrushes, Goldfinches and some Mallards on Pondsbury. While there were still large rafts of Manx Shearwaters off shore. A pair of Swallows started a new nest in the farm yard. Tony and Ann Taylor were on the island at the end of the month ringing Shearwaters. They report that just three chicks were found, two still very downy, but there was lots of adult Manx Shearwater activity suggesting a late breeding season with most chicks still under the ground as the adults stop coming to feed the chicks in the later stages. Not many migrants, though they did see three flocks of Cormornats heading south and a Redpoll was around most days. Sand Martins present most days and a few Willow Warblers, a couple of Sedge Warblers and Tree Pipit. On the 26th there was a Cuckoo and two Grasshopper Warblers. The next day a Sparrowhawk and one Whinchat. A Yellow Wagtail appeared on the 27th. Breeding birds included two Swallow nests with young in the church and the pig shed. There was also a pair of Goldfinches with fledged young.Interestingly there were no Dunnocks seen all week. Other sightings included good numbers of Painted Ladies a few Clouded Yellows and some Hummingbird Hawkmoths on quarry beach which Tony reports hovered in front of his sister's wristwatch and tried to inset their tongue into a balck circular shape on the watch ! (obvoiusly had time on their hands - eds) . Three Basking Sharks and thirty Common Dolphins off the east side. .
		Peter Clabburn sailed to Lundy from Milford Haven at the beginning of the month and reports an encouraging sighting of two Puffins on the east side of the island, a location not often frequented by them. During his crossing he saw two Swifts and a Wheatear flying south and large numbers of auks, with Manx Shearwaters and a few Storm Petrels. Cetacean sightings were good too and included numerous Common Dolphns two Minke Whales and a Sunfish. On the island a few Swifts, Swallows and Wheatears were present and a Common Sandpiper in the Landing bay on the 2nd. Also a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the thrift at Jenny's Cove. On the 16th three Lapwings were seen from the south end and flew up to Ackland's Moor and five Swifts seen at sea the same day. A single Spotted Flycatcher was present in Millcombe with two Goldfinches. The Oystercatcher chicks on the Miller's Cake were ready to fledge and again both Common and Bottlenosed Dolphins were seen. During the period from the 15th to the 22nd the Manx Shearwaters were hardly visible from the land due to the light easterly winds but as usual were heard on the moonless and dark nights. The winds then changed to westerlies and the Shearwaters returned in multiple rafts off the west side, estimating some five thousand birds. Highlights during this period were a Great Skua seen by James Leonard just east off Rat Island and some seven Storm Petrels on the crossing, but closer to Morte Point than Lundy! Humming Bird Hawk Moths arrived at their favourite feeding area on the Valerian by Millcombe gates. .
		Dave Smith has sent in reports for June of a Grey Heron flying over the island and at least two pairs of Wheatears feeding chicks. On the crossing he saw some hundred plus Manx Shearwaters and up to five Storm Petrels. James Leonard sent in some interesting breeding information for the month which includes; Wheatears breeding under Benjamin's Chair, two pairs in the South West corner and at least five pairs around the North End, all with juvenilles. He also notes juvenille Meadow Pipits and Skylarks as widespread over the top of the island especially. At least two pairs of Oystercatchers bred, one at the Miller's Cake and one in Gannet's Bay, both pairs having two young. The highest numbers of Puffins recorded in one day was fifteen with eight being at North End, three on the East Side north of Gannet's Rock and four by St Philips Stone. Puffins were also sighted off the South End under the incinerator with two present on one occasion. Greenfincheshave been seen regularly in Millcombe along with some Goldfinches. On the 14th a Grey Heron was present on Pondsbury eyeing up the young Mallard chicks and the same day four more Herons flew over. Also during the month large rafts of Manx Shearwaters were seen off both the east and west side on most days and guestimates put the numbers around three thousand birds. There were sightings of at least twelve Bottle nosed Dolphins from the Ugly on the 18th and towards the end of that week at least thirty Common Dolphins seen from the Tavern by many people for over an hour. .
