Common Tern Chicks Make an Appearance and Least Tern Chicks Find Shelter

A Least Tern family found refuge in one of the "condos".

The Least Terns are working hard to keep their eggs and chicks safe from the many predators on the beach. At least one chick was seen in a shelter and the parents were not only staying close by but were seen taking food into the shelter.

A predator with an appetite for eggs, the Ruddy Turnstone, continues to be seen in the colony.

photo by Renee Tevelow

Two Common Tern chicks were seen in the dunes Thursday (5/27) morning.  They were quite a distance away and surrounded by vegetation which made it difficult to see but were still too cute not to share.  

We are still waiting for the Black Skimmer chicks to hatch but over 200 adult Black Skimmers were seen recently at the water's edge.

And our American Oystercatcher family is making frequent trips to the beach with their two chicks.

In the middle of the week three American Oystercatchers were seen hanging out together.  With a closer look you can see the CT4 band on one of them. Since CT4 and mate were seen together on the oceanside of the nesting colony without chicks last week it appears that they have lost their chicks.

photo by Renee Tevelow

Other visitors...

Royal Terns are often seen visiting the colony.
(photo by Renee Tevelow)

Sanderlings can be seen running on the shoreline.
(photo by Renee Tevelow)

It's going to be a busy holiday weekend at the beach.  Enjoy yourselves and keep an eye out for chicks if you get to the beach!

(uncredited photos by Kathy Hannah)