Trumpeter Finch.
My first visit back after 21 years saw me heading to Lundy in the hope of seeing the superb Trumpeter Finch which was on its eighth day on Lundy Island , leaving Bideford at approx 8.30 am i arrived at Lundy at 10.30 am , now i was 21 years younger the last time i came here and the walk / climb up to the top of the island was very hard going even then , now with lets say just a little bit more weight then i had back then the walk nearly finished me off.....lol but i have to say it was well worth it , this pink beauty gave excellent views , quite stunning in appearance the photos don't really do it any justice.
Here it is just taking off .
I spent quite abit of time looking at this stunning bird and although it was quite flighty it did show really well at times feeding on the ground or sitting on the stone wall , the weather was closing in , so i decided on a walk back to the shop but before i returned i managed some photos of a couple of a Wheatears which was rather smart.
First of two Wheatears.
Second bird on the wall.
I decided to go to the pub to dry off and celebrate the Trumpeter Finch which was a new species . I had time to do some more birding on my way back to the quay and first i saw 1 Spotted Flycatcher then another 4 birds near by , a much welcome year tick indeed and really smart birds to see , they were doing there normal flycatcher thing , flying out to catch insects and then returning to their favoured perch.
There were plenty of Swallows and House Martins around plus a unexpected Lesser Redpoll put in a brief appearance , a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were seen as was at least 5 Rock Pipits .
The return journey on M S Oldenburg was rather an up and downer affair the swell in the Bristol Channel was quite immense but the birding was spectacular with hundreds of Manx Shearwaters giving stunning views a really under estimated count of 500 birds was made but there was most certainly alot more . Close views of Gannets , Kittiwakes and Fulmers were had .
Of interest i did see a Grey Seal whilst waiting at the quay , plus the endemic Lundy Cabbage was well represented around the cliff face .
An Old Ruin on Lundy
Flying the flag.
