In May 2016 I missed the opportunity to go for a Green Warbler on Unst, only the third at the time and the first 'gettable one since 1983. The other record was from Foula in 2014, but another was eventually identified on Fair Isle in summer 2017. It seems this species is becoming more frequent, or perhaps it's just better access to photos, DNA and sonograms that's finally revealing the true status of this long distance phyllosc. So news of another - again identified form photos - on Sunday 7th was not entirely out of the blue. Another bite at the cherry and in a reasonably accessible place, well at least compared to Shetland.
Lundy Island, off North Devon, has an impressive rare birds CV, so it's a surprise that I've only ever been there for one bird - the famous Ancient Murrelet way back in 1990 (which I came for twice).
By October the regular ferry is on winter timetable, so we needed charter boats to get there on Monday. James Hanlon duly obliged and I headed south overnight with Al Orton and Stuart Brown, arriving at Ilfracombe around 8.30am.
Twelve of us set sail around 9.30 in the end, way behind the other two boats, but no matter there was plenty of time. the sailing was, to say the least, a little lumpy. In fact bordering on roller coaster. We held on as best we could in the cabin with the skipper and mainly laughed our way through it (others on board not so much). Instead of 2.15hrs it took 3 hours to get there, by which time we had the all too gloomy news that there was no sign of the bird.
By the time we arrived, via a rather hairy ladder climb due to low tide, the famous Millicombe Valley had been thoroughly scoured and the dejected faces of fellow dippers said it all. Never mind, it's all part of the game - they'll be another!
Birding highlights were few - a Great Northern Diver and a few common migrants were just about our lot.
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| Millicombe Valley. Host of many a rare bird and a rather lovely place to dip. |
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| Verity, a 25m statue by Damien Hirst graces Ilfracombe Harbour. Great place to eat fish and chips before heading home. |
