We were nearly a week late arriving on the island for this rotation but nearly three weeks have passed and I expect to be leaving tomorrow. So it's probably high time that I caught you up or there won't be a report at all.
The first thing of note is that the fall migration has started with SHORT BILLED DOWICHERS stitching the lawns since around the 8th of the month. It seems as though small groups tarry a day or so but one or two individuals linger when their group leaves. However they work it, there is always one or more hanging around the house & garden area and only moving off when closely approached.
A few peeps, mostly SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, are filtering in and I've seen one SNIPE and a handful of GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
Our SPOTTED SANDPIPERS are just big enough to fly and they certainly can run.
I'm not sure how many nests we had this year but my impression is that the hatch is down slightly this season.
COMMON EIDERS appear more or less average with some pretty big offspring now and one or two nests yet to hatch. I saw freshly minted ducklings yesterday.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS are having a good year with numerous adults trying to satisfy 3 and 4 demanding fledglings. A few appear to be starting a second brood. This year, for the first time, the Savannahs have turned on to jelly ...... any kind ...... I've been serving a bowl full every second day. That's 2 jars a week. A hell of a jump from absolute zero in other years.
The ARCTIC TERNS are having an okay year. Nest number seems to be up but chick survival took a big hit from the prolonged cold, wet weather while many were in their infancy. Gull predation has been significant, as well.
Again, it's my impression, not hard numbers, but I'd expect the final tally of fledglings to equal or exceed last year. My own guesstimate? Could be 200 youngsters but likely more towards 150-175.
As always, there are still nests being incubated, even occasional new eggs, while the earliest youngsters flew the nest a good week ago. Every day there is a noticeable increase in both new flyers and adults congregating at the intertidal loafing spots.
A few minutes ago I counted 9 fledglings sitting on the helicopter pad.
COMMON TERNS are expectedly scarce but those few which we have seem to be enjoying reasonable nesting success.
The ALCIDS are well advanced in their breeding cycles, perhaps a tad late but well within normal timing.
Many, likely the majority, of RAZORBILL chicks have made the trek to the water.
COMMON MURRES are well along and there's a lot of screaming for food.
PUFFINS are still building towards their fledging although I captured my first puffling Monday night (Tuesday morning, 3 am) but none since.
The researchers report that the Puffins are generally is decent condition so I'd expect the first wave of Pufflings to show up most any night now.
As with the Terns, the Alcids have been subject to more predation this year, although not so much as to threaten the overall breeding success.
Two BALD EAGLES have been hanging around pretty much continuously for well over 2 weeks and, unusually, they are overnighting either here or next door on Gull Rock. At this moment they are both sitting cheek-to-jowl atop Gull Rock.
Equally unusual, they behave much like a mated pair in spite of the fact that one is definitely a sub-adult (probable 4th year). The other appears mature but is likely quite young. Mrs. Robertson with her nesting failed or completed?
The local Eiders likely don't care about the Eagle's relationship because they have been the prime target when the Eagles hunt. The young Eiders are especially vulnerable because they can't dive as well as the adults and have less endurance.
Also, the ducklings are easier to handle than the big, heavy adults.
The older Eagle's experience shows. I watched her (judging by size) catch, carry off and consume one large duckling and then return and catch another, all within 15-20 minutes. The 2nd Eagle kept the Eiders under constant attack for fully a half hour but failed to make a kill, eventually joining the successful hunter on the shoreline, looking to steal any scraps.
I have seen lots of evidence that Alcids are also on the menu but Alcids near the Eiders are pretty much ignored, so much so that the Puffins, on the water at least, don't act as if they feel particularly threatened unless they are actually attacked.
Either one or a series of PEREGRINE FALCONS have stopped in for occasional snacks.
On one stop I photographed an Arctic Tern being consumed.
This morning, I watched as brunch went down on the northern tip of the island and I checked the site to find the remains of 3 Puffins and 2 Arctic Terns. Takes a lot of energy to fly fast.
Not much in the way of post-season wandering birds showing up yet, although in recent days I've seen a couple WOOD DUCKS, several young ROBINS, one GREY CATBIRD, a SONG SPARROW and a couple young COWBIRDS.
