Canada Geese on Lundy

On Pondsbury

On 19^th March, during breakfast, we became aware of the unmistakable honking of Canada Geese flying over our accommodation, Quarters. Visibility was not great and nothing was apparent in the immediate vicinity from either of the windows. A little later, around 9:30am, two Canada Geese were seen landing in Light House Field but quickly walked over the horizon.

Whilst walking north, later in the day, the sound and then sight of a pair of Canada flying over us at Quarter Wall towards Pondsbury must have been the same pair.

Breasting the rise so that Pondsbury came into view confirmed that they had settled on one of the tiny grassy islands in the middle of the pond. Both were preening along with half a dozen Herring Gulls on the water. On my approach the gulls flew off, but these two seemed unconcerned and continued preening.

On our return from the North End, both birds had gone but when we entered the farmed land, they were both seen, at around 1:30pm in Brick Field.

In Brick Field

They appeared to be searching for an appropriate breeding site, but not finding it, they were not seen again during our stay.

Canada Geese, although common on the mainland are a Lundy rarity.  These are the first birds seen since 2012 when a 1st winter bird was seen between 29th and 30th October.  They are only the 16th record of Canada Geese seen on the island.

LFS on Lundy

Bideford's Mermaid

A long planned Lundy Field Society visit to Lundy took place from 17^th to 20^th May when most of the Committee held their first meeting on the Island for 20 years.  Derek Green, the Lundy Manager and Beccy MacDonald the warden and her seasonal assistant Chloe were also invited to attend.

17^th Saturday – we left our cars at Bideford and assembled on the quay for an early 8am sailing when the conditions were described as winds 2-3 lights to variable which lead to an uneventful crossing.  It was so smooth that almost all the 210 passengers kept the galley busy making bacon sandwiches.

Black Guillemot

Sedge Warbler

We were met on arrival in the Landing Bay by the single Black Guillemot that had returned to Lundy for the third consecutive year.  We were welcomed by a rapturously singing Sedge Warbler at the top of Millcombe steps and after lunch in the Tavern were soon safely ensconced in our allocated rooms in Millcombe.

A quick tour of the island to Middle Park showed most of what we wanted to check out.  The deer were around Middle Park Pond and a multitude of Dwarf Adder’s Tongue fern had emerged.

A communal evening meal in the Marisco rounded off the day which had been very long for those travelling from up country since dawn.

Twitching for Golden Oriole

Turtle Dove

18^th Sunday – this was the day of the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society’s annual trip to the island.  I had promised a south end tour to those who wanted it, but this had to be heavily curtailed due to the excellent weather.  The charterers decided to take their round the island trip before disembarking so it was creeping up to midday when they had all disembarked.  Many dashed off to look for the Black Guillemot and Turtle Doves that had been reported as well as an elusive Golden Oriole.  We had seen two Turtle Doves on Saturday and Sunday morning as well as the Guillemot in the bay.  Breeding birds confirmed were a pair of Crows in the trees near Millcombe gardens and Blackbirds above the wall to the east of Millcombe House.

Diving Beetle in Ackland's Moor Pond

19^th Monday – the day of the committee meeting where we took advantage of Lundy manager and warden directly to discuss all issues affecting the island with them.  We just about managed to fit into the dining room of Millcombe House and completed the agenda around the agreed time to have lunch in the Marisco Tavern.

In the afternoon, I surveyed Ackland’s Moor Pond which was gin clear to the bottom, a unique view I have not seen before.

Pizza night at Old House South

20^th Tuesday – today most of the committee were returning home and we were homeless while Old House South was being prepared for us.  Before we left Millcombe, we were able to add a Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap to our bird total.  Ever busy, Andrew showed the moths caught the previous night to visitors in the tavern and led a wild flower walk around the south end.

That evening we enjoyed the comforts of Old House South with a pizza evening provided by Sandra.

Painted Lady

21^st Wednesday – a beautiful day for a walk northwards.  We aimed for Jenny’s cove and watched Puffins on land and sea for quite a while.  There were pods of cetaceans moving north a couple or three miles out in the Atlantic too

We decided to continue north and in Middle Park found lots more Dwarf Adder’s tongue Fern in a new location west of the west side path slightly north of the Black House.  It is doing very well this year.

