Tuesday was exactly the kind of day for which we wish! Sunny and calm, not too hot…. Perfect!
- Least Tern chick on Lovells Island (CLT, 6.28.2011).
The Least Tern colony on Lovells Island continues to be very active with approximately 80-85 adults attending. We began a second complete nest count, but quickly chose to abandon the effort since many young chicks were present and we did not wish to cause unnecessary disturbance during such a critical phase of the breeding season. The Great Black-backed Gull earlier reported to be nesting on Lovells was carefully brooding two chicks just outside the tern colony. This is the first record I know of a nesting gull on Lovells – as Marc said earlier, ‘Nice to live close to where you eat.’ We’ll see…
Great Black-backed Gull Brood on Lovells Island (CLT, 6.28.2011).
A boat-based survey of the Outer Islands turned up 159 Common Eider chicks associated with 86 females. An additional 357 females were in the area. Compared to previous years, these numbers suggest only moderate success this season. We also kept watch for any dead adult eiders on island beaches, but saw done. In addition to eider chicks, we also observed a pair of territorial American Oystercatchers on Outer Brewster, and another pair with one fledged chick on Middle Brewster! We spotted at least 3 gray seals around The Graves, several Wilson’s Storm-petrel east of the Brewsters, Spotted Sandpipers on Middle and Outer Brewster, and one immature Great Cormorant on Shag Rocks.
Common Eider females tending chicks (CLT, Green Island, 6.28.2011).
A boat-based survey of the west side of Great Brewster resulted in one pair of territorial American Oystercatchers. No accompanying chicks were spotted, but the fact that the adults are still on territory is encouraging. There were also approximately 47 additional female Common Eiders in the area.
We finished the day with a complete boat-based survey of Rainsford Island. No American Oystercatchers were observed, but lots of Spotted Sandpiper activity was noted and 9 additional female Common Eiders were in the area. Back out on July 6th! Happy Fourth of July!
