OYSTERCATCHERS
CT4 made an entrance onto the beach with her chick on Friday (July 19) and it is a BIG one! CT4 and mate have carefully guarded the chick in the dunes on the Oceanside and it had only made one appearance on a Thursday morning, June 20th We had not seen it since.
An Oystercatcher adult was seen flying in over the dunes from the west with food a couple of weeks ago and we were hopeful that they were feeding a chick. They were feeding a chick! The chick is at least 4 weeks old and is already trying out its wings and was taking short flying hops over the weekend within the colony. The chick is large –close to adult size—but the behaviors are clearly chick like! He continues to try to get under one of his parents and appears very shy. This oystercatcher chick even went (squeezed) into one of the “shade shelters” Friday afternoon which is the first time we have seen an oystercatcher do that!
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| photos by Bonnie-Jean Berg |
Our other Oystercatcher family’s chick “EER” was 8 weeks old on Sunday (7/21) and has been practicing flying with its parents. It appears to fly towards the oyster beds or the razor clam area with a parent at low tide. It was outside of the posting with both parents this morning and the entire family was easily seen by our bird walk guests.
BLACK SKIMMERS
Juvenile Black Skimmers are hanging out at the water with adults and many have been practicing their flight skills and are beginning to skim the water.
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| photos by Tom Hanna |
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| photos by Tom Hanna |
It is always a thrill to watch the adult Black Skimmers escorting their fledgling chicks to the water.
Black Skimmers closer to the dunes have some newly hatched chicks. Zoom in on the dunes for smaller chicks!!
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| photos by Bonnie-Jean Berg |
LEAST TERNS
Least tern fledglings and chicks are everywhere and at various stages of development! Many are outside the posting waiting for parents to return with a fish and/or cooling by the water. A number of chicks can be seen standing in the shade made by the posting.
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| photo by Tom Hanna |
COMMON TERNS
Beautiful Common Tern fledglings can be seen by the water with a parent close by.
Several Common Tern pairs are continuing to nest with a mate on guard duty on top of a sign. On Saturday, I observed a Common Tern come in from the water with a fish, feed its mate, nudge the mate with its head and take over nesting sitting...the mate immediately went to the water and dipped itself into the waves at least 10 times and even floated on the water! It was hot!
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| photos by Tom Hanna |
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| photo by Tom Hanna |
FREE MONDAY BIRD WALKS
We had another well attended bird walk Monday (7/22) morning with over 32 guests! The recent publicity that we are receiving is making both residents and tourists anxious to see the South End nesting colony! What a joy it is to introduce these birds to people and relay the inspiring way they migrate here, choose to nest here and then parent and teach their young.
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| photos by Tom Hanna |
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| photos by Tom Hanna |
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