		The month starts with sightings from Peter Clabburn of a Whimbrel, male Cuckoo and Bullfinch. Latest news is of a Green winged Teal on Pondsbury since the 7th and still present on the 10th. It was originally identified as a Teal but on the 9th with the aid of a scope Tony John was able to identify it as a Green winged Teal see picture on photographs page. There was a steady passage of Manx Shearwaters most days during the month and a Little Egret by Quarter Wall for two days on 10th and 11th. The Green winged Teal stayed on Pondsbury until the 14th. Raptors were well represented with Sparrowhahk , Buzzard , Kestrel and Merlin all seen on a regular basis up to the 18th. More unusually there were sightings of at least one Hen Harrier on five days. Two Turnstones were frequenting the beech on the 14th. Occasional Whimbrel were sighted as were large numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills on the cliffs. Turtle Dove numbers reached a peak of five birds present in Millcombe. A pair of Stonechats were breeding in the Quarries. Other regular migrants such as Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers all present during the month. Spotted Flycatchers came through in dribs and drabs with a peak of seventeen on the 13th. The long staying Great spotted Woodpecker continued to enjoy Lundy and male and female Black Redstarts were seen at Jenny's Cove. An unusual sighting of Red rumped Swallow was recorded on the 18th in the Gannets Coombe area and a Red throated Diver near the Landing Beech on the 19th. .
		The first day of the month started with a Willow Warbler and a sighting of Skua sp. A Snow Bunting was still present on the 5th but this time at North Light and on the same day fifteen Swallows. Also at the beginning of the month Jane Cowin reported Skylarks in full song. A Puffin was seen on the 7th but no more reports till at least the 11th. Colin McShane et al were on the island from the 22nd to the 29th and reported the following: Millcombe had two Coal Tits which left on the wednesday and two pairs of Bullfinches of which Colin managed to ring all four. There was a bit of a fall on the sunday with 201 Willow Warblers ringed and two Reed Warblers, one Garden Warbler, several Sedge Warblers numerous Blackcaps, two Tree Pipits and a female Redstart. A Common Buzzard was seen on the tuesday and a Honey Buzzard seen flying in off at the south end on the wednesday. It was mobbed by Gulls and Ravens and left after about three minutes of continual mobbing. A few Whimbrel were present throughout the week, with one at Jenny's Cave on the friday which seemed surprisingly reluctant to fly. A Water Rail was heard in the bottom of Millcombe till thursday and Swift numbers reached a maximum of 10 birds on the friday.The Great Spotted Woodpecker was still very evident in Millcombe. No Puffins were seen during this period by Colin's party. As ever on Lundy there is often something to set the pulse racing and Colin had ones of those moments many of us have had of a brief sighting of a bird that never showed itself sufficiently well for identification. It was a pale Lark, with a strong bouncy flight and showed translucent wings - despite much searching Colin was unable to locate it further, but his hunch was a possible Shorelark. Peter Clabburn was visiting over the bank holiday and reports; Reed Warbler on the 29th, and a Swift. Also Manx Shearwaters calling from the Ugly the same evening and the next day. Also on the 30th a good passage of Hirundinnes off the North End and during the night he heard two Whimbrels from the Ugly.
		Andy Jayne spent time on the island from the 13th to the 18th of the month and reported some harsh easterly winds but on the 14th a reasonably pleasant day provided him with and almost certain Black-throated Diver, in transitional plumage off North Light,unfortunately Andy writes that he would have liked to get better views to be one hundred percent certain. His notes would indicate this to definitely be a Black throated Diver (eds). An early Manx Shearwater was a surprise and he also saw a male Merlin and an influx of Stonechats and Redwings on the 15th. Andy also reports for the 14th a female Great Spotted Woodpecker with a ring on it's left leg, still present in Millcombe, and a male Wheatear on the east side top path. A Brambling was present in Millcombe. The next day three Peregrines, Merlin and a female Kestrel. The Castle provided him with a White Wagtail and Thurshes were represented by eighty Redwings and four Fieldfares. Two Chiffchaffs the first for the year. On the 16th two Red throated Divers from North Light and 120 Razorbills. A Black headed gull adult flew east past the North Light and a first winter Common Gull off the South end. Stonechats had risen to fourteen. On his last day Andy saw three Red throated Divers from the North End to supplement the Black throated Diver and two first winter Common Gulls. A single Manx Shearwater flew north east past North Light. James Leonard spent a full week on the island and adds the following sightings to those made by Andy: two Black Redstarts a Great Northern Diver off South End. During this period there were also reports of a Short eared owl on the 17th, and a Curlew Sandpiper on the 13th. The first of the Hirundines, a House Martin was seen on the 21st followed by a Sand Martin on the 27th and two Swallows on the 28th. The month ended with a winter plumage Snow Bunting at South Light.
