Notable winter count

24 to 30 Jan – Between 300 and 900 recorded daily, with the maximum count of 900 recorded on the last date. These are high counts for the time of year.

Breeding census

The seabird census in late May recorded a total of 151 apparently occupied nests, representing a slight increase over the 148 counted in 2004 (David Price et al./RSPB). While these figures appear mildly encouraging, productivity studies suggest that breeding success remains relatively poor (Nicola Saunders, pers. comm.) and it is too early to conclude that the long-term decline in Lundy’s breeding population of this delightful pelagic gull (once numbered in the thousands) has bottomed out.

Notable winter counts

There were high numbers offshore early in the year, with 1,000 or more on eight dates between 15 Jan and 16 Feb, and a maximum of at least 1,500 off the East Side on 3 Feb during a cold snap with strong easterly winds. In the second winter period, 1,000 were estimated offshore (North End 800, East Side 200) on Christmas Day.

Breeding season

There was no complete census of the island’s breeding population in 2009 but surveys of the colonies at St Mark’s Inlet and Aztec Bay produced 106 and 28 nesting attempts respectively, with combined productivity of 0.28 young fledged per nesting attempt (Nicola Saunders & Sophie Wheatley).

Notable winter/autumn counts

An estimated 900 were offshore on 27 Jan, followed by 1,200 feeding off the East Side on 11 Feb. Following a period of rough weather, with very strong north-easterly winds, at least 1,000 were passing off the South End on the morning of 27 Oct.

Breeding season

Warden Derren Fox reported: “Kittiwake productivity was monitored at two colonies, Aztec Bay (F7 in seabird site register) and Aztec Zawn (site F16 in site register). Productivity at those sites was as below. Some fierce storms took out a lot of the lower nests at both sites, but these would have been younger and less experienced birds.”

Aztec Bay (n=41) 0.85 chicks/pair 0.17 fledged/pair

Aztec Zawn (n=100) 0.47 chicks/pair 0.29 fledged/pair

Notable offshore counts

About 700 were offshore on 30 Jan, with 250 on 31 Jan & 1 Feb. An exceptionally high count – especially given the time of year – of 1,160 was made off South West Point in a period of strong westerlies on 18 Apr (A.M. Taylor).

Breeding census

The RSPB seabird census recorded a total of 127 apparently occupied nests. Despite a slight rally detected by the 2008 census, the inexorable decline of Lundy’s breeding Kittiwakes continues, with the population reaching its lowest level since records began. Apart from a remnant eight pairs in Jenny’s Cove, nesting birds are now restricted to just two colonies between St Philip’s Stone and St James’ Stone. The decline is part of a wider regional and national picture and is not attributed to any Lundy-specific factor (information contributed by David Price).

Productivity data provided by Beccy McDonald:

Aztec Zawn: 27 young fledged from 53 active sites (productivity = 0.50 young per nest);

St Mark’s Stone: No success.

Notable winter counts

25 & 28 Jan – During the third national BTO Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey in Jan, offshore counts of 900 and 1,500 Kittiwakes were made on 25th & 28th respectively.

Breeding census

The all-island RSPB-led seabird survey produced a total of 238 apparently occupied nests, a figure that is 87% higher than the 127 nests counted in 2013 and the highest total from comparable surveys since 327 nests were counted in 1996 and 237 in 2000. However, this apparently encouraging result was not reflected in breeding success. Productivity studies undertaken by the island wardening team showed that productivity at the Threequarter Wall Buttress colony equalled the lowest recorded since the current methodology was initiated in 2007 (seven chicks fledged from 57 apparently occupied nests within the study area at the start of the season). The Aztec Bay colony in Jenny’s Cove, south of St Mark’s Stone, fared much less badly (47 chicks fledged from 47 apparently occupied nests within the study area at the start of the season). It is hoped to monitor the Threequarter Wall Buttress site using a camera in 2018 to try to understand better the reasons for this colony doing so poorly, though it is thought that south-westerly storms in early Jun washed out the lower nests at least. The same colour-ringed adult as observed in the Aztec Bay colony in 2015 (left leg: orange over white; right leg: green over red or reddish orange) was again present there on 4 May (Chris Baillie).

Notable winter count

4 Feb – An estimated 3,000 birds (<1% first-winter plumage) were feeding and rafting off the East Side, setting (at the time) a new winter record for the period since LFS began collecting data in 1947, though Perry (1940) reported in excess of 3,000 breeding pairs in 1939. The 2019 total was exceeded in 2022 (see below).

Breeding season summary

Monitoring at the Aztec Bay Kittiwake colony south of St Mark’s Stone showed a welcome marked increase in the number of occupied nests: 103 compared to 65 in 2018 and 87 in 2017 (Jones 2019). However, the decline in pairs nesting in the Threequarter Wall Buttress colony continued, with 29 pairs present compared to 41 in 2018 (from a recent maximum of 105 pairs in 2008; Jones 2019). A round-island boat trip on 5 Jul, though a little late in the season, permitted counts of areas that are not visible from land (e.g. caves at Threequarter Wall). This yielded a total of 347 apparently occupied nests: 148 in Jenny’s Cove, 140 at Aztec Bay and 59 at Threequarter Wall.

Notable winter counts

Jan to Mar –  Peak counts during the first winter period – and indeed the year – came at the end of Jan, when there were 1,499 on 27th, 1,570 on 28th and a massive 2,766 on 29th, all birds feeding in large flocks off the East Side. There were further high counts, of between 1,200 and 1,500 on four dates from 26 Feb to 6 Mar.

Breeding season

24 Jun – Writing for the Lundy Birds blog, Warden Dean Jones reported that: "On 24th June, the wardening team managed to get around the island on the Warden's RHIB to take photographs and count Kittiwake nests along the west coast. Despite there being a bit of swell, the team managed to count and photograph all the colonies between Jenny’s Cove and Threequarter Wall. Results show that there have been reductions in the number of nests in each of the colonies this year – 308 apparently occupied nests in total were counted, 39 fewer nests than in 2019. The greatest reductions have actually been from within the productivity plots (the Jenny’s Cove colonies were only down one nest ), particularly at Threequarter Wall Buttress where there are only 18 active nests at present, 11 down on the 2019 totals and a staggering 94-nest reduction over the last ten years. It’s obviously been a tough year for these birds with already an overall drop in the number of breeding pairs at the start of the year, followed by quite a few lost nests during the breeding season, due mainly to three prolonged periods of strong westerly winds."

Notable winter counts

Jan –  Counts of 1,000 or more were logged on seven dates between 13 & 23 Jan, peaking at 2,300 on 16^th – nearly all adults, with very few young birds seen (Dean Jones).

Nov & Dec – In autumn and early winter, peak numbers offshore were 1,000 on 4 Nov and four counts of over a thousand from 4 to 8 Dec, including 3,000 on 4^th and 2,500 on 6^th.

Breeding season summary

Nest-building had commenced at the Aztec Bay colony on 6 May, the first egg was seen on 15 May and the first chicks on 11 Jun (Eleanor Grover). Some 124 active nests were identified in the two productivity study colonies at Aztec Bay and Three-quarter Wall combined, but the great majority of these ultimately failed and only 23 chicks fledged, representing just 0.19 chicks per nest, considerably down on the 2020 productivity value of 0.66 and the lowest since the current studies began in 2017. Most nests failed at the chick-rearing stage, and multiple instances of inter-sibling aggression and one case of siblicide (killing of one chick by the other) were observed. This suggests that adults may have been struggling to find sufficient food to provision their young (Jones & Grover 2021).

Breeding census

The all-island RSPB-led seabird survey in Jun found a total of 284 apparently occupied nests – an encouraging rise of 19% since 2017, though the long-term trend remains sharply downwards, with a 70% fall in the number of apparently occupied nests since 1981.

Record winter count

Jan & Feb – Counts off the East Side reached 1,000 or more on 15 dates between 18 Jan and 10 Feb, including 3,000 or more on five days in the first week of Feb, peaking at an estimated 3,500 on both 1 & 4 Feb and setting a new winter record for Lundy.

Breeding season

Nesting material was being gathered from Jenny’s Cove in May and the first eggs were seen on 2 Jun, hatching around 24 Jun. The majority of chicks had fledged by 8 Aug. At the Aztec Bay productivity study plot, 105 nesting attempts were made, with 66 chicks fledging from 50 nests. Productivity was calculated at 0.63, an increase of 0.45 from 2021. A colour-ringed individual was sighted on a nest at Aztec Bay on 13 Jul, the same bird observed there on 3 Jun 2021, having been hatched and ringed in Brittany, France. The peak breeding-season count was 327 in May.

Breeding census – new record post-rat eradication population estimate

The RSPB-led survey of breeding seabirds in late spring and early summer yielded a total of 339 apparently occupied nests, a further welcome increase on both the 2021 and 2017 totals, and more than double the first post-rat eradication estimate of 151 pairs in 2008. However, numbers are still far below those recorded historically, (e.g. 3,000 pairs estimated in 1939, 1,213 in 1973, and 407 in 1992), reflecting the long-term declines affecting many UK colonies, which are likely related to factors operating far beyond Lundy and its surrounding waters, such the impacts of global climate-change, as well as over-exploitation of marine resources. Avian influenza, though not yet detected in Lundy-breeding Kittiwakes, has badly affected colonies elsewhere.

Colour-ring sightings: On 1 May 2013, Chris Baillie saw two colour-ringed Kittiwakes in the colony below Threequarter Wall. One had a green colour-ring with a white inscription, ‘AV’, on its right leg. The other had three colour-rings on its right leg, from top to bottom: green, orange, red. ‘AV’ was last reported from the same colony in 2007 & 2008 and was ringed on Lundy on 30 June 1999 (not in Norway in 2004 as tentatively suggested in the 2008 LFS Annual Report). Unfortunately, it is proving hard to pin down the source of the second bird (potentially Brittany) since – in the past – multiple projects in various countries used plain colour-rings and it is difficult to distinguish between them. Things are more rigorously organised now, but Kittiwakes are long-lived birds, meaning that effectively untraceable individuals may continue to be seen for some years yet.

Colour-ring sighting: In 2014 'green AV' was again nesting in the Aztec Zawn colony below Threequarter Wall, where it was watched alternating with its mate in early May (Chris Baillie) and had successfully hatched chicks by late Jun (Beccy MacDonald).

Colour-ring sightings: In 2015 ‘green AV’, ringed on Lundy was recorded on 16 May attending the same nest in the colony below Threequarter Wall as in 2014 (Chris Baillie). A second colour-ringed bird (orange over white on the left leg, red ring on the right leg) was seen on 13 May at the same colony (Chris Baillie).

Colour-ring sighting: a Kittiwake ringed as a chick at Point du Raz, Plogof, Finistère, Brittany in 2009 (ring no. Paris FX21721) was identified from colour-rings at the Jenny's Cove breeding colony on Lundy from 18 Jul 2021 to 10 Aug 2021.

New record

26 Aug – An adult in the Landing Bay (Bart Donato, Tim Frayling & Dean Jones) was the first Lundy record of this delightful Arctic-breeding gull since Sep 1997 and only the fifth ever for the island. It's arrival followed in the wake of a deep depression that was centred over the Irish Sea at noon on 25 Aug, with severe westerly gales affecting Lundy. Record accepted by DBRC.

Unusual date

10 May – Two flew over Threequarter Wall; an unusual date.

Notable autumn count

2 Nov – At least 25 were in a large mixed gathering of gulls off the East Side.

Notable post-breeding count

23 Jun – Twelve were off the East Side in poor weather conditions (Tim Smith).

Summary for 2020 to 2023

Recorded in all months of the year but numbers very small. The highest counts during the four-year period were seven (associating with large Kittwake flocks) off the east coast on 2 Feb 2022, and six in the same general area on 5 Oct 2020.

