Purple Heron

New record – subject to acceptance by DBRC

5 to 21 May – An elusive 2^nd calendar-year bird, initially seen in flight off the Castle and South Light on 5^th (Grahame Madge, Rick Morris et al.) spent more than two weeks on the island, being seen most often in the Pondsbury and Punchbowl Valley area, where it was often surprisingly well concealed and camouflaged among the surrounding rushes and grasses. However, it was also seen at Barton Pond and once – during the afternoon of 6^th – in Millcombe, where it landed close to the mist-net on the slope up to the Ugly! It seemed to be finding sufficient food and to be flying strongly throughout its stay.

Subject to formal acceptance, this will be just the fifth island record and the first since 1994! All of the other occurrences have been in spring, during the period 19 Apr and 4 Jun, with two of the four previous individuals also arriving in May.

New record – subject to acceptance by DBRC

14 Apr – One, probably a 2nd calendar-year bird, was seen in flight off the quarries, being mobbed by gulls at 07:50 hrs (Tim Jones). It flew east of the island and soared distantly, circling upwards to gain height, then flew a short way south before turning north and flying NW, gradually getting a little bit closer again, but remaining well offshore, until finally being lost to view behind the headland of Tibbetts Point. This occurrence coincided with the arrival of two Night Herons and a Golden Oriole the previous day – part of a notable influx of spring 'overshoot' migrants to South West England. Subject to acceptance, only the sixth Lundy record but the second in two years.