Lundy is a lump of picturesque granite, 3 miles wide, stuck in the middle of the Bristol Channel off the coast of Devon and Somerset. Geographically it is counted as part of Devon even though it could just as easily be Somerset. Decisions have been made to retain it's rustic culture with very little real access to the outside world, no internet, TV and a poor mobile phone connection. It is 7 minutes by helicopter and just under 2 hours by boat. There is a Tavern and a small well stocked shop as well as cottages for visitors to stay and a rough camping field (with excellent facilities by the way). I chose the latter and although camping is not something I do that often, it was fun and hardly a challenge as the weather was glorious. In the rain it would have been a different proposition.
The bird life is good and rarities are often encountered. On my trip I missed the two birds that would have made it even more memorable, a Black Guilemot in full summer plumage and also a Turtle Dove. The problem being that you can't be in two places at once and as everything is done on foot, getting from one steep descent and than ascent means that you have to make choices as to where you are going to be and then suddenly you may be an hour or more of stiff hill climbing away from what you may want to see. So as with all things birding there is a massive element of luck.
My main reason for visiting was to try for photos of Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica). There is a small breeding population on Lundy and since the eradication of the rats , both Brown and Black, the nesting seabirds have been able to increase their numbers dramatically. This is probably the only place in Devon where you have a good chance of photographing them. They nest on an area of cliffside at Jenny's Cove, a misleadingly benign name for a rough and treacherous cliff top in the middle and on the west of the Island. I had never been advised that the climb down and up was as arduous as it was, nor that one slip on the wet turf could mean a fall of 300 feet on to the rocks and pounding surf below. So all in all, I was pleased (but not certain that I was in the right place) to get to a spot overlooking the likely area. Take note if you want to see the Puffins on Lundy as early morning and just before dusk are the times that will give you the best opportunity. You could be in the right spot and sit all day without even a glimpse so timing is key. I arrived at 1800 hours, plonked myself down precariously and sat waiting, all the time amusing myself by watching the nesting Razorbills, Guilemots and Fulmars. As 8 o'clock ticked around I suddenly saw a Puffin sat out on the hiltop, its predominantly red beak (from the distance) glowing back at me and the white breast like a beacon. A I have not visited some of the more well known Islands for Puffin I haven't got great photos of this species yet so it was a real thrill to even see one. As with all quests that have a good outcome, when you have made a lot of effort to get results, success is even more thrilling.
After only a few minutes the one I saw first was joined by another and then I saw even more. It was hard to count how many I had seen because I wasnt sure if I was counting the same bird but I dont think that really matters. It seemed to me that one bird was investigating a nest burrow whereas others were emerging from burrows. I saw birds flying off the cliff but didnt see any fly in so I am making the assumption that all the birds seen had just emerged from their burrows where they had been all along. I guess that if they are incubating eggs then there is going to be very little activity at the colony site. Later on in the season when prey is being brought in to feed chicks, activity will be constant.
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This is a view of the cliffside. You can see that there s a combination of grass and rocks with burrows beneath the rocks. The area of cliffside that I was on was devoid of the rocks so it seems that the correct combination of rocks and turf is quit crucial.
Now just a few other birds seen on my short visit. Spotted Flycather were, if not numerous much more noticeable than on the mainland.
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Sedge Warblers are a species that can be quite noticeable when they are displaying for mates at this time of the year. I am reliably toled that they do breed on Lundy.
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Ravens are breeding birds on Lundy and this is a newly fledged baby bird which can be told by the fleshy gap still evident on the corner of the beak.
….and a Rock Pipit.
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