		Nicola Saunders, the island warden, reports that during the first two weeks of February there were regular sightings of Oystercatchers, Peregrine and increasing numbers of Fulmars and Shags. A Kestrel was present daily. On the 1st nine Golden Plovers were seen and on the 7th and 8th a couple of Lapwings present, a much declined species on Lundy in the last twenty years. Kittiwake numbers increased with thirty five on the 8th to two hundred on the 10th and 11th. Auks were also on the increase with a count of 465 Guillemots on the 2nd, hundreds on the 7th and 150 and 70 on the 11th and 12th respectively. A Small number of Razorbills were seen on the 2nd, 4th and 5th with numbers rising to 150 on the 11th. James Leonard saw a Wigeon near the shop on the 13th and Charlie Kilgour saw two Purple Sandpipers and a very early Ringed Plover on the 15th on the east point of rat island. Dave Penny visied from the 10th to the 13th and saw twenty seven different species, notable highlights were Peregrine, Kestrel, Stonechat, Snipe, Razorbills near the Devil's Chimney and a Fulmar on rat island. The now famous domestic duck a hybrid of Indian Runner ( we think ) was still present. Reluctantly (eds) there will be a photograph of this on the photos page soon.
		The year started with a batch of raptors including two Kestrels a Merlin and Peregrines. Charlie Kilgour reports that at least two Water Rails were still present in Millcombe Valley and on the 5th there was a Snipe and Dunlin present. The next day four Goldfinches and on the 7th a Fieldfare and Woodcock. Richard Campey reports that during an extended weekend trip to the island late in the month on the 27th there was a single Water Rail in Millcombe, three Snipe by Pondsbury, a Woodcock behind the church, two Goldfinches below the battlements and six Rock Pipits on the top of the island around Tibbets. The next day was bright and sunny but with a fierce ENE wind. Song Thrushes had increased to seven and Robins along the east side path numbered thirteen. A first winter Common Gull was seen, not common on Lundy, and good numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills off the north west point. Stonechats were present round Tibbets and a single Goldcrest was singing in Millcombe. On Sunday the wind was still blowing ENE about force eight and observations were difficult but towards the end of the day Richard notice two small blobs in the water around Hell's Kitchen. Telescope views in wind battered conditions from the battlements, and the birds looked like very small auks, either that or lumps of wood bobbing about. In fading light Richard made his way down to the landing bay and round the back of the divers beach to be confronted by two Little Auks. Extremely unusual on the west coast of Britain and even more so on Lundy, they are about the sixth island record to date.
		On the 3rd of the month Charlie Kilgour saw four Whooper Swans which stayed on the island until the 9th, also during this period a Merlin was present for two days. A Great Spotted Woodpecker showed for much of the month. On Christmas Eve James Leonard reported seeing a Blue Tit firstly above Millcombe House and then again by Brambles, also two Goldcrests a wintering Chiffchaff, two Water Rails, a Merlin, Snipe and two Teal. Out to sea there were some two hundred and fifty and Razorbills. During the period between Christmas and New year James Leonard has been braving the weather and tells us that it has been very cold with predominent easterlies, he reports the following; Peregrine and Merlin, at least four Water Rails and four Oystercatchers. A Dunlin in Punchbowl Valley and several sightings of Snipe. Ten Lapwings turned up on the 28th and still a few Redwings and Fieldfares present. On the 29th the Blue Tit was still present in Millcombe along with two Goldfinches, one Blackcap and one Chiffchaff and at least five Chaffinches and two Goldcrests.
