"Much of the excitement of ringing on an island is derived from the rarities but these are, almost by definition, individuals which are atypical in their migration behaviour; it is the everyday ringing of common species in large numbers which is most valuable in providing information about bird movements and life histories." Tony Taylor, LFS Annual Report 1981
By the end of 2008, 89,825 birds of 173 species had been ringed on Lundy. The highest number of species caught in any one year is 70 in 1966, while the highest annual total of birds ringed is 3,675 in 1988. Willow Warbler is the most commonly caught species, numbering 13,206, while 36 species have just one ring to their name. These include Lundy vagrants such as Little Grebe, unusual visitors like Moorhen, scarce migrants such as Spotted Crake, and national rarities like Citrine Wagtail, Red-flanked Bluetail, Rüppell's Warbler (below) and Paddyfield Warbler. The last-named was caught and ringed in 2008 and was the first record of this species for Lundy and Devon. For a complete list of species ringed and ringing totals click here.
Among many fascinating and sometimes astonishing controls and recoveries of birds ringed on the island are a Woodcock almost 3,000 kilometres away in Russia and two Sedge Warblers trapped 4,000 kilometres from Lundy in Djoudj National Park, Senegal, West Africa. Coming in the other direction, a Chiffchaff ringed in that same National Park was controlled on Lundy two months later during its spring migration. Among the resident birds, a Raven ringed as a chick on the island in 1965 was still going strong 13 years later. Ringing of birds on Lundy has certainly revealed much about their life-cycles and seasonal movements, as can be seen from the details given in the species accounts in The Birds of Lundy.
Ringing on Lundy, which takes place almost exclusively in the spring and, especially, autumn migration periods, is coordinated by Tony Taylor. Bird ringers interested in ringing on the island should contact Tony by clicking here.
Ruppell's Warbler by Mike Langman,
from The Birds of Lundy
For the latest sightings and photos of birds on Lundy visit www.lundybirds.org.uk.