I've noted a good many people expressing their impressions that this Spring has been early, or late, or just mixed up.
Things out here are ticking along, although here too it seems that little things that usually happen randomly throughout the years are all happening together this year.
The Alcids arrived, left and returned (expected) but this year was the earliest arrival that I've seen. And instead of one departure and return there have been several. On the island for a day or so, then everyone away for a day or so.
The Alcids just now seem to be settling in to stay. This is the latest that I've ever seen by a good 2 weeks, in spite of the early initial arrival.
Along with the Alcids, our single GANNET has returned to its chosen nesting location (actually it favors 2 sites), and occasionally is seen fetching nest material (Rock Weed). So far I haven't noticed any others showing interest, only our Gannet briefly flying with a couple of different sub-adults.
The Puffins and Razorbills in the immediate vicinity of the Gannet like it though. For them, it's home delivery of free nesting material which they readily carry off when the Gannet is away.
Another oddity this Spring: several groups of 3-6 DOUBLE CREASTED CORMORANTS have made short visits into the seabird colony. That's extremely rare. The few cormorants, Great or D.C., which come onto this island always stay in, or just above, the intertidal zone, on the far outer rocks.
The first migrant songbirds were early but then everything seemed to stall. Even now, some expected species haven't been spotted and most other species have had very low numbers, typically only 1 or 2 individuals.
While we have a couple Semi-Resident RAVENS, CROWS pass by in migration flocks, seldom stopping. This year, keeping with the tone of the season, we have one Crow that has decided to stay a while. It spends much of its time foraging the edges of the mowed areas and eating White Millet seed by seed. The sparrows aren't impressed.
That said, we have double our usual number of CHIPPING SPARROWS; JUNCOS are about as expected; SAVANNAH SPARROWS are normal (perhaps even a bit high); several WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS (arrived today) and WHITE THROATED SPARROWS are showing a strong second wave of arrivals. However, other sparrows have been virtually non-existent which is very unusual for the date.
There are 3 known RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES, believed to be the same trio here for 2-3 weeks. Most years there is a procession of them with few lingering more than a day or two. These three are all expert insect hunters and are frequently hawking together around the buildings.
We have 1 CATBIRD, only just arrived yesterday, where I would expect to see 6-8 by now and easily kick up at least a couple just walking around the buildings.
We welcomed 1 BROWN THRASHER along with the Catbird. That too is both a low number and a late date.
Other singletons this season: 1 BALTIMORE OREOLE; 1 ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK; 1 GRACKLE; 1 MOURNING DOVE; 1 EASTERN TOWHEE; 1 GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET; 1 R. T. HUMMINGBIRD; 1 COWBIRD.
RED WINGED BLACKBIRDS only got to a total of 3.
Until today we have had almost no warblers.
To and including yesterday (Tuesday), I had seen only: 2 YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS; 1 BLACK THROATED BLUE WARBLER & 1 OVENBIRD. The single Black Throated Blue and single Ovenbird are especially notable because they are two of our common, very visible visitors. ( I once left the basement door open and 4 Ovenbirds loved it. They stalked beetles and spiders all afternoon, not exiting until the basement was pretty much insect free.)
Today, Wednesday, May 12th, there are some newcomers but still only 1 or 2 individuals of each species: 1 BOBOLINK; 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER; 1 BLACK & WHITE WARBLER; 1 BAYBREASTED WARBLER; 1 EASTERN KINGBIRD;
Thrushes are notably absent with a bare handful of HERMIT THRUSHES all Spring, just 2 VEERYS and 1 probable WOOD THRUSH. This is both low species and low individual counts. Even robins have been low.
Also notably absent, to date, are the annual blue cadre. BLUE BIRDS are uncommon but I do expect 1 or 2 BLUE GROSBEAKS every year, as well as 2 to 3 dozen INDIGO BUNTINGS.
I saw one PURPLE MARTIN about 6 weeks ago, a full month before normal arrival. The next one was just this week.