		James Leonard reports that at the beginning of the month at least two Merlins were present along with Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Snow Bunting and two Black Redstarts. However his main news is of a sighting of Laughing Gull. Ben Sampson also reports that the first winter Laughing Gull is till around on 13th in the area between the church and the Tavern, feeding on earthworms. Ben had heard rumours that there were two birds together a week prior and this was confirmed when Roger Fursdon found the corpse of an adult Laughing Gull in St John's Valley. Ben reports that mid month there are still lots of Thrushes, Finches and Starlings around with raptors being represented by Peregrine, Merlin and Kestrel all present on the 13th. An intriguing report of Avocet in the Lower Aerogenerator Field was entered in the LFS log for the 15th. It was an unsigned entry and the only description was that the bird had an "turned up bill and light undercarriage", clearly this is not enough to have such a rarity for Lundy to be accepted, but nonetheless it's an intriguing record. The last sighting of the first winter Laughing Gull was on the 17th when it was seen near to the church. A male Hen Harrier was seen flying south towards hartland Point and a single Lapwing visited the island on the 25th. Ben reports that snow and wind and a lack of birders mean there has been little coverage in the last two weeks of the month, though a Grey Heron was seen on and off in mid November. Charlie Kilgour, the assistant warden, saw a Hen Harrier on the 20th and two days later a female Eider was reported, though this was again an unsigned entry in the LFS log book. On the last day of the month a Grey Plover was recorded.
		The first day of the month and the Barred Warbler was still present in Stoneycroft gardens and the Common Rosefinch also in Millcombe. A Greenfinch was seen in the "wood" in Millcombe. In the first week the ringers caught two Common Rosefinches. A Red eyed Vireo was also caught and ringed in Millcombe on the 6th. It is impossible to say if this was a second bird to that seen at the beginning of the month, though the first bird wasn't seen for several days before this one was was caught. On the 13th an unusual sighting for Lundy of a Great Spotted Woodpecker (see photos page) was seen which stayed in the Millcobe area until the 19th. On the 14th a Red flanked Bluetail was caught and ringed in Millcombe (see photos page), this, if accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee, and it would be hard to refute given the photographs, will be a first for Lundy.It was briefly relocated by Tony Blunden on the same day shortly after it's release. The following reports are from Gareth Knass who was on the island with friends, Tony, Jenny and Joshua Blunden from the 13th to 19th October. On the 15th three Hawfinches were seen in Millcombe and stayed till the 19th. A Lapand Bunting was recorded as a flyover on the 16th and the next day a Little Bunting seen by the Stonecrusher. Two Richard's Pipits found on the 17th and stayed till the 19th and a probable Rose coloured Starling though it could not be relocated. Snow Buntings were present during this week with one bird by the Rocket Pole pond and four at John O'Groats. A Firecrest was present in Millcombe. Gareth reports that the visible migration was good throughout the week and they had especially good numbers of Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Siskins, and Bramblings. Also towards the end of the week there were double numbers of Ring Ousels. The following reports are from John Walshe who was also present on the island ringing from 15th - 22nd October. John followed a ringing fortnight by Richard Castle who's team caught some 1200 birds. Howerever John managed to catch and ring some 499 birds, his highlights being Yellow-browed Warbler, Hawfinch (only the 4th ever ringed on Lundy) and nominate race Great Spotted Woodpecker (only the second ever ringed on the island). The Hawfinch was a huge male, with a wing length exceeding the normal for British Hawfinch, so this is possibly a bird from Western Siberia or even a Scandinavian individual. This monster was coming down to seed put down under the trees below Brambles. Dave Flumm reported that the bird was trapped several times and each time it was the only bird in the net, he reckons other birds thought it was a raptor it looked so big! The Great