In 2021, one was in the Landing Bay, in stormy conditions, on the unusual date of 21 May.

New record

22 Oct – An adult in non-breeding plumage off North Light (T. Bedford & R.J. Campey) was only the sixth LFS record, the last being of a single bird in 1990 – remarkably in exactly the same location and on precisely the same date!

New record

22 Oct – A first-winter bird was feeding with Kittiwakes off the Landing Bay at 16:00 hrs (Dean Jones). The seventh LFS record.

New records

19 Jan to 26 Feb – A first-winter bird foraging off the Terrace on 19 Jan; off the East Side on 28 Jan; closer in to the Landing Bay on 12 Feb; and with foraging Kittiwakes off the southern tide race on 18 & 23 Feb, then in the Landing Bay on 26 Feb, On both 23 & 26 Feb, with an ad Little Gull (see below). Presumed only one individual 1w bird involved.

19 to 26 Feb – An adult in the Landing Bay, feeding with a small group of gulls just below the Ugly on 19 Feb, then close to the 1w Little Gull in the southern tide race on 23 Feb. Both together again in the Landing Bay on 26 Feb.

The 8th & 9th LFS records.

New records

5 Feb – A first-winter bird was foraging with Kittiwake flocks offshore from the Landing Bay.

15 Feb – An adult was feeding east of Rat Island (Dean Jones).

These are only the 10^th and 11^th records for the island.

New records

2 Feb – One was feeding off the Landing Bay with an estimated 3350 Kittiwakes (Stuart Cossey).

5 Feb – Two first-winter birds were feeding with Kittiwakes in the Landing Bay (Tim Jones).

The 12^th and 13^th records for Lundy.

New record

18 Jul – An adult flying around the Landing Bay (Tony Taylor, Chris & Mandy Dee) was the first record of this species since August 1978.

New records

20 Oct to 3 Nov – Given that Lundy’s second ever record was as recently as 2015, 2016 saw a remarkable, though brief, autumn influx to the island. Nineteen feeding offshore on 20 Oct were followed by further counts of six on 31 Oct, eight on 1 Nov, 14 on 2 Nov and four on 3 Nov – part of a vast feeding flock of gulls and Gannets off the East Side (Mark Darlaston et al., Richard Campey et al.).

As of early July 2020, the count of 19 on 20 Oct remains the record high for Lundy.

New records

2 Nov to 9 Dec – An adult and a first-winter bird were roosting on the water within a mixed gull flock approximately a mile off Rat Island on 2 Nov, seen from the island RIB during seal survey work (Dean Jones). Three adults were close in to the Landing Bay on 3 Dec (Dean Jones); four adults were part of a mixed gull ‘feeding frenzy’ off the East Side on 4 Dec (Dean Jones); and an adult was off Rat Island on 9 Dec (Dean Jones).

New records

9 Oct to 13 Nov – Five records involving up to 11 birds: two first-winter birds in the Landing Bay seen from the decks of MS Oldenburg upon arrival on 9 Oct (Dean Jones, Jon Turner); two adults – one flying south-west past Rat Island and one flying north up the East Side – on 23 Oct (Andy Jayne); four (three adults and a first-year bird) off Millcombe on 25 Oct (Justin Zantboer et al.); two adults feeding off the Ugly on 28 Oct (Dean Jones); and an adult with Kittiwakes off the Landing Bay on 13 Nov (Tony Taylor).

New records

Summary – There were sightings on 19 days – a record for the island.

2 Jan to 9 Feb – One to three birds were noted amongst Kittiwake flocks off the Landing Bay on eight days (Dean Jones).

18 Aug – An adult in winter plumage was heading west off North Light (Dean Jones).

16 Oct to 4 Dec – Two to four birds were again amongst rafts of feeding Kittiwakes off the East Side from 16 to 18 Oct (Martin Elcoate et al.). Two were close inshore off the East Side on 24 Oct (Chris Baillie). One to two (involving at least two adults and a first-winter bird) were foraging off the East Side on six days between 19 Nov & 4 Dec (Dean Jones).

New records

First winter-period & early spring – Recorded on 22 dates, Jan to early Apr, with maxima of 10 in Jan, 4 in Feb, 2 in Mar and 1 in Apr (7^th). All were off the southern half of the East Side/Landing Bay area, including the south-east tide race.

Post-breeding dispersal & autumn passage – Recorded on 28 dates from 20 Aug (two juveniles) to 8 Dec (one), with a maximum of 29 on 20 Oct. The wings only of a first-winter bird were found on the cliff-tops above Long Roost on 19 Sep.

New records

First winter-period & early spring – Records on fives dates during the first winter period and early spring comprised a single adult on 2 Jan, two adults on 23 Jan & 4 Feb (of which one on the latter date was in full breeding plumage with a complete black hood), and further singles on 5 & 6 Mar.

Post-breeding dispersal & autumn passage – An adult off Millcombe on 11 Oct was followed by an influx of 12 off the East Side on 17^th and 13 on 18^th (the latter comprising eight seen from Old Light and five from the Ugly; 11 of the 13 were adults). Later in Oct there were eight on 20^th, three on 21^st and “a few” on 23rd.

New records

First winter-period & early spring – Two off the Quarries on 31 Jan were the first of the year. Five were logged on 2 Feb and one on 3 Feb.

Post-breeding dispersal & autumn passage – Two on 19 Jul were followed by three further records of single birds in Aug & Oct. A flock of five were off the Terrace and one flew over the Landing Bay on 21 Oct.

Notable autumn count

26 Oct – A count of 20 was the highest for some years.

Notable autumn counts

Oct to Nov – An adult and six 1st-winter birds were seen flying into the Landing Bay on 9 Oct (Andy Jewels & D. Evans). At least 20 were off the East Side on 20 Oct (Mark Darlaston et al.). The peak count was 25 in a large mixed gathering of gulls off the East Side on 2 Nov (Tim Davis, James Diamond & Richard Campey). Finally, one on 9 Nov.

Exceptional hard-weather count

3 Mar – In association with severe weather conditions, an exceptional 152, mostly adults, were off the East Side (Dean Jones).

Notable winter count

2 & 3 Feb – A total of 20 off the Landing Bay on both dates.

Notable late-autumn count

4 Dec – A count of 20 was the highest of the late-autumn/early-winter period.

Notable winter count

24 Jan – A total of 32 off the east coast.

Record autumn count

18 Oct – A count of 93 established a new record for the island (the highest previous count was 50 in Nov 1952 and Feb 1986).

Notable winter count

2 Feb – A total of 44 off the east coast.

Breeding census

The seabird census in late May recorded 57 pairs, virtually unchanged from the 58 pairs counted in 2004 (David Price et al./RSPB).

Breeding census

The RSPB seabird census recorded a total of 50 pairs – similar to numbers in the two previous surveys: 58 and 57 pairs in 2004 and 2008 respectively (information contributed by David Price). A high total of 124 was recorded on 26 Nov (Neil Trout).

Breeding season

3 May – The highest count of the year was of 114 birds and 34 apparently occupied nests during a land-based circumnavigation of the island perimeter (Tim Davis).

Breeding census

The all-island breeding survey of large gulls produced a total of 51 apparently occupied nests (David Price, Peter Slader et al.).

Breeding season

16 Jun – A land-based survey of the whole island perimeter produced a total of 62 birds.

Breeding season

Nests were counted as part of the RSPB-led census of breeding seabirds, though this work was focused primarily on cliff-nesting species such as auks, Kittiwake and Fulmar, and there was no dedicated survey of large gulls in 2021 using the same methodology applied in previous years. The very low number of nests recorded – just 21 – was therefore thought to be unreliable in terms of an overall population estimate.

19 May – A walk of the whole island perimeter yielded a total of 74 individuals (Tim Davis, Tim Jones).

Breeding census

A complete census during May identified 43 breeding pairs, three fewer than the last fully comparable count in 2018 (Paul St Pierre, Antony Bellamy et al.) – see also remarks above for 2021.

Breeding census

The RSPB-led survey of breeding seabirds in late spring and early summer yielded a total of just 32 apparently occupied nests – a significant decline on numbers recorded in 2022 and 2018, reflecting the current parlous state of all three of Lundy's nesting large gull species.

Ringing

Colour-ring field sightings: A concerted effort by Assistant Bird Observatory Warden Luke Marriner resulted in a superb series of colour-ring reads of gulls marked elsewhere and seen on Lundy in July 2023. These included eight Great Black-backed Gulls ringed as pulli (chicks) on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire in the following years: 2019 (2) 2020 (3) 2021 (2) and 2022 (1). All were sighted at Dead Cow Point, on the west coast of Lundy, between 5 & 23 Jul 2023. These individuals would all likely still have been of pre-breeding age; earliest breeding would be at four years but may not occur until the fifth or sixth year. In addition, a Great Black-backed Gull found dead at Pondsbury on 1 Jul 2023 had been ringed on Skokholm as a pullus in 2015.

New record

22 Apr – A first-summer bird, picked out during a seawatch from The Ugly, flew in from the south-east, over Rat Island and along the East Side (K. Rylands). Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; only the fifth for the island and the first since May 1986. All have been in Apr/May.

New records

20 Feb to 1 Mar – A first-winter bird was in the Brick/Tillage Fields and Ackland's Marsh area (Dean Jones).

5 Mar – An adult on Pondsbury flew off in the direction of Jenny's Cove (Tim Davis, Dean Jones, Tim Jones).

14 Mar – A first-winter bird, at Jenny's Cove was potentially the same individual seen between 20 Feb & 1 Mar (see above) but also seems quite likely to have been a different bird (Dean Jones).

14 Nov – A first-winter bird was in Lower Lighthouse Field, roosting with flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Dean Jones).

11 & 12 Dec – A first-winter bird first seen in Tillage Field (Dean Jones, Martin Thorne).

Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the sixth to tenth records for the island, including the first for both Feb & Mar.

New record

2 Feb – A second-winter bird in flight between the Landing Bay and the Sugar Loaf headed up over the island towards the west (Derren Fox) and was seen in the Lighthouse Field the following day (Nicola Saunders). Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the sixth LFS record, the last being in Apr-May 2004.

New records

5 May – One, probably a first-summer bird, flew south along the East Side, just offshore from Quarter Wall Copse, eventually disappearing from view over the Castle (Andy Jayne).

28 May – A first-summer bird flew over South Light (Philip & Helen Lymbery).

Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the seventh and eighth for the island.

New records

19 Jan – An adult among 72 Herring Gulls in Tillage Field (Dean Jones).

16 & 17 Feb – One, initially thought to be a 3^rd-winter bird, was found on Mouse Island, by Martin Thorne, during the early afternoon of 16th. It flew off around Rat Island after being harassed by Herring Gulls, but reappeared in the Landing Bay just 50m off the jetty! Presumably the same bird was again present on Mouse Island on 17^th. Prolonged views allowed it to be aged as an adult and though Dean noticed much less streaking on the head and nape, he couldn't be certain that it was a different individual to the one he saw on 19 Jan. The Jan & Feb sightings are therefore considered to constitute the ninth LFS record.

20 May – One off the West Side on (Devon Birds day trip); the tenth LFS record.

Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder.

New record

23 to 31 Dec – First-winter birds were in Brick Field on 23^rd (Rosie Ellis & Dean Jones), on floodwater between Old Light and the water tanks on 26^th (Philip & Helen Lymbery), and in flight past North Light on 31^st (Dean Jones). Photos were taken on all three dates, but the level of detail shown is insufficient to confirm whether or not more than a single bird was involved.

Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the 11^th for Lundy

New records

28 Oct – Seen fron Hanmers, a first-winter bird was watched flying past Rat Island, on 28 Oct (Rob Duncan, Dan, Ellie & Justin Zantboer).

4 Nov – A first-winter bird, potentially the same individual as seen on 28 Oct, was over Quarry Beach (Zoë Barton & Dean Jones).

Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the 12^th for the island.

New record

19 Feb – A first-winter bird was seen on Ackland’s Moor during stormy weather (Martin Thorne).

Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the 13^th dated record.

New record – subject to acceptance by Devon Bird Recorder/DBRC

22 Jan – An adult bird was seen (and photographed) in High Street Field (Stuart Cossey).

Subject to formal acceptance, the 14^th island record.

New record – subject to acceptance by Devon Bird Recorder/DBRC

5 Mar – An adult was photographed on Pondsbury (Thomas Weston).

Subject to formal acceptance, the 15^th island record.

Breeding census

The seabird census in late May recorded 534 apparently occupied territories, an apparent reduction of 25% since 2004, but see the comment under Lesser Black-backed Gull regarding weather-related differences in coverage between 2004 and 2008 (David Price et al./RSPB).

Notable winter count

Of an estimated 750 present on 12 Feb, hundreds were feeding among the sheep, with hundreds more on the cliffs, apparently already staking claims to breeding sites (A.M. Taylor).

Notable winter counts

High numbers early in the year included an estimated 500 on 12 dates from 19 Jan to 17 Feb – perhaps birds seeking shelter from persistent stormy weather.

Breeding census

The RSPB seabird census recorded a total of 428 apparently occupied territories, a further reduction of 20% on the 534 territories counted in 2008 and an overall decline of 44% since 2000, when 762 territories were found (information contributed by David Price).

Notable feeding behaviour and high summer count

7 & 8 Aug – About 200 were running around on Castle Hill catching flying ants on 7 Aug (Tony Taylor). Also feeding on the bounty were 12 Lesser Black-backs, Wheatears, Pied Wagtails, Willow Warblers, House Sparrows and four Carrion Crows! A high count of 700 was made on 8 Aug.

Breeding season

Several observers commented that numbers appeared lower than in previous years.

Notable winter counts

7 & 25 Jan – A count of 762 was made during the third national BTO Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey (NEWS). Virtually all were resting or feeding in the fields around the Village during a period of very strong westerly/south-westerly winds.

Breeding census

The all-island breeding survey of large gulls produced a total of 241 apparently occupied nests (David Price, Peter Slader et al.). Numbers of breeding Herring Gulls have fallen by more than two-thirds since the current series of surveys began in 2000.

Notable late-winter count

2 Mar – An exceptional concentration of at least 1,500 were feeding off the East Side with Kittiwakes and other seabirds.

Breeding season

16 Jun – A land-based survey of the whole island perimeter produced a total of 602 birds.

Breeding season

Nests were counted as part of the RSPB-led census of breeding seabirds, though this work was focused primarily on cliff-nesting species such as auks, Kittiwake and Fulmar, and there was no dedicated survey of large gulls in 2021 using the same methodology applied in previous years. The number of nests recorded – 243 – was therefore thought to be unreliable in terms of an overall population estimate.

4 Jan – A Herring Gull originally colour-ringed as a chick on the Calf of Man in 1999 was seen on Lundy (Stuart Cossey). It was subsequently reported back on the Calf of Man during the breeding seasons of both 2022 & 2023 and along the west coast of the island of Ireland during the late-summer post-breeding period in 2022 – see below for details.

19 May – A walk of the whole island perimeter yielded a total of 537 individuals (Tim Davis, Tim Jones).

Breeding census

A complete census of the island’s colonies during May found 315 breeding pairs, 86 more than the survey in 2018 (Paul St Pierre, Antony Bellamy et al.), the difference probably explained by the timing of the respective surveys rather than an improvement in the species’ status on Lundy. The 2018 census was conducted slightly later in the season when some breeding attempts may already have ended and when vegetation growth could have made some nests harder to locate.

Avian influenza

A juvenile Herring Gull found dead on the island tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). However, there was no other evidence of infection among Lundy's breeding Herring Gulls (or other breeding seabird species).

Breeding census

The RSPB-led survey of breeding seabirds in late spring and early summer yielded a total of 244 apparently occupied nests – a significant drop of 22% since 2022, and though very similar to numbers recorded in 2018 & 2021, represents a decline of approximately two-thirds (65.5%) from the 708 pairs estimated as relatively recently as 2004 (not to mention the considerably higher numbers present historically) reflecting the current parlous state of all three of Lundy's nesting large gull species.

Ringing Recovery: The ring of a Herring Gull ringed as a pullus (chick) on Lundy (ring no. GN08601) on 22 Jun 1999 was found on the island on 07 May 2007. The bird is presumed to have died but the date of death cannot be determined and could have been within a short time of ringing as no remains were found.

Ringing Recovery: A Herring Gull ringed as a pullus (chick) on Lundy (ring no. GP95527) on 25 Jun 1995 was found dead (road casualty) at Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal (38° 44’ N, 9° 0’ W) on 26 Sep 2010. (5,572 days; 1423 km; SSW 194°).

Ringing Recovery: A Herring Gull ringed as a pullus on Lundy (ring no. GP54946) on 23 Jun 1998 was found dead (not fresh) at Burry Port, Carmarthenshire on 11 Jul 2011 (4,766 days; 64 km; NNE 29°).

Colour-ring sighting: A Herring Gull ringed as a pullus (chick) on Calf of Man, Isle of Man on 03 Jul 2019 (metal ring no. GY06303 and black colour-ring engraved in yellow 'T2YZ') was seen on Lundy on 04 Jan 2022 (916 km; 321 days; S 179°). It had previously been seen on the Isle of Man on 27 Oct 2019 and 10 Oct 2021. It was subsequently seen back on the Calf of Man on 30 May 2022, then at Skerries, Dublin, Ireland on 28 Jul 2022, at Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland on 23 Aug 2022 and back on the Calf of Man on 19 Jun 2023!

New records

18 & 19 Feb – A 3rd calendar-year (= 2nd-winter) bird in Tillage Field on 18th and around the edges of the marsh on Ackland's Moor on 19th (Dean Jones) is only the second record for the island (the previous occurrence being as far back as May 1999).

5 Aug – Three juveniles arrived in the wake of south-westerly storms. The first was seen by Dean Jones at the end of a morning’s seawatch from the Ugly. Here, the gull was initially seen swooping close into the east coast, from the north, then hanging in the stiff wind over Rat Island for a few minutes – providing great views – before it disappeared around the South End with a number of juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The other two Yellow-legged Gulls, again both juveniles, were seen moving along the west coast by Jamie Dunning during an evening seawatch. These constitute the third, fourth and fifth occurrences for the island.

24 to 28 Aug – Another flurry of juveniles around the island included single birds on 24th & 28th and two together in the Landing Bay on 25th, sheltering from Storm Francis (Dean Jones) – the sixth to eighth records for the island.

New records

20 Feb – A third calendar-year (= second-winter) bird was photographed roosting with other gulls next to the floodwater on Ackland’s Moor (Dean Jones).

15 Dec – A second calendar-year bird was close in off the East Side (Stuart Cossey).

These are only the 9^th & 10^th records for the island, following an unprecedented five records in 2020.

New records

4 Mar – A first-winter bird with Herring Gulls in Tillage Field.

17 Aug – A juvenile in Tillage Field.

9 Nov – an adult in High Street Field on 9 Nov.

All records Stuart Cossey; the 11^th to 13^th for Lundy.

New records

16 Jan – A first-winter bird with Herring Gulls (Stuart Cossey).

11 Nov – A first-winter bird flew north off the East Side (Joe Parker).

Breeding census

The seabird census in late May recorded 263 apparently occupied territories, on the face of it a significant drop of 41% since 2004, though Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls received less intensive coverage during the 2008 survey due to poor weather, which meant the census team had to concentrate its limited resources on covering the main target species, such as auks and Kittiwake (D.d Price et al./RSPB). 

Notable winter counts

7 & 8 Dec – Eighty were in the Brick Field on 7th, sitting out a winter storm, with 60 still present the following day – unusually high numbers for winter.

Breeding census

The RSPB seabird census recorded a total of 242 apparently occupied territories, reflecting a continued decline of 8% on the 263 territories counted in 2008, and representing the loss of almost half the number of Lesser black-backs nesting in 2000 and 2004 (information contributed by David Price). An extremely dark-mantled bird showing characteristics of L. f. intermedius was roosting at Brazen Ward on 27 Oct (T.J. Davis & T.A. Jones).

Notable winter counts

28 & 29 Jan – Counts of 288 and 316 were unusually high for Lundy in winter.

Breeding season

Several observers commented that numbers appeared lower than in previous years.

Record of race L. f. intermedius

27 Mar – One showing characteristics of the Scandinavian breeding race L. f. intermedius was at Pondsbury (Tim Davis & Tim Jones).

Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder

Breeding census

The all-island breeding survey of large gulls produced a total of 133 apparently occupied nests (David Price, Peter Slader et al.). Numbers of breeding Lesser Black-backs have fallen by nearly 70% since the current series of surveys began in 2000.

Breeding season

16 Jun – A land-based survey of the whole island perimeter produced a total of only 145 birds.

Breeding season

Nests were counted as part of the RSPB-led census of breeding seabirds, though this work was focused primarily on cliff-nesting species such as auks, Kittiwake and Fulmar, and there was no dedicated survey of large gulls in 2021 using the same methodology applied in previous years. The low number of nests recorded – just 91 – was therefore thought to be unreliable in terms of an overall population estimate.

19 May – A walk of the whole island perimeter yielded a total of 223 individuals (Tim Davis, Tim Jones).

Breeding census

A complete census during May identified 119 breeding pairs, 13 fewer than the last fully comparable count in 2018 (Paul St Pierre, Antony Bellamy et al.) – see also remarks above for 2021.

Breeding census

The RSPB-led survey of breeding seabirds in late spring and early summer yielded a total of only 96 apparently occupied nests – a significant drop in the numbers recorded in 2022 and 2018, and a decline of more than three-quarters (78%) from the 444 pairs estimated in 2004 – the all-time peak of the island's population – reflecting the current parlous state of all three of Lundy's nesting large gull species.

Ringing

Colour-ring sightings: Lesser Black-backed Gulls ringed as pulli (nestlings) on Lundy between 25 & 29 Jun 1995 (marked on the left leg with a pale-blue colour-ring inscribed with a white ‘L’, and a standard metal ring on the right leg) were subsequently seen at:

• Portimao, Algarve, Portugal (37°08’N, 8°32’W) on 5 & 25 Sep 2009 (blue ring inscribed ‘L’ on left leg) c.4,926 days; 1,588 km; SSW 192°.

• Portimao, Algarve, Portugal (37°08’N, 8°32’W) 11 & 13 Jan 2010 (bearing metal ring GP95655) c.5,310 days; 1,588 km; SSW 192°. A similar colour-ringed bird was also seen 1 & 2 Jan 2010 but, with the metal ring number not known, it is possible it was a different individual, ringed on Lundy in the same summer.

• Portimao, Algarve, Portugal (37°08’N, 8°32’W) 14 Oct 2010 (wearing partially read metal ring GB955xx) c.5,312 days; 1,588 km; SSW 192°.

• Duncannon Beach, Co. Wexford, Ireland, on 20 Dec 2012 (pale blue ring with white ’L’ on left leg; metal ring on right leg) 6,379-6,383 days; 195 km; SW 217º.

