No changes with the species mix in these last couple days.
Other than the one lone COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and maybe one young COWBIRD, the land is occupied exclusively by one species of songbird, the SAVANNAH SPARROW and they are very, very visible and vocal. The first clutchs should be hatched by now.
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS have started to emerge and I spent about an hour yesterday in close contact with an adult and a chick of 1 or 2 days age.
The youngster was content to snag spiders, even hunting between my feet, as long as I sat or lay quietly. Even Mama was okay with my presence and, although she kept a close watch on me, she divided her time between her 3 chicks and popped over several times to brood and warm the chick within a metre of me.
The majority of the COMMON EIDERS are hatching. I saw 5 nests in one small area that contained just-drying ducklings. At one point I could hear a mother Eider as she moved slowly through the tall grass, towards the shoreline. She was making the very distinct, low "mutter" used to call her babies.
I was standing near a nest occupied by 4 young eiders, one still wet from the egg and soon there was small movements in the grass and the nestlings grew a bit aggitated.
In seconds, fluffy ducklings began spilling from the vegetation and over running the nest. Some ran-walked-tumbled across the younger, resident nestlings and continued their route into the grass. A couple reversed direction, apparently confused to find strange cousins in their path. Three of the travellers immediately snuggled down with the residents and appeared to fall asleep.
Now I don't speak any duck dialect but I swear those ducklings decided there and then that going to the beach wasn't nearly as much fun as it sounded back at home and they weren't leaving this new, cosy nest 'cus it was nap time.
An increasing number of PUFFINS have new mouths to feed. It's still well below peak but definately picking up.
This weather isn't terrible but young of many species can be affected. HARBOUR SEALS are one such because they pup around this time.
I found one apparently newborn pup yesterday. Cause of death unknown, but full tides and heavy surf may have played a role.
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