I suppose the main news would be about TERNS.
Mainly, the ARCTIC TERNS (and presumably the few COMMON TERNS) are progressing nicely. There are still lots of unhatched eggs but the earliest chicks seem to be developing well. I'm not overly impressed by the apparent food supply but it seems adequate so far.
Mainly, the ARCTIC TERNS (and presumably the few COMMON TERNS) are progressing nicely. There are still lots of unhatched eggs but the earliest chicks seem to be developing well. I'm not overly impressed by the apparent food supply but it seems adequate so far.
Now we just need the weather to hold. This dry spell may be bad for fires and other stuff but it's good for fluffy chicks.
A BLACK TERN was readily evident for a week or more, then seldom or not seen, reterned yesterday. I'm wondering if it might be a female following the path of previous female Black Terns who were unsuccessful in finding a mate. Those birds nested, unsuccessfully, laying unfertilized eggs. Spending time on a nest could explain why the tern isn't being seen as much of late.
A ROYAL TERN did a fly-by two or three days ago, well observed at its flight level by researchers in the lighthouse. The other terns were not impressed and demonstrated their displeasure.
The ALCIDS are also progressing well with adequate food quantity albeit not the most desirable quality. Most of the fish appear to be HAKE this year. That species is perhaps second to HERRING but superior to the SANDLANCE which was so prevalent last year.
I saw my first EIDER ducklings on the water this morning. More accurately, they are the first of the general hatch.
There was at least one, much earlier, outlier clutch.
I helped capturing a few Eider hens on nests yesterday (for a research project) and, judging by the number of nests and clutch sizes that I saw, it looks like a fairly good year for the Eiders.
For those that follow the signs, rather than the calendar, Summer is ending. The southward migration started here on Friday with the arrival of the 1st SHORTBILLED DOWITCHERS (2) and a handful of SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS yesterday.
I haven't seen any SPOTTED SANDPIPER chicks yet but I expect them on the lawn any day now. One of the researchers reported seeing a nest in the process of hatching, with one chick still wet from the egg.
Yesterday I saw a couple different adults acting as if they had young nearby.
Among the emerging young are the SAVANNAH SPARROWS with the first bob-tailed youngsters beginning to appear.
"Alien" wanderers are few of late. The COWBIRD and all except one RED BREASTED NUTHATCH appear to be gone. Also, the MOCKINGBIRD & BROWN THRASHER haven't been around for a day or more.
A BLACK TERN was readily evident for a week or more, then seldom or not seen, reterned yesterday. I'm wondering if it might be a female following the path of previous female Black Terns who were unsuccessful in finding a mate. Those birds nested, unsuccessfully, laying unfertilized eggs. Spending time on a nest could explain why the tern isn't being seen as much of late.
A ROYAL TERN did a fly-by two or three days ago, well observed at its flight level by researchers in the lighthouse. The other terns were not impressed and demonstrated their displeasure.
The ALCIDS are also progressing well with adequate food quantity albeit not the most desirable quality. Most of the fish appear to be HAKE this year. That species is perhaps second to HERRING but superior to the SANDLANCE which was so prevalent last year.
I saw my first EIDER ducklings on the water this morning. More accurately, they are the first of the general hatch.
There was at least one, much earlier, outlier clutch.
I helped capturing a few Eider hens on nests yesterday (for a research project) and, judging by the number of nests and clutch sizes that I saw, it looks like a fairly good year for the Eiders.
For those that follow the signs, rather than the calendar, Summer is ending. The southward migration started here on Friday with the arrival of the 1st SHORTBILLED DOWITCHERS (2) and a handful of SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS yesterday.
I haven't seen any SPOTTED SANDPIPER chicks yet but I expect them on the lawn any day now. One of the researchers reported seeing a nest in the process of hatching, with one chick still wet from the egg.
Yesterday I saw a couple different adults acting as if they had young nearby.
Among the emerging young are the SAVANNAH SPARROWS with the first bob-tailed youngsters beginning to appear.
"Alien" wanderers are few of late. The COWBIRD and all except one RED BREASTED NUTHATCH appear to be gone. Also, the MOCKINGBIRD & BROWN THRASHER haven't been around for a day or more.
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