Well, I guess I've just been lazy this trip. In my defense, here hasn't been anything out of the ordinary in recent weeks.
The RAZORBILLS & MURRES (with a very few late exceptions) vacated the island some 3 or more weeks ago.
Lots of readers will have seen "pairs" at various locations but particularly inshore. Those are actually Papa and Child in the latter phase of the offspring's development. They exit the island together and immediately leave the vicinity of the island. They frequently move inshore, staying together for perhaps 3 weeks or so.
PUFFINS, on the other hand, don't leave until they are fully developed and self-sufficient. They are in the process of fledging now, although they are very slow this year. We are not seeing very many at night and a lot of the Pufflings in the burrows are still a good way from fledging. Overall development seems okay, albeit fledging weights are less than we would like to see.
Recent food looks very good, both in quality and quantity. There's some species mixture but HERRING, of appropriate size, seems prevalent.
While many Puffins have left, the sight of several thousand rafted in front of the house this evening attests to the number still here.
The TERNS have had a very good year. Most of the chicks have now fledged but there are still a few late bloomers. Hopefully those will succumb to their parent's enticing and get truly airborne and self-sufficient . They need to acquire their survival skills soon. I'm seeing the first signs that the Terns are preparing to migrate and youngsters that can't leave with the general population may not fair so well.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS seem to have had a good, maybe even extra good year. There are tons of apparent youngsters around the island. 30, 40, even 50 Savannahs on the patio is common.
This year more and more are becoming Jelly-holics. A jar of grape jelly only lasts about 4 days. Good thing there aren't any real jelly eaters around yet.
The party of LAUGHING GULLS that in late June looked ready to begin nesting apparently thought better of the idea and abandoned their island visits. One assumes that they found better digs. That's just as well because I anticipated 5 to 8 unwelcome nests. We don't want the species to get a foot-hold because they tend to take over, at the expense of resident species, if given the chance.
COMMON EIDERS are developing nicely.
The TERNS have had a very good year. Most of the chicks have now fledged but there are still a few late bloomers. Hopefully those will succumb to their parent's enticing and get truly airborne and self-sufficient . They need to acquire their survival skills soon. I'm seeing the first signs that the Terns are preparing to migrate and youngsters that can't leave with the general population may not fair so well.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS seem to have had a good, maybe even extra good year. There are tons of apparent youngsters around the island. 30, 40, even 50 Savannahs on the patio is common.
This year more and more are becoming Jelly-holics. A jar of grape jelly only lasts about 4 days. Good thing there aren't any real jelly eaters around yet.
The party of LAUGHING GULLS that in late June looked ready to begin nesting apparently thought better of the idea and abandoned their island visits. One assumes that they found better digs. That's just as well because I anticipated 5 to 8 unwelcome nests. We don't want the species to get a foot-hold because they tend to take over, at the expense of resident species, if given the chance.
COMMON EIDERS are developing nicely.
The last hatch that I noted was about the end of July and that's late, even for this location.
Tours have ended for the year with an unscheduled visit by a group of Rhodes Scholars late today.
The research crew is stripping blinds and other facilities and will decamp within the week.
We're starting to see the late summer wanderers, as well as a few early migrants.
Of note this year is the higher-than-usual number of MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. They are both numerous and fairly early, arriving at that late summer period when we have only a few blooming plants.
Other butterfly species are fairly sparse.
The first PURPLE ASTER is just beginning to flower. It, and GOLDEN ROD sustain the Flutterbies and HUMMINGBIRDS.
We have several acres of the Aster. It covers close to 1/2 of the island.
I saw the first RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, a female, this morning (Monday).
There was a mutually startling moment yesterday as a MOURNING DOVE dashed to escape from our storage shed when I entered. It's the 1st since early summer.
A YELLOW WARBLER has been showing up this past few days. I'm thinking it's a loner but I'm not completed positive.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, GOLDFINCH, SONG SPARROW & CHIPPING SPARROW have also made appearances, while a PEREGRINE FALCON displeased the Terns off and on for 3 or 4 days.