Spotted Woodpecker was a first year female that was trapped in the secret gardens in Millcombe. It's measurements and the juvenille body feathers indicated a later fledging bird from more northern populations. The Yellow browed Warbler was a male and was aged as a first year bird. Photos will be on the website of some of these birds soon. John caught and ringed some 21 different species which included an amazing eighty one Goldfinches, an exceptional number for Lundy and some one hundred and sixteen Siskins. A Dartford Warbler was seen by Lucy James on the west side above Pilot's Quay. James Leonard also reports exceptional numbers of migrants during the week included large numbers of Goldfinches plusBramblings, two Reed Buntings, Firecrest and Black Redstart. Two Yellow browed Warblers were found on the 18th by Paul St Pierre and Dave Flumm, more details and photos follow. Both birds were present the next day. Dave Flumm, Paul St Pierre and Alan Kitson were on the island during the 15th-22nd October, and Andy Jewels and Ian Kendall also present. Most notable records from Dave include up to 100 Siskins on the 15th. The next day four Snow Buntings, Firecrest, Lapland Bunting, Short eared Owl, some 200 Siskins and a Mistle Thrush which stayed for four days. On the 18th two Woodcocks, a Redpoll and Yellow browed Warbler and Richard's Pipit. Then on the 19th with southerly winds reaching force 8 a Balearic Shearwater was seen by Ian Kendal (only the second record for Lundy). Dave and Paul found two Yellow browed Warblers in St Helens. On the 20th in west south west winds blowing force 4 the third record of Balearic Shearwater was found by Dave and later a Jack Snipe near Pondsbury. Crossbills were present in Millcombe and a Meadow Pipit with a yellow head and signs of albinism by the rock crusher. A Yellow browed Warbler was present in St Helens and another Richard's Pipit seen by Andy Jewels and Ian Kendal. Dave et al added another three Balearic Shearwaters the next day and twenty Manx Shearwaters, two Puffins, and still present was Andy and Ian's Richard's Pipit from the day before. On the 22nd there were four Yellow browed Warblers present and two Richard's Pipits still, some forty Blackcaps and Dave Flumm had an "acredula" Willow Warbler near St Helens. Other birds present included Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting and three Reed Buntings and an incredible eleven Black Redstarts. On their last day Dave found an Arctic Tern off the east coast and two Coal Tits seen by Dave, Paul and Alan were identified by Alan as belonging to the Continental race. And finally from the Oldenburg Dave and his team continued to pull in the birds with an Arctic Skua. Tony Taylor, Rob Duncan and Richard Taylor were ringing on the island from 22 - 29 October and ringed 618 birds, Tony reports that it was mainly Finches with Chaffinches dominating but also good numbers of Bramblings and Siskins.Two more Yellow browed Warblers were caught on the 22nd, in addition to the two caught by John Walshe in the morning, then a further two ringed on the 23rd.A Chaffinch with a Russian ring was caught on the 27th. Rob Duncan reports that this is the first Chaffinch with a Russian ring to be found in the UK despite about a million ringed in the UK. Rob continues that although more than 4000 Chaffinches have been ringed on Lundy since 1989 that in their week they did not catch any others with rings on. Rob believes that the birds are coming from more northerly populations as they are very big birds on average and passing down the west coast into South West Britain for the winter. This is further supported by recoveries of birds ringed on Lundy and subsequently recovered elsewhere. Chaffinches move north to south in big numbers on Lundy at the end of October, indicating that they are not passing west to Ireland as the literature suggests. Ohter sightings during the week included a Corncrake found by Mike James behind the hotel on the 29th and a Red breasted Flycatcher by Quater Wall Copse on the 23rd to 25th by MJ and Julian Allen. There was a Richard's Pipit present most of the week and two Snow Buntings. MJ and Julian Allen tried seawatching from the Ugly and saw a few Manx Shearwaters and a Grey Phalarope on the 27th. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was present all week and a Bullfinch weas trapped on the 27th. A Hawfinch was seen briefly in Millcombe on the 29th.
