We Have Lots of Birds!

Birds have been arriving all week and we have much more nesting activity at our posting area now. Black Skimmers have been showing up daily.   On Saturday, 5/7, over three hundred were counted!   Skimmers are coupling up, making scrapes and mating!  No eggs yet, but should be soon!

photos by Laura Scullin

Lindsay Addison, our National Audubon biologist, did an official nest check on Sunday, 5/8.  “Nest checks” are what biologists do to monitor productivity within the colony.  You may see some “tongue depressor” markers within the posted area by some nests that identify specific nests. For example., if you see one marked LT 25 that means she has documented that particular Least Tern nest as her 25th on her log sheet.  Each week she will monitor the activity within that particular nest and record it along with all the other nests she has marked. 

Common Tern, nest #5

Here is some specific data as a result of Lindsay’s nest checks….

On Sunday, Lindsay saw three Common Terns nests (scrapes with eggs) in the small dunes in the front of the posting.  On Monday I2 more were located on the high dunes and Monday evening, several Bird Stewards were able to see a Common Tern egg in the nest with the parent standing next to the nest!  It looked like a brown rock!

Least Terns are numerous with well over 232 nesting counted on Saturday morning. We have nests everywhere!!!  We anticipate an official nest census sometime next week.

We have 3 pairs of American Oystercatchers that have nested (eggs) as well as some immature Oystercatchers at the colony.  We are so happy to finally have a third nest!

photo by Laura Scullin

We have also had some great visiting birds come to the South End, including a Black Bellied Plover in breeding plumage, a Wilson’s Plover, as well as a huge flock of Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns.  Up to 150 Common Terns visited the colony and were hanging out at the water’s edge one morning.  A pod of dolphins was even observed in the surf. Absolutely beautiful!

photo by Laura Scullin

MONDAY BIRD WALKS

We lead bird walks for the general public (and stewards!) every Monday morning at 9 AM at Beach Access 43 from now through Mid-August.  We just meet by the Gazebo…. Invite your friends, neighbors and family to join us!

photo of by Laura Scullin