I returned to the island on Wednesday, June 19th, from a rather unplanned absence of about 8 months.
The Alcids are well into their breeding cycle, albeit running later than usual by a good bit. Friends tell me the same story from Great Britian.
Perhaps because of the wide spread and widely reported seabird deaths, there seems to be fewer PUFFINS this year.
I've never made any secret that I believe the situation is much worse than is general acknowledged but it's hard to see bad things apparently come true.
Fingers crossed .......... maybe this is mainly a combination of normal cycles. Rabbits (VARYING HARE) have cyclic population drops in the order of 99%.
A nice little bunch of TERNS were here for a while today and some remain. There are also some in each night.
I doubt that much will hatch and I expect to win several lotteries before I see a Tern fledge here again.
Nonetheless, it's pleasing to see them around.
Our resident song birds, the SAVANNAH SPARROWS, are in full breeding mode and in their usual good numbers. It's no trouble to stop most anywhere and see a dozen to a dozen and a half individuals on territory.
There's been a COMMON YELLOW THROAT (male) around and singing his little heart out for at least several days. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have much luck attracting a mate ...... at least nobody has seen a second Common Yellow Throat around and this fellow isn't sticking to a single territorial area.
More recently, likely just this last night or two, we have acquired a couple male HOODED WARBLERS; 1 or 2 NOTHERN PARULAS; a HERMIT THRUSH; a VEERY; a CATBIRD and a couple of "finchy" looking fellows that refuse to allow identification.
Time to put out the Grape jelly.
Catbirds and Parulas like it but maybe I'll get something new .......... hummmmmmm.
I wonder if Shearwaters have a sweet tooth?
Today,Thursday June 27th.
Fog, rain.
Rain, fog.
Fog, rain, fog ......
Okay, you all get the idea. I want sunny, hot, sweltering weather.
Things here are chugging along as usual.
The RAZORBILL chicks are progressing towards their first and last walk to the sea with daddy.
The PUFFINS are finally begining to hatch and the Puffin Peekers are getting their happy fix with Puffins carrying fish.
"Our" COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (after 2 weeks or so he seems like a resident) is still singing up a storm but he can't sing up a mate.
CATBIRD, THRUSH, HOODED WARBLER & GOLDFINCHES from a few days ago seem to have moved on. The newest arrivals have been a young BROWN HEADED COWBIRD (today) and a KINGBIRD (seen briefly yesterday).
PEREGRINE FALCON(S) continues to make irregular but nearly daily forays into the colony.
The TERNS are still making some effort to nest and much of the time lately at least a few have been present on or over the island. I'm pessimistic about the chance of any Terns fledging but it's barely possible that some few might hatch.
The COMMON EIDERS are hitting their stride with their hatch. Although there were maybe a handful of early clutches, the lion's share of nests should hatch about now.
I always expected to see the little fluff balls by the 1st day of June along the mainland coast but out here the 1st of July is the due date.
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, our only shorebird, seem a bit low in number this year but that might be more perception than fact. I haven't really been around the island enough to make a good estimate. The one nest which I checked today has 4 eggs and I haven't seen any chicks yet.
Rain, fog.
Fog, rain, fog ......
Okay, you all get the idea. I want sunny, hot, sweltering weather.
Things here are chugging along as usual.
The RAZORBILL chicks are progressing towards their first and last walk to the sea with daddy.
The PUFFINS are finally begining to hatch and the Puffin Peekers are getting their happy fix with Puffins carrying fish.
"Our" COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (after 2 weeks or so he seems like a resident) is still singing up a storm but he can't sing up a mate.
CATBIRD, THRUSH, HOODED WARBLER & GOLDFINCHES from a few days ago seem to have moved on. The newest arrivals have been a young BROWN HEADED COWBIRD (today) and a KINGBIRD (seen briefly yesterday).
PEREGRINE FALCON(S) continues to make irregular but nearly daily forays into the colony.
The TERNS are still making some effort to nest and much of the time lately at least a few have been present on or over the island. I'm pessimistic about the chance of any Terns fledging but it's barely possible that some few might hatch.
The COMMON EIDERS are hitting their stride with their hatch. Although there were maybe a handful of early clutches, the lion's share of nests should hatch about now.
I always expected to see the little fluff balls by the 1st day of June along the mainland coast but out here the 1st of July is the due date.
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, our only shorebird, seem a bit low in number this year but that might be more perception than fact. I haven't really been around the island enough to make a good estimate. The one nest which I checked today has 4 eggs and I haven't seen any chicks yet.
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