Birds at the South End of Wrightsville Beach Continue to Entertain

We had a large group of Black Skimmers, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and an American Oystercatcher family roosting in the posting on August 19 for our weekly bird walk.  We still have smaller Black Skimmer and Common Tern chicks in the colony but they are growing rapidly and should all be able to fly soon.  The Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns had juveniles with them.   We also had a Black Tern make a surprise appearance and it was beautiful!

Young Black Skimmer chicks, 8/11

Common Tern chicks ready to fly, 8/11

Common Tern chick testing its wings,, 8/11

Common Tern fledglings, 8/24

Common Tern Chicks Chasing a Meal  

(click on link to view video)

Three Great Black Gulls (2 adults and 1 juvenile) were also hanging out in front of a group of Black Skimmers outside the posting at the point along with a group of Laughing Gulls.  The Great Black Backed Gulls appear to be stalking the Skimmer chicks.

Black Skimmer parents attacking Great Black-Backed Gull

Great Black-Backed Gulls Being Chased by Black Skimmer

(click on link to view video)

The last official Bird Walk is planned for Monday, August 26. We have enjoyed sharing the nesting colony this year with hundreds of guests!

Our Never Ending Nesting Season

Usually our nesting season would be slowing down at the beginning of August as our fluffy chicks turn to feathered fledglings and get ready for their journey south.  BUT NOT THIS YEAR!  Although many of the Least Terns have fledged, a few remain in the colony and our Black Skimmers and American Oystercatchers are often found hanging out across the inlet (several have been spotted on Masonboro Island).  But the posted area at the south end of Wrightsville Beach is very active.

We have extended our weekly Monday morning Bird Walks through the end of August.  And if you get a chance to come out and join us here are some samples of what is out there....

NEWLY HATCHED COMMON TERN CHICKS

Photo by Cordelia Norris, 8/3

photos by Bill Segur, 7/29

photos by Bill Segur, 7/29 

(Look for the legs of the Common Tern chicks in the pictures below as they take shelter under a parent.)

photos by Bill Segur, 7/29

 The Common Tern chicks are growing rapidly.  A few are already as large as the parents!

photos by Kathy Hannah, 8/10

photos by Kathy Hannah, 8/10

photos by Kathy Hannah, 8/10

AND JUST THIS WEEK .... MORE BLACK SKIMMER CHICKS HAVE HATCHED

photos by Kathy Hannah, 8/10

photos by Kathy Hannah, 8/10

photos by Kathy Hannah, 8/10

These newly hatched Black Skimmer chicks are masters at camouflage!

photos from Michelle Frazier, 8/9

YOUNG BLACK SKIMMERS ARE PRACTICING THEIR SKIMMING

Photos by Tom Hanna, 7/27

Photos by Tom Hanna, 7/27

Several young Black Skimmers have been banded.  Perhaps we will see some of them return to our area next summer!

photos by Kathy Hannah, 8/10

Commotion Terns and Chick Mayhem

photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg

Usually with the beginning of August our nesting colony begins to slow down and we prepare to say goodbye to our shorebirds as their new chicks get their feathers, learn to fly, and begin feeding themselves.  But that is not what is happening this season!  On our weekly Monday morning Bird Walk on 7/29 we saw SEVEN newly hatched Common Tern chicks exploring the beach.

One of our clever Bird Stewards coined the term "Commotion Terns" for these Common Tern chicks since they make their presence in the colony well known.  As an added feature of this "chick mayhem" the Common Tern parents are our most aggressive birds and have been alerting any beachgoer that they WILL protect their new chicks!

Here are some recent photographs of what is happening....

photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg

photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg

photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg

photo by Elizabeth Maroney
(one of our Bird Walk guests)

photo by Elizabeth Maroney
(one of our Bird Walk guests)

photo by Michelle Frazier

photo by Michelle Frazier

photo by Michelle Frazier