• Mimizan, Landes, France, on 5 Nov 2013; 28 & 31 Jan 2014; 24 Feb 2015; 9 & 13 Jan, 12 Feb, 1 Oct and 9 Nov 2016; 27 & 28 Jan 2017; and 7 & 25 Jan and 2, 13 & 18 Feb 2018 (blue ring with white ’L’ on left leg; metal ring on right leg) 8,275-8,279 days = approx. 22 years 8 months; 814 km; SSE 162°. All the sightings at Mimizan are assumed to refer to the same returning individual.

Colour-ring sightings: Lesser Black-backed Gulls ringed on Lundy as pulli between 23 & 26 Jun 1996 (marked with a blue or red colour-ring inscribed with a white ‘L’ on one leg, and a standard metal ring on the other leg) were subsequently seen at:

• Málaga, Andalucia, Spain (36°42’N, 4°25’W) on 01 Dec 2007 (c.4,543 days; 1,612 km; S 179º)

• Portimao, Algarve, Portugal (37°08’N, 8°32’W) on 03 Oct 2008 (c.4,845 days; 1,588 km; SSW 192°)

• Portimao, Algarve, Portugal (37°08'N, 8°32'W) on 25 Oct 2008 likely the same bird as above (c.4,867 days; 1,588 km; SSW 192°)

• Costa da Caparica, Lisbon, Portugal (38°38'N, 09°14'W) on 14 Oct 2014 (c.6,685 days; 1,439 km; SSW 196°)

• Praia de Mira, Aveiro, Coimbra, Portugal (40°27'N, 08°48'W) on 01 Nov 2022 (9,627 days; 1,233 km; SSW 195°) – see below for details of another Lundy-ringed Lesser Black-back on the same beach a day earlier.

The above sightings include the 13th to 18th reports of Lundy-ringed Lesser Black-backs from Portugal, though it is impossible to say exactly how many individuals were involved as the colour-rings used on Lundy in 1995 and 1996 were not individually coded and not all the corresponding metal rings were read. There are only two earlier reports from Spain and the 2007 sighting was the first for Málaga.

Colour-ring sightings:

• A Lesser Black-backed Gull found in poor condition in Málaga, Andalucia, Spain on 28 Nov 2019 was taken into care, rehabilitated, ringed (with a white colour-ring engraved 'NA5M') and released on 17 Feb 2020. It was seen on Lundy on 26 Mar 2021 (403 days; 1,606 km, N 0°).

Metal-ring field sighting: A Lesser Black-backed Gull ringed on Lundy as a pullus (chick) on 18 Jun 2010 was seen (metal ring read in the field) at Praia de Mira, Aveiro, Coimbra, Portugal (40°27'N, 08°48'W) on 31 Oct 2022 (4,518 days; 1,233 km; SSW 195°) – see above for details of a colour-ringed Lundy Lesser Black-back seen on the same beach a day later.

Ringing recovery: A Lesser Black-backed Gull ringed as a pullus (chick) on Lundy on 29 Jun 1995 (ring no. GP95657) was found dead (not fresh) on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire on 23 Sep 2013 (6,661 days, 74km; NW 325º).

Ringing recovery: A Lesser Black-backed Gull ringed as a pullus (chick) on Lundy on 28 Jun 1999 (ring no. GN08667) was found freshly dead at Draycote Water, Warwickshire on 06 Sep 2014 (5,549 days, 263 km, ENE 61°).

Ringing recovery: A Lesser Black-backed Gull ringed as a pullus (chick) on Puffin Island, Anglesey on 12 Jul 2014 (ring no. FH67947) was found dead (not fresh) on Lundy on 25 Jan 2015 (197 days, 243 km, S 190°).

New record

8 Oct – One off the East Side was one of the latest ever seen from the island, the only later record being of one on 9 Oct 2006.

New record

5 Apr – One.

New record

28 Mar – One.

New records

3 to 20 Apr – Two in the Landing Bay on 3rd & 4th (Mike Jones, Beccy MacDonald); two heading west off North West Point on 17th (Martyn Roper); and one reported on 20th.

23 Sep – One seen from MS Oldenburg as she appraoched the island (Chris Dee & Andy Turner).

New records

7 to 14 Apr –Reported in the Landing Bay on four dates. All records were of single birds except three on 9th (Martyn Roper).

7 Sep – One; the only autumn passage record.

New records

4 & 7 Apr – Two on 4th and one on 7th, all moving north through Lundy Roads (Martyn Roper).

5 Jul – The skull and bill of a Sandwich Tern were found to the south of John O’Groats (Chris Eve et al.).

New record

15 Apr – One in flight over the Landing Bay for about 10 minutes (Dean Jones) was the only confirmed record of the year.

New record

23 Sep – Two adults were with Kittiwakes and two adult Common Terns off the East Side (Dean Jones).

New record

3 Apr – One was in the Landing Bay (Philip & Helen Lymbery).

New records

6 to 16 Apr – Single birds were in the Landing Bay on 6th, 10th & 16th (Dean Jones). The bird on 6th was perched on one of the mooring buoys.

20 Aug – Two during a seawatch off North Light (Dean Jones).

15 & 16 Sep –  One off the East Side (Richard Campey).

8 Oct – One from MS Oldenburg about 15 minutes out from the island (Alison & Nick Blinston).

New records

12 Apr – One flew over the Landing Bay (Stuart Cossey).

11 Aug – One flew past Rat Island (Stuart Cossey).

New records

12 & 23 Apr – Singles in the Landing Bay (Stuart Cossey).

25 May – One heard calling from the Landing Bay (Dennis Weir).

23 Sep – One heard calling (heard from Millcombe).

Record assessed by BBRC as not proven

26 Aug – A record of a juvenile in the Landing Bay, in the wake of a deep depression centred over the Irish Sea on 25 August, bringing severe westerly gales and large numbers of seabirds sheltering off the east coast of Lundy (including an adult Sabine's Gull) was assessed by BBRC as 'not proven'.

Notable autumn passage counts on Lundy crossing

30 Aug – At least 50 were seen from MS Oldenburg during the crossing from Ilfracombe, including a group of 20 feeding just east of Lundy, together with two Black Terns (N. Croton, A.M. & R.J. Taylor). Also seen on the return crossing on 6 Sep. Tony Taylor writes: "Both [on 30 Aug & 6 Sep] flocks gathered close to the boat and then wheeled upwards and away, bunched together tightly. I reckoned in retrospect, given their direction etc, that they were using the hot air from the funnel and engine room to gain height."

Unusually late record in autumn

8 Oct – At least 12 off the East Side were among the latest ever seen from the island, the only later record being on 9 Oct 2006.

New record set for the latest ever in autumn

17 Oct – A first-winter bird was the latest ever for Lundy.

Late record for 'Commic' (Common or Arctic) Tern

15 & 19 Oct – Five 'Commic' (Common or Arctic) Terns, too distant to be assigned definitively to species, were off the Landing Bay on 15th, followed by three in the same area on 19th. The latter would be a new record late date for Common Tern off Lundy, whereas the island's latest-ever date for Arctic Tern is 2 Nov.

New record

22 Apr – Two flying north seen from MS Oldenburg as the boat was entering the Landing Bay (C. McShane). Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder. This constitutes only the 2nd spring record for Lundy (the other being a single bird on 5 May 1996).

New records

16 to 20 Apr – A flock of up to 15 was feeding with Kittiwakes and Manx Shearwaters off the East Side during the afternoon of 16 Apr, with six in the same area on 17 Apr, two on 18th, one on 19th and one on 20th (T.J. Davis, T.A. Jones, K. Rylands, A.M. Taylor). A strong passage of Arctic Terns through the Bristol Channel was noted at this time and it is likely that the above sightings included a turnover of birds rather than a steadily dwindling single flock that the counts might imply – especially as 12 birds appeared to leave the island waters during the early evening of 16 Apr.

23 Oct – Two feeding among Kittiwakes off the East Side on 23 Oct (A.M. Taylor).

Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder.

New record

29 Sep – Three adults were seen during an afternoon seawatch from the Ugly (Dean Jones). Also present were a single Common Tern and five Common or Arctic Terns.

New record

30 Aug – Although not seen from the island, two were watched from the MS Oldenburg as they fed with Common Terns about a kilometre east of Lundy (N. Croton, A.M. & R.J. Taylor). 

New record

22 Oct – A first-winter bird off North Light (T. Bedford & R.J. Campey) was the first seen from the island since 9 Aug 1967, when one was in the Landing Bay.

New record

15 Oct – Six individuals seen during a day of strong seabird passage was the highest total ever recorded from the island, the previous maximum being three on 5 October 1999.

New records

30 Aug to 20 Oct – One heading south on 30 Aug was followed by records on four dates in mid-Oct: one on 14th, two on 15th, one on 17th and one on 20th.

New records

7 Sep to 23 Oct – Singles were seen on 7 & 8 Sep and 3 & 23 Oct.

New records

12 May – One; the only spring record.

19 Sep to 8 Oct – One on 19 Sep, three on 24 Sep, one on 28 Sep and 3 Oct, five on 5 Oct, four on 6 Oct and one on 8 Oct. In addition, one (possibly two) seen from MS Oldenburg close to the island on 29 Sep.

New records

27 Aug to 31 Oct – One harrying other seabirds off the East Side on 27 Aug and one off North Light on 30 Sep, followed by four on 6 Oct, one on 7th, then one on 28th, two on 29th and singles on 30th & 31st. In addition, one seen from MS Oldenburg, about halfway across to Ilfracombe, on 13 Sep.

New records

24 Aug to 26 Oct – Singles on 24 & 28 Aug and 15, 24 & 26 Sep were followed by one on 11 Oct, three on 12th, two on 15th, one on 18th, two on 22nd and the last of the year, a single bird, just off North Light on 26th.

New records

19 to 26 Oct – Not recorded from the island until Oct, when there was one on 19th, three on 21st, four on 22nd and five on 23rd. Finally, nine flew south-west off Rat Island during the morning of 26th – a new island record (T.A. Jones, A.M. Taylor et al.).

New records

20 to 26 Oct – Ones and twos were recorded on six dates, mainly off the East Side. An unusually pale ‘blonde’ bird was seen on several days, suggesting that the same individuals were hanging around offshore to take advantage of a build-up in Kittiwake numbers. (During the year there were also unsubstantiated reports of singles on 19 & 20 Apr, 19 Jun and 15 Jul).

New records

15 May – A loose group of 15 migrants flew north off the West Side (Chris Baillie), alighting on the water for a short time (Chris Baillie).

13 Oct – One was seen from the Ugly (James Diamond).

29 Oct – One flew south past Lametor (Justin Zantboer).

New records

22 & 30 May – Single birds were off the West Side on 22nd (Kevin Waterfall) and North End on 30th (Martin Thorne).

27 & 29 Aug – One flying round South West Point at dusk on 27th, and one was in the same vicinity on 29th.

16 to 31 Oct – Records on nine days, all of one or two birds except for a remarkable 12 off the East Side around to the South End on 18th, constituting a new record day-count for the island (Martin Thorne).

10 Nov – A single bird flying north up the East Side (Richard & Rebecca Taylor).

New records

5 & 6 Aug – There were singles on 5th & 6th Aug, seen from Puffin Slope and North End, respectively (Dean Jones).

22 Aug – One off the East Side (Martin Thorne).

11 to 25 Oct – One to three birds on six dates, with a maximum of three off the East Side on 11th (Tim Jones).

14 & 27 Nov – One south off the East Side on 14th (Tony Taylor) and one chasing Kittiwakes in the Landing Bay on 27th (Dean Jones).

24 Dec – One flying north off the Landing Bay (Dean Jones).

New records

28 Aug – One circled over Rat Island then headed north-east on 28 Aug (Tony Taylor et al.).

25 to 27 Oct – One on 25th was followed by five during a seawatch from the Ugly on 26th (Andy Jayne) and one off
the East Side the following day (Dean Jones).

