The tide was well in as we boarded the Oldenburg, and it was dry but overcast and windy. I talked with a lot of people on the jetty about MARINElife and gave them copies of our leaflet. There was interest in the seal population and how they were faring. The Oldenburg set off promptly at 10:00, on board there was a Lundy Field Society work party who were going over to carry out repairs to stone walls and manage scrub.
On the way over we were treated to a display of Gannet diving, presumably into a shoal of fish close to the surface; the birds were very active, diving again and again. On the return crossing there were quite a lot of Guillemot in winter plumage rafting or flying low in small groups. Other seabird sightings were limited, but it was good to see Kittiwake on both passages.
When we arrived at Lundy there were six Grey Seal on the rocks of Rat Island plus two more spy-hopping to watch their pups on the beaches in the landing bay. On the return crossing our spirits were raised by brief sightings of two Harbour Porpoise which were between the boat and the north Devon coast.
Now that Lundy has full observatory status it draws many birders to it and there is an active WhatsApp group keeping people informed about what birds are on the island at any one time and where to best see them. This meant that this time it was possible to find a Snow Bunting and Yellow-browed Warbler, but the Hawfinch that had been identified that morning stayed concealed during the visit. Many other small birds are passing through on migration and the sky was alive with Swallow and House Martin.
The island has flocks of Soay Sheep, Sika Deer, wild goats, ponies and some splendid Highland Cattle, but I did not go to see them on this visit as I had errands to do, including buying postcards at the island shop and sending them off with the Lundy special issue stamps on them.
On our return journey we made good time, docking ahead of schedule in Ilfracombe and mooring with precision alongside the Shore Office. As ever many thanks go to Captain Jason, the officers and crew of the ‘Oldenburg’ for all their help and assistance. I bade them farewell for this season but look forward to seeing them next year.
MARINElife WLA Kevin Waterfall
Weather: mostly moderate on passages, sea state 4-6
Species recorded
Marine mammals
- Harbour Porpoise 2
Seabirds
- Black-headed Gull
- Gannet
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Guillemot
- Herring Gull
- Kittiwake
Birds on Lundy
- Blackbird
- Blue Tit
- Carrion Crow
- Chaffinch
- Chiffchaff
- Dunnock
- Goldcrest
- Goldfinch
- House Martin
- House Sparrow
- Wren
- Meadow Pipit
- Oystercatcher
- Raven
- Redwing
- Robin
- Snow Bunting
- Song Thrush
- Starling
- Swallow
- Water Rail
- Willow Warbler
- Yellow-browed Warbler
Lundy mammals
- Grey Seal
- Sika Deer
- Ponies
- Soay Sheep