I returned to the island on Saturday, the 4th, after a two day weather delay.
As anticipated, there were lots of migrants about, although at this early date the field is dominated by sparrows: more specifically SONG SPARROWS. The island is awash with them. A quick count this afternoon tallied over 60 on the patio and another 50+ on the front lawn, to say nothing about the multitude in the vegetation. Easily 90% were Song Sparrows.
There is a cadre of JUNCOS, a scattered FOX SPARROW, a few ROBINS, a handful of FLICKERS and just enough STARLINGS & RW BLACKBIRDS to say that they are represented. Not much else, yet.
One or more EAGLES are daily visitors with at least one apparent 4th year perfecting its Alcid-hunting skills. Kills and meals amid clouds of feathers have been observed recently.
Our "resident" RAVENS are likewise finding that the living is easier now that birds are returning to the island.
Raptors, other that the Eagles, are still generally scarce with just a single HARRIER making a few passes over the island today before setting its GPS for points further up the Bay of Fundy.
HARLIQUIN DUCKS are still present, although I haven't formed an opinion as to numbers. Undoubtedly the majority have departed for their nesting grounds by now.
Likewise, PURPLE SANDPIPERS are much diminished, soon to be replaced by migrants and resident SPOTTED SANDPIPERS.
Other ducks and divers are quite sparse and EIDERS continue to be especially notable. Their number has been lower than usual here throughout their cycle, in spite of a reasonably good breeding season in 2019.
Bits of information from elsewhere make me wonder if there's been a widespread drop in numbers.
Alcids have been gathering for some weeks but significant rafting has been occurring for a couple weeks.
Tonight they got the signal and the flocks took wing at about 7:25. After a few orbits over their respective sections of the island they began landing en mass at 7:30, settling in with the setting sun.
These mass arrivals generally continue every evening, with the birds gradually spending more and more time on the island.
Morning and evening up-ticks in arrivals occur through the summer but they become less apparent when the colony becomes occupied around the clock.
It's especially interesting to watch these early arrivals because it points up variations across the colony.
We think of the island as being one colony and it can be described that way. However, just as our human urban areas are comprised of numerous smaller communities, so too do PUFFINS form smaller colonies within the greater colony.
Each of the smaller communities have their own rhythms that show in things like different timing, the way that they orbit over their territory and where they assemble on the water.
During the initial stagings and landings these satellite communities can be clearly seen.
One such point showed this evening. The colony along the North East shore regularly follows behind the rest of the island by upwards of a week. This year they came ashore little more than 45 minutes behind the others. That's the first time I've seen them come ashore on the same day.
Incidentally: for the numerically minded, I counted 3093 birds landing in the main colony in 10 minutes. Although nearly all of those were Puffins, similar numbers of RAZORBILLS & MURRES were orbiting and soon landed.
Not all of the island's population is here yet. Numbers build as the business of breeding accelerates.
Also; it's not unusual, at the beginning of the season, for the birds to leave, completely, for days, even weeks, then return and settle in for the season.
This is the second earliest date (by one day) that I've seen the Puffins arrive so this could be a year where they recess.
Although I'm not a fan of winter and we miss a lot of the mainland snows, this might too be a rare year where we get to see Puffins (and other Alcids) in the snow.
GREY SEALS are back in force. I could see 150+ on Gull Rock today, many of them obvious pups. There was also a sizable force on North Rock, although at 2 N miles they were evident only as a very large coloured mass, quite impossible to count.
The grass hasn't reached mowing length but the lawns are greening and some grass in sheltered places is over 6" long.
The first flowers have bloomed and I've been eating CHIVES.
Temperature made it to +10C today although it felt cooler with the breeze off the water.
-- As anticipated, there were lots of migrants about, although at this early date the field is dominated by sparrows: more specifically SONG SPARROWS. The island is awash with them. A quick count this afternoon tallied over 60 on the patio and another 50+ on the front lawn, to say nothing about the multitude in the vegetation. Easily 90% were Song Sparrows.
There is a cadre of JUNCOS, a scattered FOX SPARROW, a few ROBINS, a handful of FLICKERS and just enough STARLINGS & RW BLACKBIRDS to say that they are represented. Not much else, yet.
One or more EAGLES are daily visitors with at least one apparent 4th year perfecting its Alcid-hunting skills. Kills and meals amid clouds of feathers have been observed recently.
Our "resident" RAVENS are likewise finding that the living is easier now that birds are returning to the island.
Raptors, other that the Eagles, are still generally scarce with just a single HARRIER making a few passes over the island today before setting its GPS for points further up the Bay of Fundy.
HARLIQUIN DUCKS are still present, although I haven't formed an opinion as to numbers. Undoubtedly the majority have departed for their nesting grounds by now.
Likewise, PURPLE SANDPIPERS are much diminished, soon to be replaced by migrants and resident SPOTTED SANDPIPERS.
Other ducks and divers are quite sparse and EIDERS continue to be especially notable. Their number has been lower than usual here throughout their cycle, in spite of a reasonably good breeding season in 2019.
Bits of information from elsewhere make me wonder if there's been a widespread drop in numbers.
Alcids have been gathering for some weeks but significant rafting has been occurring for a couple weeks.
Tonight they got the signal and the flocks took wing at about 7:25. After a few orbits over their respective sections of the island they began landing en mass at 7:30, settling in with the setting sun.
These mass arrivals generally continue every evening, with the birds gradually spending more and more time on the island.
Morning and evening up-ticks in arrivals occur through the summer but they become less apparent when the colony becomes occupied around the clock.
It's especially interesting to watch these early arrivals because it points up variations across the colony.
We think of the island as being one colony and it can be described that way. However, just as our human urban areas are comprised of numerous smaller communities, so too do PUFFINS form smaller colonies within the greater colony.
Each of the smaller communities have their own rhythms that show in things like different timing, the way that they orbit over their territory and where they assemble on the water.
During the initial stagings and landings these satellite communities can be clearly seen.
One such point showed this evening. The colony along the North East shore regularly follows behind the rest of the island by upwards of a week. This year they came ashore little more than 45 minutes behind the others. That's the first time I've seen them come ashore on the same day.
Incidentally: for the numerically minded, I counted 3093 birds landing in the main colony in 10 minutes. Although nearly all of those were Puffins, similar numbers of RAZORBILLS & MURRES were orbiting and soon landed.
Not all of the island's population is here yet. Numbers build as the business of breeding accelerates.
Also; it's not unusual, at the beginning of the season, for the birds to leave, completely, for days, even weeks, then return and settle in for the season.
This is the second earliest date (by one day) that I've seen the Puffins arrive so this could be a year where they recess.
Although I'm not a fan of winter and we miss a lot of the mainland snows, this might too be a rare year where we get to see Puffins (and other Alcids) in the snow.
GREY SEALS are back in force. I could see 150+ on Gull Rock today, many of them obvious pups. There was also a sizable force on North Rock, although at 2 N miles they were evident only as a very large coloured mass, quite impossible to count.
The grass hasn't reached mowing length but the lawns are greening and some grass in sheltered places is over 6" long.
The first flowers have bloomed and I've been eating CHIVES.
Temperature made it to +10C today although it felt cooler with the breeze off the water.
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