We counted yet more puffins and offshore cetaceans at St Phillip’s stone and saw the first Painted Lady butterfly of the year near Squire’s View.

Long Roost Pond

Sea King at North End

We had traveled so far north on the west side, we decided to go to the north end.  On the way André showed me a pond he had found in November of last year.  It took a little searching out, but is definitely new to us freshwater biologists.  It is a natural hollow in the granite almost on the west cliff edge with a granite gravel bottom and brown tinged water.  How permanent it is, only summer visits will determine, but Long Roost Pond will certainly be surveyed some time soon.

As we returned we observed a circling Sea King helicopter which eventually touched down right at the north end, a crew member chatted with a visitor then it roared off south.  The story was that the pilot’s daughter from Georgeham School was on a school visit to the island and he had called in on his way south to drop her off a small gift.  How big is her street credibility?

Joint meal in Millcombe

22^nd Thursday - our first very wet day.  We had hoped to at least walk along the quarries but by the time we reached them, the heavens opened and we spent a convivial hour talking to various walkers who also took shelter in Gade’s hut until we made a very wet way home. We were heartened by being invited by bellringing friends of Michael to share our evening meals in Millcombe.

Mirror Carp and Golden Orfe 

Horse Leech

23^rd Friday – a damp day but not enough to prevent us walking.  The slight rain seems to bring out the Horse Leech – we saw four in the pools on the path near to Quarter Wall.  Our route took us over the top of the quarries east of the Hospital where we were surprised to count around 50 Rhododendron seedlings there.  No were flowering, unlike the one that had been secretly growing in a thicket near the Heligoland trap and was instantly cut down by the ranger, but all have been reported for treatment.

In the afternoon, we visited Rocket Pole Pond at the request of Jenny George who had seen fish there the previous week.  Our stale bread brought a flurry of activity when we were able to count at least two Mirror Carp and up to 20 immature blue Golden Orfe.

24^th Saturday – a sad day as it was our last, but I had arranged with Simon Dell to help lead a group of TARS (The Arthur Ransome Society) members to Jenny’s Cove.  The small clump of Wood Vetch was had begun to bloom and Lundy Cabbage was displaying its attendant Flea Beetle. 

Lundy Cabbage and Flea Beetles

Moon Jellyfish

Whilst waiting for the Oldenburg, I was able to photograph three different types of jellyfish from the jetty Moon Jelly Aurelia aurata, Comb Jelly Ctenophore sp and Predatory Comb Jelly Beroe cucumis.  The walk was most successful; around 20 people were route marched to Jenny’s in 1 hour, spent their lunch hour observing puffins and then back via Punchbowl Valley, Earthquake, Battery and Old Light for a welcome pint in the Marisco Tavern.

Green Tours

Yesterday, 26^th April, I joined 19 walkers and my fellow guide aboard the Oldenburg bound for Lundy to lead them on one of the North Devon Walking Festival walks.

We had travelled to Ilfracombe in torrential rain and expected cancellation, but the clouds had cleared, the sun was out and we all embarked.

Simon with salt encrusted glasses

The purser announced that 118 passengers were aboard but that the forecast was for Force 5, with a “rough” passage against a West South West wind.   Experience dictates that this forecast should be increased to the next level, it is always understated!  This was just as we were leaving the shelter of Ilfracombe harbour and feeling the first effects of the swell.

The voyage started in sun, then we had rain and always the strong wind.

Before too long it was like being on a hospital ship under fire, almost everyone was sick and movement on the ship was difficult due to it rolling, yawing and pitching – often all at the same time! Bow waves were crashing over the top of the ship onto the aft deck so only those who could not stomach going inside were left clinging to supports and receiving regular soakings.

Indoor picnic at Old Light

While we did see sea birds all the way over to the island, the majority of Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls were close to land probably not taking shelter but feeding close to potential nesting sites.

I think everyone was thankful to arrive in the lee of the island, but disembarkation was not easy either. We left ship thankfully, only to be advised to walk quickly up the centre of the jetty to avoid the buffeting south wind which could easily have pitched anyone near the edges into the sea.