The season started with about 4 GANNETS hanging around. I suspect it was the core three from previous seasons and an acquaintance. All, save one, moved on, similar to last year, and that singleton still persists, routinely occupying its two favorite roosts and adding a third spot. The new location and one of the older ones are both very near visitor blinds so Mister Gannet continues to wow the tourists with close photo ops. Razorbills and Puffins that infringe on the Gannet's space are "corrected" in jig time. I watched 2 Razorbills get grabbed by the head and pretty much tossed to neutral space. (Bet that shocked those bullies to no end.)
On a less pleasing note: Yesterday, one of the local Maine lobster boats disentangled a young Gannet from a mass of frayed rope. The Gannet administered a good bite by way of thanks.
Anyway, the bird seemed a bit wonky but did swim off, albeit with some awkwardness.
Late yesterday that Gannet came ashore on MSI near the boat ramp where it tucked in for a good nap.
I sat beside it for over an hour and watched it after it woke. I didn't know the back story then but it was obvious that it was tired & shaky. It also acted like there was something in its throat: that cat / fur ball gag action and it had something dull orange and stringy looking on its beak. Unknown then, I now assume that it had ingested some of the frayed orange rope and I was seeing fine, orange rope fibers on its bill.
The Gannet was gone this morning before daylight. I checked around the island this afternoon and found no sign of it but if it didn't eliminate that plastic rope I fear for its survival.
Butterflies are showing up from time to time and I'm seeing MONARCH BUTTERFLIES daily. No big numbers but enough to be encouraging for the year. ........... Maybe I spoke too soon!! .......... I left this for a few hours and I just came in from circumnavigating the island, mainly to see if there was any sign of the juvie Gannet. No joy there.
I spotted a copulating pair of Monarchs flying quite near the house and seemingly looking for a place to land. In short time they settled onto an unopened flower head of ANGELICA so I eased near to get a few porno shots. Not what you'd call animated sex ...... one opened its wings a half dozen times and there was a bit of antenna waving.
However, while I was peeping at that couple, two more individual Monarchs fluttered past and then a second attached couple and more singles. In the space of 5 minutes and a few square meters I had 2 pair mating and at least 5 singles. (One single tried to form a threesome but was rebuffed.)
All in all, it makes me wonder how many Monarchs are actually on the island and whether this is coincidence or some kind of movement afoot.
Also, with the absence of bats I'm noting more moths and a greater variety.
Saw one bat only, one night only, on this rotation (3 weeks). I can't say which species. We used to have LITTLE BROWN BATS but who knows what's surviving the WHITE NOSE?
-- The first thing of note is that the fall migration has started with SHORT BILLED DOWICHERS stitching the lawns since around the 8th of the month. It seems as though small groups tarry a day or so but one or two individuals linger when their group leaves. However they work it, there is always one or more hanging around the house & garden area and only moving off when closely approached.
A few peeps, mostly SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, are filtering in and I've seen one SNIPE and a handful of GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
Our SPOTTED SANDPIPERS are just big enough to fly and they certainly can run.
I'm not sure how many nests we had this year but my impression is that the hatch is down slightly this season.
COMMON EIDERS appear more or less average with some pretty big offspring now and one or two nests yet to hatch. I saw freshly minted ducklings yesterday.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS are having a good year with numerous adults trying to satisfy 3 and 4 demanding fledglings. A few appear to be starting a second brood. This year, for the first time, the Savannahs have turned on to jelly ...... any kind ...... I've been serving a bowl full every second day. That's 2 jars a week. A hell of a jump from absolute zero in other years.
The ARCTIC TERNS are having an okay year. Nest number seems to be up but chick survival took a big hit from the prolonged cold, wet weather while many were in their infancy. Gull predation has been significant, as well.
Again, it's my impression, not hard numbers, but I'd expect the final tally of fledglings to equal or exceed last year. My own guesstimate? Could be 200 youngsters but likely more towards 150-175.
As always, there are still nests being incubated, even occasional new eggs, while the earliest youngsters flew the nest a good week ago. Every day there is a noticeable increase in both new flyers and adults congregating at the intertidal loafing spots.
A few minutes ago I counted 9 fledglings sitting on the helicopter pad.
COMMON TERNS are expectedly scarce but those few which we have seem to be enjoying reasonable nesting success.
The ALCIDS are well advanced in their breeding cycles, perhaps a tad late but well within normal timing.
Many, likely the majority, of RAZORBILL chicks have made the trek to the water.
COMMON MURRES are well along and there's a lot of screaming for food.
PUFFINS are still building towards their fledging although I captured my first puffling Monday night (Tuesday morning, 3 am) but none since.