		One Common Crossbill was still present to the 3rd September. Three Black headed Gulls were seen on the first of the month and eight Commic Terns also reported. A Ringed Plover on the 1st was joined by a second bird on the 2nd. Up to four Whimbrel were seen on the 4th with a female Black Redstart the same day.Buzzards made an appearence with individual sightings on the 5th, 14th and two on the 17th. There was an intriguing record of Bullfinch on the 5th, this being an unusual bird on Lundy, though no other details were supplied. Spotted Flycatchers peaked at twenty on the 6th and 7th with singles for the rest of the month. Also on the 7th, sixteen Cormorants flew over Jenny's Cove. A female Merlin stayed from the 18th to the 24th. Water Rail numbers increased to 3 on the 17th while Pied Wagtails also increased from seventeen birds at the beginning of the month to twenty on the 14th. Sixteen White Wagtails were confidently seperated from Albas on the 22nd. Siskins were recorded towards the end of the month with two birds on several days, while a single Redpoll was present on the 19th and 20th. James Diamond arrived on the island on the 17th September and by the 18th had found Icterine Warbler,Yellow browed Warbler, and Wryneck. The Yellow browed Warbler was in the sycamores at the bottom of Millcombe Valley and while looking at this, James then had an Icterine Warbler fly into the same sycamores. On the 26th Tim Jones had three Shelducks fly past him heading north-west over the airfiled. On the 27th a Lapland Bunting was found feeding in the tractor ruts next to the Heinkel ruins by Tim Jones and James Diamond and a few hours later two more Lapland Buntings were seen by Richard Campey in St Helens Field. The next day Richard found a Barred Warbler in Stoneycroft gardens, during what he describes as some of the worst birding conditions ever, a force 8 south-westerly with driving rain, not surprisingly only brief flight views were seen. The next day the wind had dropped significantly so Richard, Tim and James returned to Stoneycroft and re-located the bird in the garden, this time getting better views than the day before, though the bird was still incredibly elusive and skulking. Later that morning Tim Jones found a Red eyed Vireo in the Turkey Oaks in Millcombe Valley. The bird showed on and off for most of the day, though this too could be elusive at times, hiding high up in the Oaks. Tim Davis found a Common Rosefinch at the top of Millcombe Valley. On the 30th both the Red eyed Vireo and the Common Rosefinch were present in the lower part of Millcombe Valley during a rainy and totally fog-bound day.
		Reports for August are of a Bee-eater on the 17th, we await further details on this. Tony Taylor was on the island from the 27 August and was out every night for the following week looking for Manx Shearwaters and Storm Petrels, though he reports that only one night was dark enough to be ideal for Shearwaters. He found seven Manx Shearwater chicks - this is the first time young have ever been ringed on Lundy and while over the past five years there has been building evidence of breeding of Shearwaters on Lundy, the ringing of chicks is a fairly momentous event and indeed testimony to Tony's hard work on this bird species over the past thirty years. He also caught and ringed 10 adult birds, four of them retraps from July 2004.Three Storm Petrels were also caught, one of them a control (bird ringed originally elsewhere to Lundy) and at least one of the birds had a brood patch. It has long been thought by some that Lundy provides good breeding requirements for Storm Petrels and the area favoured by Nick Dymond some forty years ago was the Earthquakes. Perhaps we are in for more exciting news in the years to come. Other highlights were two Ortolan Buntings seen together in the Quarter Wall Pond / Quarry Cottages area on the 28th August. A Melodious Warbler was caught and ringed in St John's Valley on 29th August. There were noticeable movements, south, of Cormorants with a maximum count of 49, and small numbers of waders on the move, including Green Sandpiper and small flocks of Curlew and Whimbrel. Small numbers of hirundines all well, mainly Sand Martins and Swallows with a number of Yellow Wagtails. One individual had the heart beating a little faster as it was completely lacking yellow/brown/olive colours and had a harsh call, after close inspection was not a Citrine. Whincaht, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers aslo present during the week. Latest news from the British Rarities Committee is that the Bonelli's Warbler seen last Spring on the island has been accepted as an Eastern Bonelli's Warbler. This constitutes the firt ever record for this species to be accepted in Britain without calling. We are unsure of excatly how many British records have been accepted, but it is olnly a few. It is also a first for Devon. Three Little Egrets were seen on the East side, and up to eight Common Crossbills were present towards the end of the month.
		Ben Sampson, the warden, reported that at first light on 13th July he saw a Puffin chick at the entrance of one of the burrows at St Phillips Stone, it was closely guarded by its parent. According to Lundy Field Society reports this is the first chick to be recorded on the island and the only evidence of breeding since 1972 when an adult was seen carrying food into a burrow. Five Swifts were seen heading south on the 13th and the Swallows nesting in the Pig shed are on the point of fledging.
		June started with four singing Chiffchaffs in Millcombe Valley.On the 2nd a single Puffin was seen with counts at the beginning of the month reaching at least six individuals and a possible sighting of ten birds on the 11th. A Cuckoo was singing in Millcombe Valley on the 8th and two birds were present the following day.Two Tree Pipits were recorded on the 7th and a few days