13 to 15 Nov – One was offshore from the Landing Bay on 13 & 14 Nov, with two present on 15th (Tony Taylor et al.).

New records

29 Sep to 18 Oct – Recorded off the East Side, typically amongst feeding gulls and auks, on seven dates in autumn, from
29 Sep (one) to 24 Nov (two), with a maximum of three on 18 Oct (Dean Jones et al.)

New records

1 Aug to 12 Nov – There were autumn-passage records on 10 dates during this period. Most were single birds but there were two on both 26 Sep and 28 Oct. All but one were off the East Side – frequently harassing feeding Kittiwakes and other gulls – and picked out from various vantage points including the Ugly and the Terrace. The exception was one off the West Side on 26 Sep.

New records

20 Mar – One passed by off South West Point during the morning (Dean Jones).

11 Sep & 28 Oct – In a generally poor autumn for skuas there were six on 11 Sep, including two off South West Point and four harassing Kittiwakes off North Light (Martin Thorne), and one flew south off Millcombe and settled on the water during the morning of 28 Oct (Justin Zantboer).

New records

19 Oct – One harassing Gannets off South West Point (Stuart Cossey) was the only record for the year, potentially reflecting the high death toll inflicted by outbreaks of avian influenza at breeding colonies in Scotland and elsewhere during the summer of 2022.

Not recorded

See comments above on the impact of avian influenza in 2022.

New record

6 Oct – One off the North Light (T. Bedford, T.A. Jones); the first record from the island itself, though there have been eight previous sightings during the crossing from/to the mainland. Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder. 

New record

26 Oct – One off the East Side (J. Allen, R.A. Duncan, R.J. Taylor); only the second Lundy record after the first in Oct 2010. Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder.

New record

28 Oct – During the late afternoon an adult (or near adult) was watched flying-in rapidly from the south-east towards Rat Island where it attacked a Kittiwake, engaging in a prolonged aerial pursuit before forcing the gull onto the water and hovering over it with apparently lethal intent, though the end of the encounter was out of view of the observers (T.A. Jones et al.). This is only the third sighting of this species from the island, yet remarkably the third consecutive year, following records in Oct 2010 and Oct 2011. Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder.

Possible record

28 Oct – One very distant unidentified skua flying west and seen from the Castle, was thought probably to be a first-winter Pomarine Skua (T.J. Davis & T.A. Jones).

New records

23 to 25 Oct – On 23 Oct a ‘spoonless’ pale-phase adult was watched in flight over the Landing Bay and passing across the tide race off Rat Island before settling on the water beyond South Light, from where the falling tide carried it out of sight behind Castle Hill (Tim Jones). On 24 Oct a juvenile was seen off the East Side (James Diamond), with the same or another juvenile off Lametry on 25th (Chris Baillie)

New record

29 Oct – A juvenile flew south past Lametor at 08.05 hrs on 29 Oct (Justin Zantboer). Record accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the 6th for Lundy.

New records

9 Jun – One off North End (Bart Donald).

11 Oct – One off the Castle on (Chris Baillie).

Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder; the 7th & 8th for Lundy.

New records

29 Sep – A single adult was seen during an afternoon seawatch from the Ugly (Dean Jones).

17 Oct – A juvenile was off the Terrace on 17 Oct (Tim Davis, James Diamond, Andy Jayne et al.). These are the 9th and 10th records for Lundy. Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder.

New records

5 Sep – A dark-morph bird was seen from MS Oldenburg as the ship approached the Landing Bay (Sean Robson et al.)

24 Sep – A pale-morph individual was seen from the Ugly during a seawatch (Dean Jones). Records accepted by Devon Bird Recorder.

New record

18 Oct – At least one dark-morph bird was seen from the Ugly at 13:20 hrs (Tim Jones).

New record

15 Oct – 11 individuals seen during a day of strong seabird passage was by far the highest total ever recorded from the island, the previous maximum count being just two birds (on four occasions, most recently on 5 October 1999).

New records

15 Sep to 21 Oct – Another exceptional year for this species, with records on 13 dates. Most involved ones and twos, but ten were seen on 14 Oct, with seven the following day.

New records

15 Oct & 18 Nov – Single birds were recorded on both dates.

New records

19 Sep to 8 Oct – Singles on 19 & 24 Sep and 5 & 8 Oct, but a high count of six on 6 Oct.

New records

2 Oct to 12 Nov – Between one and four birds recorded on 13 dates, with four off North End on both 5 & 6 Oct.

New records

26 Sep to 15 Oct – Four on 26 Sep, followed by eight on 12 Oct and two on 15th.

New records

22 to 26 Oct – Not recorded from the island until Oct, when there was one on 22 Oct, followed by three on 23rd, one on 24th and two on 26th.

New records

21 to 25 Oct – Recorded regularly during seawatches, with most harrying Kittiwakes off the East Side. After one on 21st, there were three on 22nd & 23rd, one on 24th and two on 25th.

New records

10 Aug – One off Lametor (P.J. Ellam).

30 Aug – A dark-phase bird off South West Point (Martin Thorne)

10 Sep – A pale-phase bird flew north-east, 500 m off Rat Island, (Steve Rosser).

16 to 27 Oct – Two on 16th and singles on 17th, 19th & 27th.

New records

22 Aug – One off the East Side (Martin Thorne).

18 & 19 Sep – A pale-morph bird off North End and two off the East Side on 18th (Dean Jones) and three pale-morph birds off the East Side the following day (Jan Swan & Andy Turner).

New records

25 Aug – A dark-phase juvenile flew past MS Oldenburg about 10 minutes out from Lundy on the crossing
from Ilfracombe on 25 Aug (Rebecca & Richard Taylor, Martin Thorne).

14 Oct – One.

New records

17 May – A light-morph bird was harrying Kittiwakes off Rat Island before flying off westwards.

29 Sep to 16 Oct –  Three (a dark-morph adult, a light-morph adult and a juvenile) were chasing Kittiwakes off the East Side on 29 Sep (Dean Jones);
four dark-morph birds were off the East Side on 4 Oct (Dean Jones); and a light-morph bird was off the Landing Bay on 16 Oct (Martin Elcoate).

New records

26 Aug to 1 Nov – There were just four autumn-passage records during this period. Three dark-morph birds were off the Landing Bay on 26 Aug (Dean Jones). Two were kleptoparasitising Kittiwakes off the Landing Bay on 5 Sep, followed by three (one pale, one dark and one intermediate morph!) in the same area on 7 Sep (Tim Jones, Shaun Robson et al.). A dark-morph bird was off the East Side on 1 Nov (Andy Jayne).

New records

26 Sep to 20 Oct – Autumn-passage birds were recorded on four dates. Two – a pale-morph adult and a dark-morph bird – were pursuing Kittiwakes off the East Side at Tibbetts on 26 Sep (Shaun Robson & Marie Smith). Two pale-morph birds seen off the East Side were flying west on 17 Oct. Two (one pale, one dark) moved south past Old Light at 09:28 hrs on 18 Oct (Andy Jayne), the same day as at least two dark-morph birds were off the East Side, seen from the Ugly, at 13:20 hrs (Tim Jones). A dark-morph bird was off the East Side on 20 Oct (Tim Jones).

New records

30 Aug to 26 Oct – There were eight autumn records during this period, with a maximum of three, seen from the Ugly, on 21 Oct.

New records

2 to 16 Oct – Autumn-passage birds were logged on four dates, with a maximum of two on 2nd & 4th.

New record

16 Apr – A breeding-plumaged adult was first seen (from inside Brambles East!) landing on the south side of The Ugly and preening for 10-15 minutes before flying on up Millcombe at about 16:20 hrs (Helen & Paul Bolland). By sheer coincidence, it was picked up almost immediately at the head of the valley, where it flew over the corner of Government House, across St Helen’s Field and past Barton Cottages, before being lost to sight as it headed low over the wall between Barton and Tillage Fields (Tim Jones). It was later relocated sitting on grassland in Middle Park, just north of the stile at the western end of Halfway Wall (Rachel Shaftman, Ann, Jonny & Tony Taylor), where video and still images were captured. The bird appeared to have a slight injury to its left carpal and some matting of the body feathers close to the carpal joint. This is only the second record for Lundy and comes almost 39 years after the first, on 20 Jun 1974, when one was seen at rest near Old Light before flying out to sea and heading south. Tony Taylor is in the unique position of having seen both birds! Record accepted by DBRC. Photo © Rachel Shaftman & Jonny Taylor.

Breeding census

The seabird census in late May recorded 3,302 individuals, representing a substantial increase of 42% since 2004 and the highest level since the current survey began in 1981 (David Price et al./RSPB).

Reoccupation of the breeding ledges – autumn/early winter

Peak counts included 650 in Nov and Dec 915 in Dec (Grant Sherman).

Reoccupation of the breeding ledges – late winter

The peak Jan count of 814 (on 9th) was of birds already occupying the breeding ledges, continuing the run of high counts from Nov (650) and Dec (915) 2008 and demonstrating that birds come back to their breeding sites on a regular basis earlier than previously (or at least earlier than previously known about). This was underlined when 1,115 birds were counted on breeding ledges on 10 Dec.

Breeding productivity

Surveys of the colonies at Long Roost and Aztec Bay produced 36 and 29 nesting attempts respectively, with combined productivity of 0.63 young fledged per nesting attempt (Nicola Saunders & Sophie Wheatley).

Reoccupation of the breeding ledges – late winter

Many were noted on the breeding ledges at Jenny’s Cove during fine weather on 14 Feb.

Reoccupation of the breeding ledges – autumn/early winter

In autumn, five birds were back on breeding ledges in Jenny’s Cove early on 18 Oct (nine days earlier than in 2008) but all had gone by 07:42 (Grant Sherman).

Reoccupation of the breeding ledges – autumn/early winter

Twenty-nine were back on the breeding ledges in Jenny’s Cove on 12 Oct (six days earlier than in 2010, and 14 days ahead of 2008), building to 300 at Jenny’s Cove and the area around St Mark’s Stone on 26 Oct, and 837 by 10 Dec (Grant Sherman).

Reoccupation of the breeding ledges – late winter

Grant Sherman continued his regular winter visits to count and observe birds on the breeding ledges. Of six visits in January when birds were occupying the ledges, the highest count was 1,138 on 8th. Birds were incubating eggs at St Philip’s Stone and Jenny’s Cove on 8 May.

Reoccupation of the breeding ledges – autumn/early winter

At the end of the breeding season numbers fell rapidly from mid-Jul, with 1,100 on the ledges on 15th, but just 79 on 23rd. Thirteen birds were back on the breeding ledges at 07:15 on 13 Oct, one day later than in 2011 (Grant Sherman). Subsequent early morning peak numbers of birds on the ledges included 175 on 19 Oct, 404 on 28 Oct, 762 on 30 Oct, 997 on 18 Nov, 1,041 on 29 Nov and 1,313 on 21 Dec, with variable intervening counts.

Reoccupation of breeding ledges – late winter

Higher counts of birds on the breeding ledges in Jenny’s Cove included 509 on 4 Jan, 1,274 on 22 Jan, 1,154 on 9 Feb and 1,570 on 18 Mar (Grant Sherman).

Breeding census

The RSPB seabird census recorded a total of 4,114 individual birds at breeding colonies – a phenomenal increase of 25% since the previous peak figure of 3,302 recorded during the 2008 census and representing the highest number since the current surveys started in 1981. The average count during the period 1981–2004 was only 2,200 birds. Whilst several factors may be responsible for this increase, not least food supply, there is subjective evidence that the removal of rats may have helped this species. It has been noticeable during the last two surveys that Guillemots have been recorded at new sites in areas of broken ground not far below the edge of the grassy sidings – locations that would previously have been readily accessible to rats (information contributed by David Price).