The first EAGLE for some time popped by over the weekend and a RAVEN put in a brief appearance after an extended absence.
Shorebirds continue to trickle through. Saw 5 RUDDY TURNSTONES yesterday, along with a mix of PEEPS. I've only definitely identified LEAST, SEMIPALMATED & SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, with the Spotties likely being resident birds.
The handful of SHORT BILLED DOWICHERS seem to have departed after near 2 weeks of lingering here.
Notwithstanding the few shorebirds that stop here, large night-flights have been observed and the odd species, like PHALOROPES, have been identified.
STORM PETRELS (LEACH'S) seem to be doing okay. Sometimes hard to judge with them, they develop so very slowly.
There's not been as much night-time Petrel activity as I've seen some other years but some nights have been quite busy. There was one very busy "Petrel Night" less than a week ago. Several WILSON'S STORM PETRELS were seen ashore, along with the Leach's.
Gulls are plentiful, apparently finding plenty of food locally and loafing in the area. Our cove was alive Sunday morning with fish that I judged to be MACKEREL. Seals casually swam through the schools without stopping and gulls ignored the whole activity so it would seem to indicate that there is lots of feed available.
A few gulls have started stalking the colony as the number of defending Terns tapers off. Fortunately, the vast majority of Gulls ignore the colony.
Tours have ended for the year with an unscheduled visit by a group of Rhodes Scholars late today.
The research crew is stripping blinds and other facilities and will decamp within the week.
We're starting to see the late summer wanderers, as well as a few early migrants.
Of note this year is the higher-than-usual number of MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. They are both numerous and fairly early, arriving at that late summer period when we have only a few blooming plants.
Other butterfly species are fairly sparse.
The first PURPLE ASTER is just beginning to flower. It, and GOLDEN ROD sustain the Flutterbies and HUMMINGBIRDS.
We have several acres of the Aster. It covers close to 1/2 of the island.
I saw the first RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, a female, this morning (Monday).
There was a mutually startling moment yesterday as a MOURNING DOVE dashed to escape from our storage shed when I entered. It's the 1st since early summer.
A YELLOW WARBLER has been showing up this past few days. I'm thinking it's a loner but I'm not completed positive.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, GOLDFINCH, SONG SPARROW & CHIPPING SPARROW have also made appearances, while a PEREGRINE FALCON displeased the Terns off and on for 3 or 4 days.
The first EAGLE for some time popped by over the weekend and a RAVEN put in a brief appearance after an extended absence.
Shorebirds continue to trickle through. Saw 5 RUDDY TURNSTONES yesterday, along with a mix of PEEPS. I've only definitely identified LEAST, SEMIPALMATED & SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, with the Spotties likely being resident birds.
The handful of SHORT BILLED DOWICHERS seem to have departed after near 2 weeks of lingering here.
Notwithstanding the few shorebirds that stop here, large night-flights have been observed and the odd species, like PHALOROPES, have been identified.
STORM PETRELS (LEACH'S) seem to be doing okay. Sometimes hard to judge with them, they develop so very slowly.
There's not been as much night-time Petrel activity as I've seen some other years but some nights have been quite busy. There was one very busy "Petrel Night" less than a week ago. Several WILSON'S STORM PETRELS were seen ashore, along with the Leach's.
Gulls are plentiful, apparently finding plenty of food locally and loafing in the area. Our cove was alive Sunday morning with fish that I judged to be MACKEREL. Seals casually swam through the schools without stopping and gulls ignored the whole activity so it would seem to indicate that there is lots of feed available.
A few gulls have started stalking the colony as the number of defending Terns tapers off. Fortunately, the vast majority of Gulls ignore the colony.
There is a fair number of DOUBLE CREASTED CORMORANTS around, undoubtedly availing themselves of the local cuisine.
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