The weather finally took a turn for the better on Havergate this week after what seemed like almost daily thunder showers, lightning strikes, torrential downpours and a nagging wind.
Now as the season starts to enter its final lap we can start to make some early estimates on how things have gone.
There are quite literally hordes of large gull chicks on the island. Ranging from small to almost fledgling. It seems the low levels of disturbance and lack of predation is to the gulls liking and despite nestingnumbers falling away slightly on the island they continue to do extremely well in terms of producing young. In the next couple of weeks we will do the chick counts and from there we will be able to establish a productivity figure.
Things are not quite as rosy for the Greater black backs where the pair in main lagoon either failed or where predated at an early stage. The pair in Doveys held territory but it is unclear whether they bred or not.
Common gulls; it is possible that some are hiding in the gorse and I am unable to see them but it seems that common gulls will not do as well this year as they did the year before. There are currently 3 big chicks spending their time loafing on the saltmarsh whilst the rest of the colony is worryingly quiet. There can be no doubts that predation pressure will have had an effect on some of the chicks. However, the gorse should offer a natural protection against the gulls, there appears to be a food issue for the adults to contend with, a couple of biggish chicks (well over a week old) have been found dead within the gorse. The best strategy appears to nest in gorse and after 10 days or so take the chicks down to the salt marsh and essentially let them feed themselves on invertebrates and scavenge the shoreline.
Common terns; optimism was extremely high last week but as large gull predation pressure has stepped up there has been a noticeable decline in the number of chicks. As an estimate I would say a half of all chicks have gone in the last week. One would expect a decline in the number of chicks at about this time as 2nd and 3rd hatchings die off unless its an exceptional year for sandeels. However, losses have been much higher than can be accounted for just by this. However, there are least 7 or 8 big chicks on the lagoon who may in fact be at the stage where they can expect not to be taken by gulls.
Avocets did eventually breed on the island but only in low numbers (3), one pair abandoned, one pair failed (presumed predated) and the final pair is still sat on eggs. Oystercatchers have fledged one chick at least, which is something of a red letter day for this species on Havergate it has been many years since this species recorded any success.
The big summering flock of Spoonbills have yet to arrive but waders are starting to pass through with numbers of redshanks and Lapwings beginning to build up.