Showing posts with label Common Terns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Common Terns. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Monday, 4 July 2011
Monday Meander
14:00 Sun 20 o C. Wind SSE 6mph. Humidity 51%. Pressure 1017mB. Visibility good. High tide today 13:11, 9.09m.
Dock gates open.
In and around the dock basin:
Blackheaded Gull x 12
Common Tern x 2
Mallard Duck x 16
Mallard Duckling x 7
Mute Swan x 2
Swallow x 3
Dock gates open.
In and around the dock basin:
Blackheaded Gull x 12
Common Tern x 2
Mallard Duck x 16
Mallard Duckling x 7
Mute Swan x 2
Swallow x 3
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Swan Sunday
In the Albert Edward Dock
A day of sunshine and occasional showers, with the sun far outweighing the rain.
The swans have 3 eggs in their nest, the pen stood up long enough for me to count them today.
There are 2 coot nests on the groynes, the usual assemblage of twigs and litter. They have also been known to build nests on unattended boats, and it is amazing that they manage to rear the young with so many black-backed gulls around.
I counted 12 terns today, at least 1 pair of which are nesting.
Common Tern x 12
Mute Swan x 2
Coot x 6
Blackheaded Gull x 50
Cormorant x 3
Herring Gull x 30
Common Gull x 40
Blackbacked Gull x 10
Mallard x 5
A day of sunshine and occasional showers, with the sun far outweighing the rain.
The swans have 3 eggs in their nest, the pen stood up long enough for me to count them today.
There are 2 coot nests on the groynes, the usual assemblage of twigs and litter. They have also been known to build nests on unattended boats, and it is amazing that they manage to rear the young with so many black-backed gulls around.
I counted 12 terns today, at least 1 pair of which are nesting.
Common Tern x 12
Mute Swan x 2
Coot x 6
Blackheaded Gull x 50
Cormorant x 3
Herring Gull x 30
Common Gull x 40
Blackbacked Gull x 10
Mallard x 5
Friday, 29 April 2011
Return of the Terns
3 terns were seen and heard around the dock this morning.
I was hoping to take a look at the nesting site this afternoon, but the strong wind is keeping me indoors at the moment.
I was hoping to take a look at the nesting site this afternoon, but the strong wind is keeping me indoors at the moment.
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Terns on Film
Have now been able to get some really good pictures of the terns. Click on a picture to enlarge.
There are at least 3 chicks, 2 in one nest and one in the other. The single chick has been spending quite a lot of time out of the nest, and is possibly slightly older than the others.
I have counted 8 adult terns in the last few days, and think there are at least 2 more.
The 2 chicks are clearly visible on this photo
The other chick inspects his surroundings
You can see the reflection in the water of one of the adult terns (top right in this picture)
Returning with a fish
The lone wanderer
Landing the catch
In flight
There are at least 3 chicks, 2 in one nest and one in the other. The single chick has been spending quite a lot of time out of the nest, and is possibly slightly older than the others.
I have counted 8 adult terns in the last few days, and think there are at least 2 more.
The 2 chicks are clearly visible on this photo
The other chick inspects his surroundings
You can see the reflection in the water of one of the adult terns (top right in this picture)
Returning with a fish
The lone wanderer
Landing the catch
In flight
Monday, 21 June 2010
Monday 21 June 2010
16:00 Sunny 20 o C. Wind W 8mph. Humidity 50%. Pressure 1022 mB. Visibility very good. High tide today 06:14, 8.24m
A beautiful day for the solstice.
The terns are very active, feeding and guarding. There are 2 chicks, one has been walking around outside the nest, the other just peeping over the rim occasionally.
The adults are fiercely protective, and will go after any gulls, no matter how big, that intrude on their territory.
The swan family are down in the dock basin just now, probably waiting for the lock gates to be opened for them.
A beautiful day for the solstice.
The terns are very active, feeding and guarding. There are 2 chicks, one has been walking around outside the nest, the other just peeping over the rim occasionally.
The adults are fiercely protective, and will go after any gulls, no matter how big, that intrude on their territory.
The swan family are down in the dock basin just now, probably waiting for the lock gates to be opened for them.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Wednesday 9 June 2010
The swans laid 3 eggs a few weeks ago, but unfortunately they have now abandoned the nest and I haven't seen then for a week. A similar thing happened last year, though in previous years swans have bred successfully here.
The terns are still around and have been able to watch them daily. They are not difficult to spot as their call is umistakable. When they are inside their tyre nest they are harder to see, but a few minutes patience will be rewarded wwhen a head pops up into view.
They seem to be collecting something - food perhaps? - from along the dock walls at the top end of the dock, and they come very close to the railings at times. They are moving very quickly, but did manage to snatch one hasty photograph.
The terns are still around and have been able to watch them daily. They are not difficult to spot as their call is umistakable. When they are inside their tyre nest they are harder to see, but a few minutes patience will be rewarded wwhen a head pops up into view.
They seem to be collecting something - food perhaps? - from along the dock walls at the top end of the dock, and they come very close to the railings at times. They are moving very quickly, but did manage to snatch one hasty photograph.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Thursday 3 June 2010
16:00 Sunny 25 o C. Wind SE 4mph. Humidity 45%. Pressure 1020 mB. Visibility very good. High tide today 15:19, 7.62m
The terns are nesting again, looking forward to watching them again this summer. There are at least 4 terns hanging around the dock, of which at least one pair are building a nest in a tyre. I managed to get a couple of pictures with my compact camera, will try and get some better ones over the next few days.
These lovely flowers grow around the car park on Maritime Way and are enjoyed by bees and butterflies.
The terns are nesting again, looking forward to watching them again this summer. There are at least 4 terns hanging around the dock, of which at least one pair are building a nest in a tyre. I managed to get a couple of pictures with my compact camera, will try and get some better ones over the next few days.
These lovely flowers grow around the car park on Maritime Way and are enjoyed by bees and butterflies.