We were lucky with our walk which encompassed the South end, Castle, Rocket Pole, Cemetery, Old Light and Quarter Wall. Our walkers were amply exercised and informed on all aspects of Lundy's History and Natural History. We were fortunate to miss heavy rain which commenced as we entered the Old Light for the traditional bad weather indoor picnic. Our final leg before returning to the Village was to go as far north as Quarter Wall to see the Lundy ponies and 8 Highland Steers where they were also lucky enough to see 20 Sika does ruminating with the cattle in Brick Field. We headed back into the teeth of the wind and rain to a welcome pint and retail opportunity in the Village. Heading back to the Jetty, another of Lundy's mammals were spotted, the Castle Goats put in an appearance appropriately near the goat path.

Devil's Kitchen - boiling

The return journey was just as eventful. We were met at the Dive Shed and advised that we were to expect a difficult journey back. Our tickets were collected and we were allowed to proceed down the jetty in pairs spaced 5 metres apart and then embarked one at a time as the gangplank was alternately wet and dry and the tide ebbed and flowed.

The return was as eventful as the outgoing voyage with many ill people. Sitting in the aft saloon we realised that the alternative light and darkness was caused by the sea covering and uncovering the starboard portholes as the southerly swell rose and fell.

I think everyone was relieved to arrive in the shelter of the North Devon coast but this trip should be renamed from North Devon Walking Festival to Green Tours!

One Week's Hard Labour

LFS Conservation Working Party March 28th to April 5th 2014

Our departure from Hartland International Airport was delayed due to a missing pilot, but this gave us opportunity to meet Rev Shirley Henderson, The Bishop of Crediton, his PA and wife who were being taken by Derek Green to see the latest parish to be added to his diocese.

On arrival, the first challenge was to get into the Barn as quickly as possible to get the best available bed.  I was not on a flight early enough to claim the much-coveted downstairs dormitory, but I did manage to avoid the Suicide Bed placed at the top of the stairs where any violent turning over could precipitate the sleeper downstairs into the kitchen.

After our leader's pep-talk, where we were allocated duty cooking days and the rules of the Barn we were

free to explore the Island; I walked to Tibbets, across Middle Park and back via Pondsbury and Ackland's Moor pulling in all the ponds on the way.  Dinner was provided by Trevor and Lou – Bangers and mash with vegetables and onion gravy followed by apple crumble with custard or cream.

Slow worm

Day 1 Saturday 29^th March – we were split into 3 groups of 4 (the remaining two staying back to shop and prepare food) to remove Alexander heads, build a fruit cage, and prepare the site for a wall reconstruction all in Millcombe.  I was with the Alexander removal party and we managed to remove the heads from 387 plants.   We were then deployed to help the two other teams. During our day we were delighted to find three adults and one juvenile slow worms found between stones in the tumble-down wall.  Dave and Brummy Dave gave us a feast of Chicken, ratatouille lashings of vegetables and choice of apple crumble and/or fruit salad with cream, ice-cream, custard or, in some cases, all three.

Fruit Cage

Day 2 Sunday 30^th March - Two parties today, finishing off the fruit cage and rebuilding the wall.  An additional task was found necessary to help the wheelbarrow access when two extra bridges were built over the drainage channels.  I found a further adult slow worm in the Phormium growth above the new wall.

New recruit Mike teamed up with Keith to provide us with Cottage pie a selection of seasonal vegetables followed by rice pudding.

Evening Meal

Day 3 Monday 31^st March was my major trauma day – cooking for 14 people.  Well Michael planned the menu and did the cooking, I just did prep work.  We served the group with Beef bourguignon and a layered vegetable dish topped with potato and cheese followed by local cheeses and biscuits then Chocolate Bread and Butter pudding.  And this was in addition to completing the Millcombe garden wall.  The other half of the party undertook Rhododendron burning on the east sidelands above quarry beach.

"Hoopoe" eggs?