The researchers report that the Puffins are generally is decent condition so I'd expect the first wave of Pufflings to show up most any night now.
As with the Terns, the Alcids have been subject to more predation this year, although not so much as to threaten the overall breeding success.
Two BALD EAGLES have been hanging around pretty much continuously for well over 2 weeks and, unusually, they are overnighting either here or next door on Gull Rock. At this moment they are both sitting cheek-to-jowl atop Gull Rock.
Equally unusual, they behave much like a mated pair in spite of the fact that one is definitely a sub-adult (probable 4th year). The other appears mature but is likely quite young. Mrs. Robertson with her nesting failed or completed?
The local Eiders likely don't care about the Eagle's relationship because they have been the prime target when the Eagles hunt. The young Eiders are especially vulnerable because they can't dive as well as the adults and have less endurance.
Also, the ducklings are easier to handle than the big, heavy adults.
The older Eagle's experience shows. I watched her (judging by size) catch, carry off and consume one large duckling and then return and catch another, all within 15-20 minutes. The 2nd Eagle kept the Eiders under constant attack for fully a half hour but failed to make a kill, eventually joining the successful hunter on the shoreline, looking to steal any scraps.
I have seen lots of evidence that Alcids are also on the menu but Alcids near the Eiders are pretty much ignored, so much so that the Puffins, on the water at least, don't act as if they feel particularly threatened unless they are actually attacked.
Either one or a series of PEREGRINE FALCONS have stopped in for occasional snacks.
On one stop I photographed an Arctic Tern being consumed.
This morning, I watched as brunch went down on the northern tip of the island and I checked the site to find the remains of 3 Puffins and 2 Arctic Terns. Takes a lot of energy to fly fast.
Not much in the way of post-season wandering birds showing up yet, although in recent days I've seen a couple WOOD DUCKS, several young ROBINS, one GREY CATBIRD, a SONG SPARROW and a couple young COWBIRDS.
The season started with about 4 GANNETS hanging around. I suspect it was the core three from previous seasons and an acquaintance. All, save one, moved on, similar to last year, and that singleton still persists, routinely occupying its two favorite roosts and adding a third spot. The new location and one of the older ones are both very near visitor blinds so Mister Gannet continues to wow the tourists with close photo ops. Razorbills and Puffins that infringe on the Gannet's space are "corrected" in jig time. I watched 2 Razorbills get grabbed by the head and pretty much tossed to neutral space. (Bet that shocked those bullies to no end.)
On a less pleasing note: Yesterday, one of the local Maine lobster boats disentangled a young Gannet from a mass of frayed rope. The Gannet administered a good bite by way of thanks.
Anyway, the bird seemed a bit wonky but did swim off, albeit with some awkwardness.
Late yesterday that Gannet came ashore on MSI near the boat ramp where it tucked in for a good nap.
I sat beside it for over an hour and watched it after it woke. I didn't know the back story then but it was obvious that it was tired & shaky. It also acted like there was something in its throat: that cat / fur ball gag action and it had something dull orange and stringy looking on its beak. Unknown then, I now assume that it had ingested some of the frayed orange rope and I was seeing fine, orange rope fibers on its bill.
The Gannet was gone this morning before daylight. I checked around the island this afternoon and found no sign of it but if it didn't eliminate that plastic rope I fear for its survival.
Butterflies are showing up from time to time and I'm seeing MONARCH BUTTERFLIES daily. No big numbers but enough to be encouraging for the year. ........... Maybe I spoke too soon!! .......... I left this for a few hours and I just came in from circumnavigating the island, mainly to see if there was any sign of the juvie Gannet. No joy there.
I spotted a copulating pair of Monarchs flying quite near the house and seemingly looking for a place to land. In short time they settled onto an unopened flower head of ANGELICA so I eased near to get a few porno shots. Not what you'd call animated sex ...... one opened its wings a half dozen times and there was a bit of antenna waving.
However, while I was peeping at that couple, two more individual Monarchs fluttered past and then a second attached couple and more singles. In the space of 5 minutes and a few square meters I had 2 pair mating and at least 5 singles. (One single tried to form a threesome but was rebuffed.)
All in all, it makes me wonder how many Monarchs are actually on the island and whether this is coincidence or some kind of movement afoot.
Also, with the absence of bats I'm noting more moths and a greater variety.
Saw one bat only, one night only, on this rotation (3 weeks). I can't say which species. We used to have LITTLE BROWN BATS but who knows what's surviving the WHITE NOSE?
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