Between 18 Jun and 7 Jul Grant Sherman posted an informative series of photo essays cataloguing the fortunes of breeding pairs and their chicks on study ledges at St Philip’s Stone. Grant’s blogs can be viewed at http://www.lundybirds.blogspot.co.uk

Reoccupation of breeding ledges – autumn/early winter

The first birds returning to the breeding ledges in Jenny’s Cove were three on 17 Oct (Grant Sherman).

Reoccupation of breeding ledges – late winter

Counts in Mar included 408 on 12th, 1,292 on 16th and 859 on 18th (Grant Sherman).

Breeding season

Grant Sherman continued his detailed study of the behaviour of breeding Guillemots on a ledge at St Philip’s Stone, where he observed the first chick on 16 Jun and recorded the first fledging on 5/6 Jul. All except one chick had fledged by 14 Jul. While the complete breeding census of 2013 had shown an encouraging 25% increase on the numbers recorded by the previous census in 2008, counts in Grant’s study area and anecdotal evidence from other parts of the island suggest that breeding numbers were down in 2014. This is likely to be have been a consequence of the prolonged stormy conditions of winter 2013/14 that resulted in thousands of Guillemots and other seabirds being ‘wrecked’ along the coast of western Britain.

Reoccupation of breeding ledges – autumn/early winter

The last date when presence was noted at the end of the breeding season was 2 Aug (no count given), though there were no birds remaining at the St Mark’s Stone colony by 21 Jul (Grant Sherman). Thereafter, one on 2 Sep and six on 10th and between one and three birds (all offshore) on five scattered dates during the first half of Oct, before the first two birds were seen back on the breeding ledges at Jenny’s Cove on 17 Oct (Grant Sherman), followed by 196 on 20 Oct (the same date as at least 300 were passing off the East Side). Numbers on the ledges reached 368 between Jenny’s Cove and St Mark’s Stone on 23 Oct, with 516 in the same area on 15 Nov and 928 on 23 Nov, 903 on 21 Dec and 1,174 on 30 Dec, though it is important to underline that totals between these peak counts fluctuated considerably in response to prevailing weather/sea conditions (Grant Sherman).

Breeding season

The Mar maximum of 1,697 was the highest ever recorded in that month (Grant Sherman). At least two birds on Grant’s study ledges at St Philip’s Stone had eggs on 13 May, while the first confirmation of hatched chicks came on 12 Jun, with a total of 12 chicks hatched by 25 Jun. Monitoring by wardens of the Guillemot colony at St Mark’s Stone yielded 88 active sites from which just 28 chicks (0.32) fledged.

Reoccupation of breeding ledges – autumn/early winter

The first record of birds returning to breeding ledges after their post-breeding dispersal was of 35 at Jenny’s Cove on 22 Oct; all were in winter plumage. Numbers rose to 298 on 25 Oct (when some individuals were starting to show signs of breeding plumage), 550 on 22 Nov and 964 on 13 Dec (Grant Sherman).

Breeding season

24 Jun – A partial count by Peter Slader and Lee Bullingham-Taylor between Needle Rock and The Pyramid revealed 2,678 birds. Reporting on his visit from 21–28 Jun, David Price remarked: “Just eyeballing the cliffs, it seemed that Guillemots had spread everywhere. Whereas 15 years ago they were very much restricted to the inaccessible ledges on vertical faces, they are now scattered all over the cliffs and particularly in the broken rock and boulder edges just below the sidings. I could even see birds on the Devil’s Chimney (26 counted low down on the western side). Perhaps a historic moment – the site recolonised after 30 years! We last recorded occupancy in 1986, whereas from a black & white photograph taken in 1939 Richard Perry had some 400 on the stack. Are things going that way again? Hopefully so!”

Early winter

18 Dec – A combined total of 280 were in Jenny’s Cove and off St Philip’s Stone on 18 Dec (Grant Sherman).

Breeding census

The all-island RSPB-led seabird survey produced a total of 6,198 birds, representing a 51% increase over the number recorded in 2013 and by far the highest total since the regular seabird census commenced in 1981.

Successful breeding confirmed; chicks (estimated to be 2-5 days old) were first seen on 4 Jun at St Mark’s Stone. Productivity was very good within that colony, being the highest recorded for years when comparable surveys were conducted (2007 & 2013-2017), with an average of 0.72 chicks fledged from 147 breeding pairs (Dean Jones).

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

30 Jan – 961 on ledges between Jenny's Cove and St Mark's Stone (Grant Sherman), with a further 134 on ledges at Long Roost and North End (Tim Davis & Tim Jones), giving a total of 1,095 birds.

17 Feb – 1,541 on ledges between Jenny's Cove and St Mark's Stone (Grant Sherman).

Breeding season

The year’s highest counts were of 4,543 birds on 12 Apr and 6,415 birds (excluding chicks) on 9 Jun, the latter during a land-based circumnavigation of the island perimeter (Dean Jones). Successful breeding was confirmed; chicks (estimated to be 2-3 days old) were first seen on 24 May at St Mark’s Stone. Productivity was very good within this colony with an average of 0.69 chicks fledged from 141 breeding pairs. The first fledglings were recorded on 18 Jun and chick rearing continued up until 3 Jul at least in this area (Dean Jones).

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

Many were occupying the breeding ledges on 18 Jan, including 649 at Jenny’s Cove, 226 at St Mark’s Stone and 402 at Aztec Bay.

Breeding season summary

The first chicks within the productivity study colony at St Mark’s Stone were seen on 1 Jun, when an estimated 200 birds were continuing to incubate eggs. By 12 Jun a similar number of adults were looking after chicks and the majority of young had ‘jumped’ from the ledges by the end of the month. Overall productivity was good for the study colony: 165 chicks ‘fledged’ from 217 breeding pairs, representing 0.76 chicks per pair (cf. 0.69 in 2019 and 0.65 in 2018). The average number of adults at this site has increased six-fold since 1981, most likely as a result of the eradication of rats.

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

Higher counts from the late winter and spring included 1,320 on ledges between Jenny’s Cove and St Mark’s Stone on 23 Jan; 1,110 at Jenny’s Cove on 4 Feb; 1,356 ashore at Jenny’s Cove on 7 Mar; and c.2,500 on 7 May.

Breeding season

The first egg of the season was noted at Jenny’s Cove on 27 Apr (Eleanor Grover). Flooding of some ledges due to two days of unusually heavy rain at the end of May led to the loss of a number of eggs (e.g. 13 eggs lost in one section of the study plot at St Mark’s Stone). The first chick was seen at the study plot on 31 May, with the first ‘jumplings’ logged on 20 Jun. All but two young had left St Mark’s Stone by 11 Jul. There was a record number of breeding attempts in the study plot – with some 232 apparently occupied sites, but productivity appeared to have been slightly down (Dean Jones).

Breeding census

The RSPB-led survey of cliff-nesting seabirds in Jun recorded a spectacular total of 9,880 individuals – some 59% higher than during the last full survey in 2017 when 6,198 were counted.

Breeding season summary

The earliest high count was 1,150 at Jenny’s Cove on 30 Jan. Up to 10,000 were recorded on 24 Apr. The first egg was seen at St Mark’s Stone on 15 May, with the first chick appearing on 29 May. Birds started to fledge from 23 Jun. A total of 56 chicks fledged from 138 nest sites within the productivity survey plot at St Mark’s Stone, 82 fewer fledged chicks than in 2021.

Breeding census

The RSPB-led survey of breeding seabirds in late spring and early summer yielded a total of 9,912 individuals – only a tiny increase (of 0.3%) on the number recorded in 2021, indicating a slowing of the population increase and potentially suggesting that the island may be reaching carrying capacity under current ecological conditions (although evidence indicates that numbers were higher historically). However, this requires further investigation and it will be interesting to see if the next census shows continued stabilisation/'plateauing' of the population, a new increase, or even a decline, as climate change impacts, over-exploitation of marine resources and avian influenza affect seabirds in Britain and further afield.

Ringing

Colour-ring sighting: 14 May & 13 Jun 2008 – A Guillemot seen at St Philip's Stone bearing a metal ring on its right leg and a blue darvic ring with white lettering '74A' on its left leg had been ringed as a chick on the small island of Stora Karlsö, Sweden (in the Baltic Sea a few kilometres off south-west Gotland) on 2 Jul 2002 (2,140 days; 1,609 km; WSW 255º). Though unusual, this movement is by no means unprecedented. The BTO Migration Atlas (Wernham et al., 2002) reports 69 foreign-ringed Guillemots recovered in Britain, including a chick ringed in the Baltic that later bred on Skomer (off mainland Pembrokeshire).

Colour-ring sighting: 13 Mar & 22 Apr 2010 – What proved to be a male Guillemot bearing a yellow ring marked '67A' on its left leg was photographed by Grant Sherman on the ledges between Dead Cow Point and Needle Rock on 13 Mar and again on 22 Apr when it was seen mating. Information received from the British Trust or Ornithology showed that it had been ringed as a nestling on Skomer on 27 Jun 2003. It had been seen again on Skomer (as a bird of pre-breeding age) in 2007. (2,491 days; 77 km; SE 144º).

Colour-ring sighting:29 May 2012 – A Guillemot bearing a blue ring on its left leg inscribed in white ‘04M’ had been ringed as a chick on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, in 2009.

Colour-ring sighting: 20 Jun 2012 – A Guillemot bearing a yellow ring inscribed in black ‘058’ had been ringed as a chick on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, in 2010.

Colour-ring sighting: 16 & 21 Jun 2014 – A Guillemot bearing a red ring inscribed ‘510’ had been ringed as a chick on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, in Jun 2010 (c.1,465 days; 77 km; SE 145º)

Colour-ring sighting: 26 Jun 2019 – A Guillemot bearing a red ring inscribed in white ‘0114’ had been ringed as a chick on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, on 8 Jul 2013 (2,179 days; 76 km; SE 145º).

Colour-ring sighting: May & Jun 2020 – Guillemot ‘red 0114’ (red ring with white numbering), originally marked on Skomer on 08 Jul 2013 (metal ring no. N05511), was seen again in Jenny’s Cove, occupying almost exactly the same spot on the breeding ledges as in 2019. First observed on 1 May, it was incubating an egg on 13 May & 4 Jun, then provisioning a chick on 13 Jun, rearing it successfully to the jumping stage – Dean Jones (up to 2,777 days; 76 km; SE 145º).

Colour-ring sighting: breeding season 2021 – Guillemot ‘red 0114’ (red ring with white numbering), originally marked on Skomer on 08 Jul 2013 (metal ring no. N05511), was seen again in Jenny’s Cove, occupying the same breeding ledge as in 2019 & 2020.

Colour-ring sighting: 8 Feb 2023 – A Guillemot originally marked on Skomer on 27 Jun 2016 (metal ring no. N07654), was seen on Lundy (6 years, 7 months, 12 days; 74.2 km SE).

Colour-ring sighting: 2 Jun 2023 – A Guillemot originally marked on Skomer on 27 Jun 2018 (metal ring no. N09415), was seen on Lundy (4 years, 11 months, 6 days; 74.9 km SE).

Breeding census

The seabird census in late May recorded 1,045 individuals, representing an increase of 24% since 2004 and the highest level since the current survey began in 1981 (David Price et al./RSPB).

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

Birds were back on the breeding ledges from mid-February, much later than Guillemots, which returned during the late autumn of 2008.

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

Many were noted on the breeding ledges at Jenny’s Cove during fine weather on 14 Feb; once again, some months later than Guillemots. The first egg was seen on 4 May (Grant Sherman).

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

Razorbills again reoccupied the ledges much later than Guillemots, not being noted in numbers until Mar.

