There was one MERLIN over the weekend which sat near the patio for a good hour just watching the patio birds before heading Eastward towards Grand Manan.
Monday there was a single KESTREL that did much the same.
There's been one PEREGRINE each day and I'm confident that they were not just resightings. They seemed to get prey without causing much disturbance and I probably wouldn't have know that they were around if I hadn't been watching usual perches.
The Peregrine yesterday (Tuesday) managed at least one meal, in spite of heavy rain and winds of 40 to 50 knots (74 to 93 km/h).
There are still a good number of FLICKERS & SPARROWS around but I'm quite sure that they are mainly individuals that have stalled to rest and feed.
PUFFINS are finally here in force. A lot of them came ashore during yesterday's storm.
Also yesterday, just ahead of the storm, "our" GANNET arrived, spent some time at its favorite roost/nest site, and the moved to its alternate location to wait out the worst of the weather.
Today I see it sleeping a short distance from its favorite site but well inland and into core Puffin territory.
EIDERS are notably more numerous and the birds now are acting like they may be local breeders.
HARLIQUINS are still here although somewhat reduced. I'm estimating them at 1/2 their winter level; somewhere around 30.
PURPLE SANDPIPERS are over 100 today. I believe that most of them are the flock which normally hangs out on GULL ROCK.
There was sea running to about 20 feet over the past day or so. That's more than enough sea to over-wash the rock and any other low ledges that the Pipers might favor, driving them to higher locations.
Fortunately, in spite of reaching peak wave height on a pretty full tide, we had minimal wash-over along the most exposed shore and it happened before the Alcids were really occupying nests. A storm of longer duration could have flooded & damaged nests and later in the season, eggs and chicks could be destroyed.
DAFFODILS hit full bloom over the weekend, along with some BLUEBELLS.
GARLIC is a foot or more high and, along with CHIVES, has been joining onions in the sauté pan for nearly two weeks.
The lawns are really ready for their first hair cut but the ground is so sodden it looks like we'll need at least a few more days before the mower starts.
PUFFINS are finally here in force. A lot of them came ashore during yesterday's storm.
Also yesterday, just ahead of the storm, "our" GANNET arrived, spent some time at its favorite roost/nest site, and the moved to its alternate location to wait out the worst of the weather.
Today I see it sleeping a short distance from its favorite site but well inland and into core Puffin territory.
EIDERS are notably more numerous and the birds now are acting like they may be local breeders.
HARLIQUINS are still here although somewhat reduced. I'm estimating them at 1/2 their winter level; somewhere around 30.
PURPLE SANDPIPERS are over 100 today. I believe that most of them are the flock which normally hangs out on GULL ROCK.
There was sea running to about 20 feet over the past day or so. That's more than enough sea to over-wash the rock and any other low ledges that the Pipers might favor, driving them to higher locations.
Fortunately, in spite of reaching peak wave height on a pretty full tide, we had minimal wash-over along the most exposed shore and it happened before the Alcids were really occupying nests. A storm of longer duration could have flooded & damaged nests and later in the season, eggs and chicks could be destroyed.
DAFFODILS hit full bloom over the weekend, along with some BLUEBELLS.
GARLIC is a foot or more high and, along with CHIVES, has been joining onions in the sauté pan for nearly two weeks.
The lawns are really ready for their first hair cut but the ground is so sodden it looks like we'll need at least a few more days before the mower starts.
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