TREE SWALLOWS normally show up as early as mid-March. This year it was late April. Not only were they but late but I've seen less than a dozen of these, our most common swallow.
BARN SWALLOWS, by contrast, have been spotted most ever day for the past two weeks, albeit only 1-4 per day but they are definitely well above most years.
Interestingly, I've seen approximately 25 PEREGRINE FALCONS since the first of March with as many as 5 on the island at one moment. Since I was only here for 3 days in April, I'm assuming that at least another 15 or more passed through without note. That's pretty fair for any year.
EAGLES, usually quite dependable, have been spotty. Some days 1-3 will show up and hang around all day. Other days none at all.
Other raptors have been lower that expected so far with only one MERLIN and 3 KESTRELS so far.
Sunday night was our first "petrel night". Nice to hear their "chuckling". They were equally vocal this past (Tuesday) night and seem to be in good number.
As I noted in a previous post, COMMON EIDERS look good this year but I'm a bit concerned about their nesting prospects. Typically, most of the Eiders out here nest a good month later than other places. I've speculated that this could be because there is virtually no early cover vegetation.
This year is no exception with our cover plants just getting started but I've seen numerous Eider pairs ashore, scouting nest sites. There are already several clutches of eggs being incubated.
Tuesday morning brought the first flight of ARCTIC TERNS. In typical fashion, the first flight was small and they simple over-flew the island for about 3/4 of an hour. They arrived at 07:25, about an hour and a half late. I say late because their 1st arrivals are normally just when the Sun rises at 6 A.M.
The first arrival flocks are never particularly large, perhaps 200 to 300 strong, but this year it was quite small, at barely 100 individuals.
I've delayed posting this morning to see what showed up today. Disappointingly, only 30 appeared to make a few high fly-overs. (But they were on time at 06:10.)
HERRING & GREAT BLACK BACKED GULLS have a very strong presence this year and they spend a lot of time stalking the seabird colony.
They look to exploit any opportunity. Any reachable egg or Puffin that let's its guard down may be gull lunch.
It's hard to tell how many Puffins are actually killed or injured but I've seen both.
Under certain conditions, gulls will sometimes take flying Puffins by overtaking from directly behind and grabbing the Puffin. Most attacks are unsuccessful with the Puffin making a panicked crash landing. Obviously the gulls are having enough success with the various techniques to keep them around.
The harassment alone has to have a toll. Prime colony features, such as high landing and launch rocks and resting locations, are commonly controlled and monopolized by the gulls.
"Our" RAVENS also put pressure onto the colony, along with the occasional and normal EAGLES & PEREGRINES. The big difference is that predators are usually transient but the gulls are ubiquitous.
This gull activity will also undoubtedly jeopardize the Eider nesting success, to say nothing of the Terns.
Ya know, every time I plan to make a fairly brief posting, not these long rambles. And every time Nature seems to intervene.
This is no exception.
I started this in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
Daylight brought the Terns so I delayed and updated. And on and on, right up to 5 pm ADT, Wednesday.
Finally I'm finished. I'll post right after I start the BBQ.
Food out and sauced. Beer poured. Now out to the patio.
WOW!!! A flash across the lawn and now there's a Peregrine mantling over a Puffin about 50 feet from the Barbie.
Supper's on hold. Lots of mediocre pictures through the living room window (can't go outside without flushing the falcon).
The MSI Report posting is again on hold while the Puffin is reduced to a puddle of feathers and falcon vittles.
My vittles will be a couple hours late. (I hope that's all, but then, I can certainly stand to miss a few meals.)
I know that some people think that I take a lot of experiences for granted.
Not so. But I do have the good fortune to have such encounters unpredictably but often.
Next post will be shorter. (Yeah, right!).
--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/e8c2e4f1-4da5-464e-b952-c8d36dc27d90n%40googlegroups.com.
0 comments:
Post a Comment