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

The first bird seen on the breeding ledges was one at Jenny’s Cove on 7 Jan, with three there (two of which were in breeding plumage) on 4 Feb and seven on 12th – a much later pre-breeding build-up than in the case of Guillemots (Grant Sherman).

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

The first birds seen on the breeding ledges in Jenny’s Cove were three on 8 Feb (a month later than in 2012), with 21 present the following day, rising to 350 by 18 Mar (Grant Sherman).

Breeding census

The RSPB seabird census recorded a total of 1,324 individual birds at breeding sites, representing a 27% increase (similar to that for Guillemots) on the total of 1,045 birds counted during the 2008 census. This takes the species’ total to its highest level since the current surveys started in 1981. As with Guillemots, the reasons for this continuing increase are not immediately apparent, though the absence of rats is likely to have contributed given that Razorbills invariably nest towards the tops of the cliffs (information contributed by David Price).

Following post-breeding abandonment of the breeding ledges by the end of Jul, there were no further records until the second half of Oct, when numbers feeding and passing by offshore reached 180 on 22nd.

Reoccupation of breeding ledges

Counts in Mar included 200 on 12th & 18th and 300 on 16th (Grant Sherman). After a complete absence of records during Aug, Sep and the first half of Oct, small numbers (up to 12) were seen 19–22 Oct, followed by 220 on 23rd, most of which were in flight off the East Side and/or feeding with Kittiwakes in the same area.

Aberrant individual

An individual with an orange-yellow left foot was seen regularly at St Philip’s Stone between 23 May and 3 Jul (Grant Sherman; see here for a photo of this striking bird)

Breeding census

The all-island RSPB-led seabird survey produced a total of 1,735 birds, representing a 31% increase over the number recorded in 2013 and the highest total since the regular seabird census commenced in 1981.

Successful breeding confirmed; many chicks were being fed within the large burrows and boulder scree beneath the Jenny’s Cove Puffin colony by mid-June (Dean Jones).

Late-winter and early spring counts

Of 60 feeding off North Light on 28 Jan, all were in non-breeding plumage, in contrast to the 20 Guillemots feeding in the same area, all except one of which were in breeding plumage (Tim Davis & Tim Jones). An estimated 600 were along the West Side between Jenny’s Cove and St Mark’s Stone on 17 Feb; some on ledges, but most on the sea (Grant Sherman).

Breeding season

A perimeter walk of the island’s coast produced the year’s highest count, of 2,396 birds, on 12 Apr (Dean Jones). The first chick was noted on 31 May.

Breeding season

An all-island count of cliff-nesting seabirds on 16 Jun yielded a total of 2,177 adult birds. The majority of chicks had departed the breeding colonies around Jenny’s Cove by the end of Jun (Dean Jones).

Breeding season summary, including latest census total

The first seen ashore on the breeding cliffs were three at the southern end of Jenny’s Cove on 4 Feb (Dean Jones), with the first large-scale occupancy being 400 on land at Jenny’s Cove on 27 Feb (Dean Jones). The first egg of the season was noted at Jenny’s Cove on 29 Apr (Eleanor Grover). As for Guillemot, the RSPB-led survey of cliff-nesting seabirds in Jun recorded a large increase since the last full survey in 2017: a total of 3,533 individuals in 2021 compared to 1,735 just four years previously, representing an astonishing doubling of numbers over that period.

Breeding season summary

The first few were seen on land on 30 Jan, the same date that 660 were counted on the water around Jenny’s Cove. The highest count of the year was 3,000 on 24 Apr. Razorbills are not currently covered by productivity plot monitoring. However, the first chicks were noted on 4 Jun.

Breeding census – new record population estimate post-eradication of rats

The RSPB-led survey of breeding seabirds in late spring and early summer yielded a total of 3,785 individuals. This was just over 7% higher than the number recorded by the last census, just two years previously, in 2021, suggesting that the population continues to expand post-rat eradication, though perhaps at a slower rate than previously.

Breeding season summary

First recorded on 7 April. The highest count for the season was of 16 individuals on both 4 and 29 June, the latter all in the St Philip's Stone area. There were six active burrows during the breeding season: four at St Philip's Stone (designated C, D, E & H in the detailed records maintained on the island) and two in Jenny's Cove (designated A & B). Chicks were seen at two of the burrows at St Philip's Stone (C & E), meaning that successful breeding was proved for the second year running. (Grant Sherman captured digital images of one of the chicks and these are available for viewing at this YouTube site).

Breeding season summary

The first of the year were two off St Philip’s Stone on 23 Mar. The first sightings on land were also at St Philip’s, where two were seen outside burrows on 8 Apr. On 10 Apr, three were seen on land at Jenny’s Cove. Birds were collecting nest material on 13 Apr and by 21 Apr six were seen on land at St Philip’s Stone and up to 11 at Jenny’s. In contrast with recent years, Jenny’s Cove saw more breeding season activity than St Philip’s Stone and breeding was confirmed at Jenny’s when adults were seen taking fish into three burrows on 1 Jul; however, no chicks were seen this year. The count of 22 on 16 Jul was the highest since 2004 (when 25 were counted in Jun). The last record was of seven on 27 Jul.

Breeding season summary

The first sightings of the year were unusually early compared to recent years, with three on 23 & 25 Mar (on the water off Jenny’s Cove) followed by seven on 26 & 27 Mar (birds seen on land and on the water at both Jenny’s Cove and St Philip’s Stone). Four pairs seen at burrows in Jenny’s on 6 May. Fourteen at Jenny’s and two at St Philip’s Stone on 6 Jun. Four off North East Point on 7 Jun. Eighteen, including three entering burrows, at Jenny’s on 10 Jun. On 13 Jun up to 74 different individuals were counted – mostly on the sea – including 33 at Jenny’s Cove/St Philip’s Stone, 27 at Gannets’ Rock, four at Brazen Ward and 10 of the South End. The first confirmation of breeding in 2010 came when an adult was seen carrying food to a burrow in Jenny’s Cove on 14 Jun. On 10 Jun, six were seen on land at a site in Jenny’s Cove not used since 1992. On 25 Jun, 50 on land at Jenny’s Cove and six at St Philip’s Stone. At least 20 were reported during a boat trip around the island on late date of 30 Aug, mainly in the vicinity of Gannets’ Bay, North End and Jenny’s Cove.

Breeding season summary

Successful breeding was proven once more and while the maximum count in 2011 (59), was lower than in 2010 (74), numbers still give room for cautious optimism. The first record of the year was one at Jenny’s Cove on 25 Mar (Grant Sherman). Further singles were seen on 27 & 30 Mar. At least 15 on land at Jenny’s Cove on 19 Apr (Kirsten Elliott). A pair entering a crevice/burrow at Long Roost and three birds around burrows ‘A’ & ‘C’ at St Philips Stone on 22 Apr (Sophie Wheatley). A pair apparently occupying a burrow at St Philip’s Stone in late May/early Jun. Raft of seven on the sea just north of Brazen Ward on 9 Jun. From the Jessica Hettie, about 55 seen on the water around the west and north coasts on 10 Jun. Six on the water off the South End on 14 Jun. An adult was seen carrying a fish into burrow ‘G’ at Jenny’s Cove on 14 Jun (Grant Sherman) and into burrow ‘A’ at St Philip’s Stone on 24 Jun (Nicola Saunders). Two on ledge and one at burrow entrance at Long Roost on 27 Jun (Alan & Sandra Rowland). Forty-five were seen on land at Jenny’s Cove on 22 Jun (Shaun Barnes, Nicola Saunders). A total of 49 (23 at Jenny’s Cove, 16 at St Philip’s Stone and 10 on the water off North East Point) were counted on 24 Jun, with 43 at Jenny’s Cove on 30 Jun (Alan Rowland). A partial albino bird (all white, execpt for some splodgy black feathering in the wings and mantle) was seen at Jenny’s Cove on 28 Jun and photographed the following day (Grant Sherman, Shelley Southon); a video clip can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxriCJhNikM. Fifteen at St Philip’s Stone and 14 at Jenny’s Cove on 9 Jul (James Leonard, Nicola Saunders). Twelve at St Philip’s Stone at 07.00 on 11 Jul, with 46 adults plus one chick at Jenny’s Cove at 09.00 on the same date, making a potential combined total of 59 (Grant Sherman). Forty-one on the sea at Jenny’s Cove on 22 Jul; none on land.

Breeding season summary

Three on the sea at Jenny’s Cove on 16 Mar were the first of the year (Grant Sherman) and the earliest returning birds of recent years. Numbers increased considerably from the end of May (assumed, as in other recent years, to reflect an influx of immature, non-breeding birds). On 20 Jun, a new (recent) record total of 171 birds – both on land and on the water – were located in a count of the whole island perimeter, including 71 at Jenny’s Cove, 30 at St Philip’s Stone, 25 off the South End and others at Long Roost, North End and Gannets’ Rock (T.J. Davis & T.A. Jones). A chick was seen outside burrow ‘C’ at St Philip’s Stone on 27 Jun. Numbers declined rapidly in late Jul, with 110 still present on 20th, but only five counted on 27th (all on the water off St Philip’s Stone) – the last of the season.

Breeding season summary

Three were on the water at Jenny’s Cove on 20 Mar (Grant Sherman). Perhaps surprisingly, coming so late in the season, the highest count of the year – and a new post rat-eradication record – was reached on 25 Jul when a total of 190 included 129 at Jenny’s Cove and 61 at St Philip’s Stone. Finally, 150 were counted on 29 Jul, but there were no reports at all in Aug!

Breeding evidence included birds entering burrows at St Philip’s Stone on 2, 19 & 26 May and 4 Jun. birds were on land outside burrows at Jenny’s Cove on 26 May and entering burrows on 4 Jun. Two adults were seen carrying fish at St Philip’s Stone on 14 Jun (Grant Sherman). Away from the colonies at Jenny’s Cove and St Philip’s Stone, four were on the water at Long Roost on 26 May. At least 27 were in the Gannets’ Rock area on 31 May, mostly on the water, but one was seen and photographed apparently defending a burrow on a grassy slope just north of the Rock. Six were on the sea off Puffin Gully on the same date. Six were off North Light on 12 Jun. Five were on the water just south of Tibbetts Point on 25 Jun, and five were just off The Battery on 16 Jul.

The RSPB seabird census during the last week of May recorded 80 birds and noted the major recolonisation of Jenny’s Cove. Within the scope of the methodology for this survey (i.e. a count of all birds present during the last week of May), this represents a remarkable recovery from the low of just five birds recorded during the 2004 census, and a 470% increase on the 14 birds recorded in the 2008 survey. The success of this species is undoubtedly due in large part to the eradication of rats (information contributed by David Price).

Breeding season summary

The resurgence in Puffin numbers continued. A noticeable feature in recent years has been a tendency for the first birds to arrive earlier and the last birds to depart later in the season than was the case when the island’s population had dwindled dangerously close to extinction.

The Jenny’s Cove and St Philip’s Stone breeding colonies were checked regularly in Mar, with the first sighting being of a single bird at Jenny’s Cove on 19th, 20th and 24th. The next arrivals were three on 3 Apr, rising to eight on 9th, 11 on 15th, 31 on 18th and 51 on 30th (the latter count comprising 45 at Jenny’s Cove and six at St Philip’s Stone). The highest count in May was 60 on 6th, while 103 were recorded on 18 Jun. A count of 83 birds on 8 Jun was distributed as follows (southern part of the island not covered): 30 on land and eight on water at Jenny’s Cove; 11 on land at St Philip’s Stone; five on water off Gannets’ Rock; one on water off Long Roost; six on land and 16 on water at Puffin Slope; four on water off North Light and two in flight off the Terrace. Two birds were going in and out of burrows at Long Roost on 12 Jun.

