Well it is summer although it is difficult to believe it with the weather over the last couple of weeks. But it hasn’t put off our seabird colony as it thrives out on Tern Island. There are Black Headed Gull chicks all over the harbour in various stages of development from just hatched, hiding away from predators to almost fledged with anxious parents keeping guard. The gulls are not the only ones fully engaged in rearing the next generation Common and Little Tern are busily feeding chicks as well with the first Little Terns fledging just yesterday. Also a single Sandwich Tern juvenile sits out on the marsh waiting for it next meal.
A newly hatched Gull hiding away (above)
A Juvenile Gull Crèche on marsh (above) and an adult Black Headed Gull guarding them (below)
Common Tern (above)
Little Tern over Tern Island (above) and a new arrival (Below)
Summer always brings plenty of remarks that it is quiet but you ask all the parent birds who are frantically feeding begging young. So take a closer look in the bushes for young Whitethroats, in the reeds for young Reed Warblers our in the fields for game birds and on the lagoons for grebes, there is lots still going on out on the reserve.
Great Crested Grebe with young
On the warm sunning days, if we final get them, there is plenty going on in the grass and bushes from the invertebrates. The fields are full of butterflies particular Meadow Browns and in areas of bare ground, Miners bees go about their business digging burrows for the next generation.
Meadow Brown
Trimmer's Mining Bee
As we think summer as just arrived for many birds it is the autumn and the beginning of the southward migration. Already around the reserve Common and Green Sandpipers, Sand Martin, Swift and Black-Tailed Godwit are starting to move through the reserve.
Black Tailed Godwits
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon