12 January 2009

A veritable cavalcade of scarce and rare birds graced Lundy last autumn, including (subject to acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee) two new species for the island list, namely Booted Warbler (28 Sep) and Paddyfield Warbler (29 Oct), the latter also a ‘first’ for Devon (see the photo below by the bird’s finder, John Smith).

Other notable reports (again subject to acceptance by the BBRC or Devon Birds Records Committee, as appropriate) included Wryneck, Osprey, Pectoral Sandpiper, Tawny Pipit, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Common Rosefinch, Marsh Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Bluethroat and Lapland Bunting in September; another Osprey, Grey Phalarope, more Yellow-browed Warblers and Lapland Buntings, ‘eastern’ Chiffchaffs, several Richards Pipits, Hawfinch, Balearic Shearwater, Red-throated Pipit, another Common Rosefinch and Long-eared Owl in October; and Rough-legged Buzzard in November. Full details will be contained in the 2008 Lundy Field Society Annual Report and the 2008 Devon Bird Report.

Paddyfield Warbler on Lundy – © John Smith – 29 October 2008