Ringing
Bird ringers visiting Lundy focused on three different projects in 2013: studying migrants, Manx Shearwaters and Wheatears. In April three weeks were spent ringing spring migrants on their way north. Then for a week at the beginning of June, Wheatears were intensively studied by day and Manx Shearwaters by night. In late August and early September, two and a half weeks were spent ringing Manx Shearwater chicks emerging from their burrows, as well as some adult shearwaters. Small numbers of migrants were also ringed during the day. In late September and October, there were a further four and a half weeks of coverage, focused on returning migrants.
The total number of birds ringed in the year was 2,633. Despite increased coverage, this total is significantly lower than in 2012, primarily because the weather in spring and late autumn was less suitable for catching large numbers of migrants. In particular, the Swallow total was down from 1189 in 2012 to 232 in 2013. Goldcrests presumably had a good breeding season, with 457 ringed, mainly in autumn. As usual, the other most numerous species among the migrants were Chiffchaff (249), Willow Warbler (295), Blackcap (353) and Meadow Pipit (141). Totals for thrushes and finches were disappointing, with unsuitable weather in late October, when large numbers usually migrate south.
Manx Shearwaters continued their rapid increase as a breeding species and topped the species totals for the first time. The 492 birds ringed included 335 chicks. Among the adults there were significant numbers of birds that had first been caught in previous years. Six had originally been ringed as chicks on Lundy, and these included one of just seven birds ringed in 2005, the first year of chick ringing, following rat eradication.
The focus on breeding Wheatears resulted in a total of 61 birds ringed, with about fifty of these colour-ringed to establish a long-term study on the survival rates of adults from one year to the next, for the BTO's RAS scheme. It is hoped that visitors, as well as ringers, will contribute to this work by recording sightings of the colour-ring combinations.
Rarity highlights were a Booted Warbler and a Blyth's Reed Warbler, both wanderers from eastern Europe and both first records for Lundy, caught at the beginning of October. Other unusual species included Wryneck, Icterine Warbler and two Common Rosefinches. All species totals are given in the table below.
An interesting selection of recoveries and controls received during 2013 include a Woodcock, shot in France in its third winter, and an eighteen-year-old Lesser Black-backed Gull found dead on Skokholm, where it had perhaps settled to breed. Long-distance movements were made by Swallows found in Spain and Nigeria, a Willow Warbler going to Spain, a Starling to Germany and a Blackbird from Norway. Willow Warblers ringed in spring in south Devon and on the Isles of Scilly reached Lundy in two and three days respectively, on their journeys north. Two Goldcrests, ringed on Lundy in their first autumns, were of interest. One was found in Ireland the following spring, while the other was still alive and well in its second winter. It is unusual for such a tiny bird to survive this long. Details of these and other recoveries are given in the relevant species pages.
Number ringed in 2013 |
|
Manx Shearwater |
(335) 492 |
Storm Petrel |
1 |
Sparrowhawk |
1 |
Peregrine |
(1) 1 |
Water Rail |
2 |
Woodpigeon |
1 |
Wryneck |
1 |
Swallow |
(4) 232 |
House Martin |
2 |
Meadow Pipit |
141 |
Grey Wagtail |
1 |
Pied Wagtail |
3 |
Wren |
41 |
Dunnock |
8 |
Robin |
28 |
Redstart |
3 |
Stonechat |
5 |
Wheatear |
(6) 61 |
Blackbird |
40 |
Song Thrush |
5 |
Redwing |
18 |
Grasshopper Warbler |
7 |
Sedge Warbler |
10 |
Reed Warbler |
4 |
Blyth’s Reed Warbler * |
1 |
Icterine Warbler |
1 |
Booted Warbler * |
1 |
Blackcap |
353 |
Garden Warbler |
3 |
Lesser Whitethroat |
1 |
Whitethroat |
10 |
Yellow-browed Warbler |
1 |
Chiffchaff |
249 |
Willow Warbler |
295 |
Goldcrest |
457 |
Firecrest |
10 |
Spotted Flycatcher |
12 |
Pied Flycatcher |
4 |
Treecreeper |
1 |
House Sparrow |
10 |
Chaffinch |
56 |
Greenfinch |
3 |
Goldfinch |
50 |
Linnet |
5 |
Common Rosefinch |
2 |
Total number of birds ringed |
2,633 |
Total number of species ringed |
45 |
Numbers in brackets indicate pulli – i.e. chicks/nestlings – ringed in 2013. The number of pulli is included in the main total.
* = species not previously ringed on Lundy
For the latest sightings and photos of birds on Lundy visit the
Lundy Bird Observatory website