Wednesday, 2 July 2014

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

1st, the Tuffy update.
There was an unknown sighting on June 20th, the same day that I had my 2nd sighting.
A birder from Philly found the TUFTED PUFFIN in one of his photographs after he got home from his vacation. The particular spot is only visible from the water.
 
In other news, the Alcid young are doing well. Some RAZORBILLS are nearly ready to leave but there are many that are yet to hatch.
 

MURRES are equally advanced. Lots of screaming youngsters under every big boulder.

PUFFINS, of course, are still 3 weeks or more away from fledging any of the kids.

This has been a week of SPOTTED SANDPIPER chicks. I've seen young from 7 families and evidence of several more nests. So it looks like a good year after a seemingly slow start.
 
As many of you will know,  the SAVANNAH SPARROW is our island song bird. They too seemed scarce a month ago but judging from the recent activity they are hatching and feeding broods at or close to the numbers of other years.
 
The Terns, in particular the ARCTIC TERNS have been putting on a good effort this season.
Although there are no more birds than previous years (approximately 400), there have been more nests that the last several years combined. Not even close the peak years but definately encouraging.
More encouraging, some of the nests now have chicks.
For a varity of reasons, I'm doubtful that any will fledge but I hope I'm wrong. Terns fledge very quickly so ........... cross your fingers.
Regardless of the outcome, this is certainly the best effort for many years.
 
A GANNET or two have been seen ashore here and on Gull Rock lately. No hope of another nesting attempt this late in the season but still, it's nice to have them around.
 
Lots of EIDERS hatching this past week and still more nests to come. I encountered a clutch of 6  headed to the shore this afternoon. Fun to watch the hen adopt her neck-down slinky posture while the kids just ran, wings extended, to the closest water. An "Aunt" posted herself as rear guard, letting me stand within a couple metres until the crew was well away. Then she showed me her tail and joined the family.
 
 

 

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