A lovely afternoon for tern watching, I counted 16 terns today and at least 5 pairs are nesting. The actual numbers will be higher, these numbers are just the ones I could see.
The swans are staying close to the nest.
Sunday 27 May 2012
Sunday Stroll
A lovely afternoon for tern watching, I counted 16 terns today and at least 5 pairs are nesting. The actual numbers will be higher, these numbers are just the ones I could see.
Thursday 24 May 2012
Sunny Days
I have counted 12 terns in the dock so far, and there are several swallows roosting under the bridge. Both can be seen and heard flying around the bridge and dock.
The swans are still nesting, let's hope it goes better than last year. They have 6 eggs at the moment.
There were 2 shellduck in the dock basin this afternoon.
Today's walk was the riverside path down to the Bullnose
The swans are still nesting, let's hope it goes better than last year. They have 6 eggs at the moment.
There were 2 shellduck in the dock basin this afternoon.
Today's walk was the riverside path down to the Bullnose
Monday 14 May 2012
Sunday Stroll
Sunday's stroll took me across the bridge and along the Guild Wheel to Wallend Road.
John Howe was in steam yesterday, taking visitors to the railway museum up to Strand Road and back.
Terns were flying around the bridge and dock basin, I have counted 10 birds so far around the nest sites in the Albert Edward Dock.
There are some lovely flowers growing alongside the path, including these cowslips.
John Howe was in steam yesterday, taking visitors to the railway museum up to Strand Road and back.
Terns were flying around the bridge and dock basin, I have counted 10 birds so far around the nest sites in the Albert Edward Dock.
There are some lovely flowers growing alongside the path, including these cowslips.
Bladder Campion by the roadside
Bluebells growing by the boatyard fence
Fungus under the hedge, Wallend Road
Don't think these are natives
I'm not sure where this pine cone came from, but it certainly wasn't the nearby trees
John Howe crossing Lochside Road
Thursday 3 May 2012
Summer Visitors
The terns are back, I've heard them for the last few days, and they were seen yesterday. Riversway Control have replenished the pebbles near the nesting sites, as well as making nesting material available for the swans. The swans have eggs, I haven't been able to count them so far. We have also seen swallows several times this week.
The sparrows nesting on the roof are feeding chicks, at least one family of blue tits in the nest boxes also has a brood. The sparrows have nested here for the past few years, this is the first time blue tits have nested in the boxes. The contrary wee birdies are actually nesting in the sparrow box which the sparrows have ignored completely. They seem to prefer the roof.
The sparrows nesting on the roof are feeding chicks, at least one family of blue tits in the nest boxes also has a brood. The sparrows have nested here for the past few years, this is the first time blue tits have nested in the boxes. The contrary wee birdies are actually nesting in the sparrow box which the sparrows have ignored completely. They seem to prefer the roof.