An adult was entering a burrow with a fish at St Philip’s Stone on 29 Jun. Single adults carrying fish were also seen at St Philip’s Stone on 11 Jul & 14 Jul. A metal-ringed Puffin was also observed at this site. Puffin counts were lower at the St Philip’s Stone colony in 2014 compared with 2013; possibly a consequence of adult mortality during winter storms (Grant Sherman).

Maximum counts included 144 on 2 Jul, 125 on 14th (of which 100 at Jenny’s Cove and 25 at St Philip’s Stone) and a new post-rat eradication record of 240 in Jenny’s Cove alone (other suitable areas were not covered) on 30th. There were still at least 80 in Jenny’s Cove on both 1 & 4 Aug, and 75 on 5th, while of 11 seen on 8th, one entered a burrow. The last of the year were seven on the water off North East Point on 23 Aug (Martin Thorne).

Three first-winter Puffins that had been driven ashore on the mainland during the severe storms of winter 2013/14 were picked up and taken to the RSPCA’s West Hatch rehabilitation centre near Taunton, where they recovered sufficient condition to be released back into the wild (amidst considerable media interest) at Gannets’ Bay in early Apr.

Breeding season summary

The first of the year were 16 on 2 Apr, rising to 50 by 7th and 76 on 22 Apr (on the latter date there were 54 on the sea and six on land at Jenny’s Cove, plus 15 on the sea and one on land at St Philip’s Stone). At least two pairs were mating on the water on 17 Apr. The peak count in May was 74 on 10th. In Jun there were 90 on land at Jenny’s Cove on 7th, while the peak count during the month was 110 on 10th. Jul brought the highest count for the year when up to 250 (200 on land and 50 one the water) were at Jenny’s Cove on 3rd (Martin Thorne/Morte Wildlife Group). There were records on eight dates in Aug, the last of these a single bird on 12th, followed by a logbook entry on 16th of “2 from boat”, which could have been some way from the island itself. Although most records were from the colonies at Jenny’s Cove and St Philip’s Stone, small numbers were also seen at Long Roost (including birds entering burrows) and on the water off Pilot’s Quay, North Light and North East Point, all between late Jun and mid Jul.

Breeding season summary

The first birds were 15 on 22 Mar, eleven days earlier than in 2015 – nine on the cliffs at Jenny’s Cove and six on the sea at St Philip’s Stone (Grant Sherman) – and 18 in Jenny’s Cove the next day (Peter Minter). On 1 Apr, 40 were rafting in Jenny’s Cove, with another 44 on land going in and out of burrows. On 18 May, 66 were in Jenny’s Cove, 45 at St Philip’s Stone and two on Puffin Slope at North End (Kevin Waterfall). A partial count by Peter Slader and Lee Bullingham-Taylor on 24 Jun between Needle Rock and The Pyramid resulted in a total of 234 birds. The last record for the year was of 20 on 31 Jul.

Breeding season summary

The first of the year were seven rafting in Jenny’s Cove on 16 Mar (Anne Coombs, John King), but there were no further records until the last week of the month: 41 on 25th, 58 on 26th, 99 on 27th and 97 (20 on the water and 77 on land) on 29th. Peak counts during the remainder of the breeding season included 107 on 20 Apr, 100 on 12 & 27 May, 253 on 16 Jun and (remarkably) the same total on 1 Jul. There were still 200 to be seen as late as 20 Jul, falling a few days later to 45 on 24th. The RSPB-led breeding census found 375 birds, representing a 369% increase over the total recorded using the same methodology in 2013. Successful breeding was confirmed, with frequent fish provisioning first noted on 9 Jun at burrows in Jenny’s Cove. Overall productivity fared well with an estimated 80 chicks fledged from 130 burrows, equivalent to 0.62 chicks per nesting pairs (Dean Jones). The last was a single bird on 6 Aug, although there was an unconfirmed report of one on the unusually late date of 18 Sep.

Breeding season summary

The first of the year were 10 birds at Jenny’s Cove on 14 Mar (Dean Jones). There was a notably high Mar count of 106 at Jenny’s on 26th. Four were at Long Roost and others swimming off North End on 26 Apr (Sue Wells). Thirty were off North Light on 27 May (Martin Thorne). The presence of pufflings was first noted on 29 May, when adults were watched carrying fish to burrows in Jenny’s Cove (Kathryn MacKinnon). More than 60 pufflings were estimated to be present during a dawn-to-dusk survey of the productivity slope in Jenny’s Cove on 13 Jun (Dean Jones et al.). The study plot at Jenny’s Cove yielded an overall productivity figure of just under 0.55 chicks per active burrow, based on estimates of 129 chicks from 235 active burrows – the highest number of breeding attempts for this site since productivity studies began in 2013 (Dean Jones). The last of the year were 74 in Jenny’s Cove on 31 Jul (Tim Davis) and a single bird in flight off Jenny’s Cove on 4 Aug (Chloë Lofthouse & Karen Hobson).

Breeding season summary

Birds were first recorded on the water at Jenny’s Cove on 27 Feb (Dean Jones), 15 days earlier than 2018 and 17 days before the first of 2017. This constitutes the earliest ever record of Puffins for the island, being a week ahead of the previous record of 6 Mar 1983. The first confirmation of breeding was noted on 20 May (food being taken into a burrow in Jenny’s Cove). The number of Puffins in a monitoring area at Jenny’s Cove increased to 98 in 2019, compared with 40 in 2013, further underlining the success of the rat-eradication programme. Within this area, Puffins nest in very close proximity to numerous Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars and Kittiwakes, as well as a number of nesting Lesser Blackbacked Gulls, which again successfully raised young in the heart of the Puffin colony, along with two pairs of Herring Gull (Jones 2019). The highest count of the year was of 468 on 7 Jul between The Battery and St Mark’s Stone (Dean Jones). A few days later, on 11 Jul, 401 were counted at Jenny’s Cove alone, comprising 264 on land and 137 on the water. The last Puffin sighting of the year was of 27 birds on 29 Jul.

Breeding season summary

The first of the year were 32 (28 at Jenny’s Cove – of which eight on land and 20 on the water – and four at St Philip’s Stone) on 11 Mar. Numbers had reached 184 by 1 Apr and many were gathering nest material at Jenny’s Cove on 23 Apr. Adults were first seen delivering fish to burrows in Jenny’s Cove on 25 May and over 70 burrows within the productivity study slope were being provisioned by 11 Jun. Final analysis showed that productivity was once again on the low side, with 133 chicks reared to ‘fledging’ from 261 apparently occupied burrows, representing 0.51 chicks per burrow (Dean Jones – see p.nn for further details). An all-island count of cliff-nesting seabirds on 16 Jun yielded a total of 400 adult birds (Dean Jones), whilst the post-breeding peak of 402 was recorded on 1 Jul – the same date that the first ‘puffling’ was seen emerging from its burrow. The last of the year, a single bird, was seen off Rat Island on 5 Aug.

Breeding season summary

The first of the year were three on the water with other auks at Jenny’s Cove on 6 Mar, with four the following day (Dean Jones). There were no further records until seven on 17 Mar (including the first on land at Jenny’s Cove) and an impressive Mar count of 75 (of which 25 ashore) on 21^st. Later maxima in spring included 167 (of which 121 ashore) at Jenny’s Cove on 8 Apr, 104 on 17 May and 210 on 31 May. Observations of the productivity study slope at Jenny’s Cove located 346 active burrows, up by 33% from 261 in 2020. Adults were first seen delivering fish to burrows on 26 May, the first ‘puffling’ was seen on 30 Jun (a day earlier than the first in 2020), and the last provisioning of chicks was logged on 29 Jul. Some 214 chicks were recorded in the productivity plot, giving an overall productivity value of 0.62 chicks per active burrow, up from 0.51 chicks per burrow in 2020 (Jones & Grover 2021). The all-island RSPB-led survey of cliff-nesting seabirds in Jun recorded a new post-rat eradication record total of 848 individuals, some 126% higher than the 375 counted during the last comparable survey in 2017. There were still at least 250 birds present on 22 Jul, but numbers fell rapidly after that and the last of the breeding season was one in Jenny’s Cove on 1 Aug.

24 Nov – Three were off North End on a very unusual date for the island (Stuart Cossey).

Breeding season summary

The first record of the year was of eight on the water at Jenny’s Cove on 12 Mar and subsequently on land on 15 Mar. The highest count of the season was 485 on 11 Jul. By the end of Jun, 128 burrows were seen to be active in the Jenny’s Cove study plot. The last record was of a single bird off Jenny’s Cove on 5 Aug.

Breeding season summary

 The first three of the year were off Jenny's Cove on 28 Feb, just a day later than the earliest ever, in 2019. A notable 201 Puffins were counted during a walk of the whole island perimeter on 27 Mar – an early date for such a high total. The RSPB-led survey of breeding seabirds in Jun resulted in a fantastic new record post-rat eradication maximum of 1,335 birds.

Early spring return

27 Feb – One in Jenny's Cove equalled the earliest on record (see 2019 entry above).

Exceptional March count

26 Mar – A total of 511 was the highest ever logged during March.

New record

26 May to 2 Jun – Two in full breeding plumage seen on the water about 250 m from the jetty as MS Oldenburg entered the Landing Bay on 26 May (Andrew Cleave & Paul Sterry). One seen in flight some way off the East Side (while scanning for seabirds with a telescope from the Beach Road turn) on the evening of 1 Jun (T.A. Jones). At least one seen on the water and in flight just after MS Oldenburg had sailed past Rat Island when leaving the Landing Bay on 2 Jun (many observers). Records accepted by DBRC. These constitute the first records for the island itself, the only previous sighting having been at sea, during the crossing, on the strikingly similar date of 30 May 1991.

New record

9 Jun to 1 Jul – One was in the Landing Bay on 9 Jun (John Mellor) and still present on 15 & 16 Jun (Darrin Dowding, Ken Ebsworthy, Arthur Goldsmith). On 15th it was on the water below St Helen’s Copse and headed so close to shore it was lost from sight. The following day it was also quite close to shore until MS Oldenburg arrived, when it flew out to sea. The bird was still present on 22 Jun (Shaun Barnes & Ken Ebsworthy) and roosting on a bollard of the jetty at high tide on 1 Jul (Beccy MacDonald). Record accepted by DBRC.

New record

9 May to 8 Jul – One was seen regularly in the Landing Bay (Andy Jayne, Ed Richardson, Dave White et al.). This is the third consecutive year that Black Guillemots have been seen in the same area in late spring and early summer. The bird was often seen close inshore and at times loafing on the jetty, as in 2013. Record accepted by DBRC. Photo below © Andy Jayne.

New record

2 Apr to 22 Jun – Recorded for the fourth successive year. What is presumed to be the same returning individual was first seen back in the Landing Bay, off the jetty, on 2 Apr (Beccy MacDonald) – more than a month earlier than the previous earliest date. There were sightings on at least 20 further dates up to and including 2 Jun, followed by a gap to 13 Jun, a brief sighting at 07.30 hrs on 14 Jun and a final record of the bird swimming close inshore between the jetty and Rat Island on 22 Jun. All sightings were in the Landing Bay, especially in the vicinity of Miller’s Cake. Tony Taylor’s entry in the LFS logbook for 27 May reads: “Black Guillemot on rocks below ‘Smelly Gully’, a.m. Walked half way up its favourite rock, which had a Lesser Black-backed Gull perched on top. Much aggressive posturing (standing very tall, with bill pointing down and open; wings slightly open) which had no effect. In the end, marched up towards the gull, which flew off. Black Guillemot settled down on peak of rock.” Record accepted by DBRC.