[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

I returned to MSI on the morning of Thursday last, to a full house of Alcids and a good representation of Songbirds.
Included was a handful of BARN SWALLOWS dashing about and hopefully snagging a few Flies to sustain their travel.
The weather turned as expected, with an afternoon of dense fog, giving way to wind and rain right through Friday.

The Alcids held their ground, loading the rocks throughout the colony, as they tend to do during adverse weather.
By mid-Saturday though, they vacated the island and none have been ashore until tonight (Sunday).

These departures are expected during the early season (March into late April) but this is by far the latest that I seen this behavior. The other lightkeepers say it's been happening frequently over the past month.
I can't help but believe that food scarcity is the underlying factor. I'm seeing no evidence of significant food in this area.

This evening, after nearly 2 days away, birds are returning to the island but without the usual intense rush. Many birds are just rafting as darkness settles, as if undecided about coming ashore.

The number of RAZORBILLS seems as great or greater than the number of PUFFINS. Whether this because of a large increase in Razorbills or a decrease in Puffins is uncertain but I'm inclined to think that it's both.
It will be hard to determine if this apparent change in ratio is actual until the colony settles down to its summer work.
The Razorbills have been increasing quite rapidly in recent years (as have COMMON MURRES) so overtaking the Puffins wouldn't be a surprise.
Also, the Puffins had some bad seasons in the twenty teens. I'm wondering if we might be getting a dip as those small cohorts reach breeding maturity.
2013 was especially bad. Coincidently, Puffin egg laying was exceptionally late. Fingers crossed that this isn't an encore.

A bit more up-beat: COMMON EIDERS are here in good number: upwards of 200. They are, as typical, divided into two segments.
There are some 100+ hanging close to the Island's south side, showing sighs of pairing. I'm inclined to believe that this are probably all birds which will eventually nest on MSI.
The other 100 or so are scattered around, especially around adjacent Gull Rock, and some are likely migrants refueling for travel further, to Grand Manan and beyond.
If my speculation holds true, we may have a fair number of nests this year, perhaps 60-70. During my time out here (since 1996) Eiders have ranged from below 40 nests to a high of approximately 140. 

I circumnavigated the island early this afternoon. Most notable was a bright male WOOD DUCK in one puddle and a male/female pair in another. They aren't common but a handful can be expected to drop in every migration.
I found evidence from a couple of raptor meals. Both chose Puffin for the main course. I suspect PEREGRINE FALCONS which have been sighted several times over the past 4 days.
Raptors have been limited to Peregrines and EAGLES until this afternoon when a lone female KESTREL arrived.

"Our" 2 RAVENS have been haunting the seabird colony, as usual, acting the part of raptors although they top the list of songbirds.

The list of other songbirds is growing daily but it's definitely dominated by WHITE THROATED SPARROWS. There are hundreds of them, probably outnumbering most of the other species combined.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS would rank 2nd in number but they are assumed to be mainly our resident breeders. I've seen about 20 singing on territory.
Nonetheless, the species variety has been growing since the rain storm on Friday.

Today produced:

2 ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAKS (M);
6 PURPLE FINCHES (2M & 4F);
1 BALTIMORE ORIOLE (M);
4 GOLDFINCHES (3M & 1F);
200 WHITE THROATED SPARROWS;
50 SAVANNAH SPARROWS;
6 SONG SPARROWS;
4 CHIPPING SPARROWS;
2 SWAMP SPARROWS;
23 JUNCOS;
1 VEERY;
1 HERMIT THRUSH;
7 ROBINS;
3 RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES;
3 GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS;
32 FLICKERS;
2 RED WINGED BLACKBIRDS;
2 COWBIRDS (both singing);
5 BARN SWALLOWS;
3 TREE SWALLOWS;
1 FLYCATCHER Sp. (likely PHOEBE);
100+ HERRING GULL;
100+ GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL;
7 GLAUCOUS GULLS;
1 ICELAND GULL;
2 EAGLES (1A & 1 Sub A);
2 PEREGRINE FALCONS;
1 KESTREL (F);
2 RAVENS;
4 PURPLE SANDPIPERS;
1 RED BREASTED MERGANSER;
3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS (F);
200+ COMMON EIDERS;
3 WOOD DUCKS (2M & 1F);
6 COMMON LOONS;
300+ DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANTS ( flocks mostly 15-20 birds);
>1000 PUFFINS;
>1000 RAZORBILLS;
>500 COMMON MURRES.

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