Our trip started in Ilfracombe with a full complement of passengers and the weather set fair for our crossings. Once on board we went to the bridge and had an update with the captain and introduced ourselves to officers whom we had not previously sailed with.

There were a few gulls and shearwaters passing through as we left port but fairly soon Elisabeth saw a Grey Seal just forward of the bow which was holding a flatfish in its mouth. As she went to get the location readings, I saw a small pod of Common Dolphin off of the starboard side that followed the ship for a while before disappearing.

Throughout the journey we saw Fulmar, Guillemot, Razorbill, Manx Shearwater and quite a lot of Puffin, especially on the return voyage. These were largely in the middle hour of the trip as that is when we pass over the sand banks where they dive for fish; quite a lot were actively fishing. Later in the crossing we had another pod of three dolphin just off the port bow who dived under the ship.

On arrival, we watched the seals on the rocks of the Landing Bay before making our way up to the village. Having read the Lundy Bird Blog we knew that there had been amazing sightings of late, including Quail, Corncrake and Golden Oriol, plus a Cuckoo. We met a couple who had been staying on the island, and they pointed out the locations where the orioles and the Cuckoo had last been seen, but we didn’t find them. We did see some lovely Spotted Flycatchers and the Milcombe Valley was alive with Swallow and various warblers then there were Wheatears and pipits on the island top.

We had about four hours ashore and this is the perfect amount of time to get an ice cream, call into the shop and then follow the tracks past the Old Light and along the west coast to The Battery to watch Puffin bringing fish to Pufflings in their burrows. After a picnic lunch we crossed to the east side, passing groups of Sika Deer and Soay Sheep to see how the Golden Orfe fish were doing and how the Sundew plants were this year. Some of the day trip passengers had walked the length of the island; others had lunch in the Marisco Tavern and went on the guided walk with the Lundy Ambassador or visited other places.

On the return journey, which took less than two hours, we had two sightings of pods of Common Dolphin again, including of a young calf. The standout sighting though was a Sunfish just off the port bow, seen by Elisabeth and the ships officers. It was face up in the water but slipped beneath the waves before I could get on it. After an action packed day, we were back exactly on time at 18:30.

A massive thank you to Captain Jason and crew of the MS Oldenburg who were very welcoming and helpful.

Kevin Waterfall and Elisabeth Waterfall, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Outward journey: dry and sunny, wind W force 3, sea state 1-4, visibility very good