Hartstongue - #DevonBirdsLundy2020

Join a virtual day trip to Lundy on Sunday 10 May 2020, 10:00am - 04:00pm

Every year the local birding group Devon Birds organise a Spring day trip to Lundy to see the migrating birds and wild flowers. This year the Coronavirus pandemic has cancelled the trip. This Sunday, join Lundy enthusiast Grant Sherman on a virtual trip to Lundy and share your experiences of this magical island. Connect with fellow nature-lovers in this time of isolation.

"We always felt more connected with the seasons on Lundy" says Grant, who ran the bar in the Marisco Tavern for twelve years. "Spring was a magical time, a time to see the Earth reawaken. The Eastsidelands would be a carpet of wild flowers. Every bush could hide the small noises of birds returning-to or passing-through Lundy on migration. The cries of seabirds on the west coast would call me from my bed to video Guillemots bringing fish to their chicks."

The Devon Birds trip usually included a special trip around Lundy on MS Oldenburg, the island's own supply ship. This is a great way to see the ranks of seabirds on the western cliffs. Sightings of seabirds have increased since the RSPB Seabird Recovery Project. May is when Puffins will be sitting on their egg in their burrows in Jenny's Cove, so numbers are slightly lower than June and early July when the Puffins feed their chicks.

After landing on Lundy, we walk to the village passing Lundy Cabbage flowers on the Beach Road. Lundy Cabbage only grows on Lundy, again number have increased since vast swathes of Rhododendron have been cleared from the east of Lundy. A lot of this clearance work was aided by volunteers from the National Trust and the Lundy Field Society. This regeneration work along with the Seabird Recovery Project are two great examples of how, in a local way, we can correct damage that we have done to the planet.

At the top of the Beach Road we enter Millcombe, a sheltered valley with the most trees on the island. Migrating birds from Europe and Africa pass through on their way North, some travelling to Canada or Norway. Occasionally rarer birds appear, American or Asian birds lost or blown off course. You never know which birds you might see each year. Each rare bird is a small piece of the exotic brought to our doorstep.

How to join in:

Post your own photos and memories from previous trips to Lundy on your favourite social media sites. Include the hashtag #DevonBirdsLundy2020 in your post.

Twitter:

Follow @DevonBirds, @LundyLandmark and @HartstongueUK
Search for #DevonBirdsLundy2020 to see what other people are posting. (* this can be done even if you don't have an account)
Retweet any tweets that you like. This means that your followers can also see these tweets.
Like or comment on your favourite tweets to encourage the people who tweet.
Follow like-minded people. This builds our online communities.

Facebook:

Confirm your attendance on Facebook Events (optional)
Like or follow the pages for: LundyLandmark, DiscoverLundy (Lundy Field Society), and Hartstongue
Search for #DevonBirdsLundy2020 to see what other people are posting. (* this can be done even if you don't have an account)
Share any posts you like on your timeline. This means that your friends can also see these posts.
Like or comment on your favourite posts to encourage the people who post.
Join a Facebook group such as: Lundy Island or Marisco Tavern
Send friend requests to like-minded people. This builds our online communities.

YouTube:

Search for #DevonBirdsLundy2020 to see what other people are posting. (* this can be done even if you don't have an account)

The day will be organised into themes:

Like the "Pirates Code", these are more of a guideline. Post your photos and memories when you like. Use theses tags to join in with a theme.

10am-11am #SailingToLundy
11am-Noon #SailingAroundLundy
Noon-1pm #LundyBeachRoad #LundyMillcombe
1pm-2pm #LundyVillage
2pm-3pm #LundyPlateau #LundyWestCoast
3pm-4pm #SailingFromLundy

We hope to fill that little Lundy gap in your hearts until you next get a chance to visit Lundy.

Next year's Devon Birds trip will be on Sunday 18th May 2021.

About the organiser:

Grant Sherman lived on Lundy for thirteen years. "Growing up in Ilfracombe immersed me in the wildlife of Devon. But it wasn't until I went to study at Cardiff University that I realised how fortunate we are in North Devon. Lundy is one of the natural gems of our coast, and working there gave me a chance to connect with like-minded people. People who care for our natural heritage."

Since leaving Lundy in December 2019 Grant has been starting a new business. "Hartstongue will be a directory of green events, groups and businesses for Devon. Many people are concerned about the Climate Emergency and looking for ways to make a difference, if even in a small way. Devon is blessed with local, independent and family-run businesses that have always been green without us noticing it. Hartstongue will be officially launched in early July, and aims to connect green-minded people with local shops, farms and hotels. An early version of the website is now online and I welcome any thoughts, comments and suggestions"

The aims of this virtual day trip:

Build on existing online communities to help people to stay connected with nature during lockdown.

To increase awareness of local organisations such as Devon Birds and the Lundy Field Society who help us to appreciate the natural beauty of Devon.

To support local businesses such as the Lundy Company who give us the opportunity to experience Lundy, in association with the National Trust and Landmark Trust.

Links:

Devon Birds: https://www.devonbirds.org/home, Twitter @DevonBirds

Lundy Company: https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/lundyisland/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lundylandmark/, Twitter: @LundyLandmark

Lundy Field Society: http://www.lundy.org.uk/index.php, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverLundy/

Hartstongue: https://www.hartstongue.co.uk, Twitter: @hartstongueUK

Note: "Birding" and "Birder" are the preferred terms for the hobby. "Bird-watching" attracted too many non-PC jokes in the 70s and 80s, so can upset the older generation of Birders.