Another of Hodbarrow's volunteers Chris Taylor has kindly written a blog. Chris has been monitoring breeding bird numbers for us this year making several visits throughout the spring and summer. Here he gives us a summary of his thoughts on how the seasons went so far. Thanks for taking the time Chris and I hope that everyone enjoys reading it.
Looking at the Walney Observatory website this morning there was confirmation through their ringing programme that this is far from a good breeding year for a number of species. Whilst there are still a few Sandwich Terns about and the odd juvenile among them, terns and warblers have been hit hardest. Mid May saw our hopes raised by at least 10 Little Terns taking up residence with over 40 Sandwich and Common Terns apiece. By the end of June the Little Terns had gone as had the majority of Sandwich Terns leaving about 20 Common Terns to nest mostly on the “ski bank”.
The plan to develop floating islands seems very timely. Well done RSPB. Looking at how other sites help Little Terns in Northumberland and Dorset, it is never a one solution fix. The “islands” though, will cut down some of the predation and disturbance issues.
The big mystery, however, is where the Sandwich Terns are nesting if not at Hodbarrow. The area around Haverigg north to the prison doesn’t seem to be where they nest but I’d love to know where it is that they can be successful raising at least some youngsters. Can it be North Walney? Does any one have any ideas?
Chris Taylor
(Photo C. Redgate)
Warblers are one of the birds that seem to be affected at Hodbarrow
Chris,there have breen sightings of Terns at Millom pier,way over the back of the limestone area.also the fishermen,have said that they have seen nesting seabirds,way up on the shillah,ie heading towards Silecroft.
Chr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/haveriggwildlife