Day 4 Tuesday 1^st April.  Half Day!  Michael unfortunately had to leave on the first sailing as his wife was unwell so he and Brummy Dave stayed in the village to propagate some seeds into the propagator the rest of us man-handled into the Lodge area.  This was before the rest of us set off to burn Rhododendron brash just south of Quarry Beach for the morning with the afternoon off.  The planned stunt for April Fool's day was planned and executed by Kevin.  He borrowed half a dozen duck eggs and painted them and placed them in a constructed “nest” by the Marisco wall seat to fool the tourists.  Rob and Kelly made the evening meal of mushroom soup followed by chicken breast served with a vegetable medley with fruits of the forest meringue for dessert.

Copper Mine

Day 5 Wednesday 2^nd April – Day off!  A leisurely breakfast was followed by 9 of us setting off for a walk to the north end.  We walked the centre path and had a break above North Light.  We then set off down Long Roost to find the Copper Mine.  We found it but did not venture all the way down to it.  We then split into three groups; Dave, Rob and Kelly going down to the North Light, Keith and Megan to Seal Hole and Trevor, Kevin, Andy, Dave (Fred) Stone and I walking back down the west side to find the Quaking Bog at ¾ Wall, the Millstone Factory, the Mangonel Battery and works below it and investigate the earthquake and the new rock fall to the seaward.  Dinner was in the Tavern.

Dinner with the Conservation Team

Day 6 Thursday 3^rd April.  We spent a full day Rhododendron burning near the Quarries.  We shifted a lot of brash in the mist and drizzle although it did brighten up a bit later.  In company of a pair of Peregrines we looked out for Oldenburg's arrival and diversion to Gannet's Combe to drop off the three RSPCA rescued puffins.  A few minutes later we sighted two small pods of 10-12 dolphins.  Standing in one place for a day gives lots of opportunity to observe and we saw Ravens flying to and fro to a nesting site, gulls challenging each other, pairs of Oystercatchers and many smaller birds such as Willow Warblers working the piles of brash.  We were visited by Keith Hiscock who joined in and carried a log back to the quad trailer, the final job of the day for each volunteer to stock up the firewood store.  Evening meal was provided by our two firemen from Stoke, Tony and Andy.  They did a fantastic job providing for and extra 5 guests, Beccy and Jonny, Steve and Lottie and the new assistant Ranger Nick.  We had a huge pot of Spanish Chicken and Chorizo, followed by Banoffee pie (or steamed syrup pudding for those with dietary issues) finished off with cheese and biscuits.

Millcombe Wall Builders

Day 7 Friday 4^th April.  We were all detailed to collect sufficient stone to complete the final courses of the retaining wall in Millcombe gardens then split into a party of wall builders and controlled Rhododendron burners.  Dave, Mark, Megan, Rob, Kelly and I spent the whole day in completing the wall and tidying up the area.  The remainder undertook a controlled burn of Rhododendron piles near Quarter Wall Copse with proper safety measure involving a water bowser, hoses, beaters and trained fire fighters, with the exception of Brummy Dave who did some propagating and kindling production. Evening meal was prepared by our two vegetarians, Megan and Kevin comprising Feta salad, Chicken Curry served with garlic potatoes, fruit salad and ice cream followed by cheese and biscuits.

Day 8 Saturday 5^th April  - An exceptionally wet, drab, misty day.  After a leisurely breakfast and packing, we cleaned up the Barn and remade the beds before dispersing to wait for the Oldenburg.  I decided to walk to Widow’s Tenement, via Middle Park and back by way of Tibbets, the Quarries and Upper East Side Path.  I saw nothing except mist and a few Meadow Pipits and heard Skylarks.  On return for lunch, we met Nic Saunders who was staying for a week helping Charlie re-point the church.  The Tavern was packed with steaming visitors and stayers waiting to access their properties.  We had to embark at 3:30 when we watched two Herring Gulls near Rat Island eating a hand – well it was a starfish really.  We saw a few rafts of Manx Shearwaters and at Ilfracombe, more dolphins.

I enjoyed each day of my first working party even though I still ache everywhere – the sleep deprived nights were another matter … ….

Some new acquaintances were made, friendships developed and lots of new words learned.  Like, where Yamyams come from (the Black Country), who had been Ganderflanking (Old English “aimless messing around”) and what mojo is (mortar).