9th of June: Leaving the nest

Yesterday the first fledged Sandwich Tern chick was seen outside the colony. Lots of adults are showing signs of moult on their heads with white flecks appearing on the front of their black caps. This initial stage of moulting into winter plumage - white foreheads - seems to be triggered by the incubation process.

This wonderful painting by James McCallum shows adults moulting on their heads and a juvenile taking its first flight. Click on the image to enlarge it:

James was a warden on Blakeney Point in 1994, 1999 and 2003 and makes regular visits every year. His excellent book 'The Long, Wild Shore - Bird and Seal Seasons on Blakeney Point' (2012) is a must-have for everyone who loves Blakeney Point. 

Other fledging successes include the Swallows that nested in the tern hide, which have now left the nest and are able to fly. This one was sat on the floor in the hide this morning.

Since May we have been following the progress of a trio of Oystercatchers, where two females both laid their eggs in one scrape and shared incubation. The first clutch, of seven eggs (four laid by one female and three by the other), was predated. Another five eggs were laid (three by one female and two by the other) of which only one was predated. The four eggs started hatching yesterday. Today, two chicks had hatched and were walking around. Note how well camouflaged they are against the shingle:

Having a trail camera on this nest captured some interesting happenings that we would otherwise have been oblivious to. On no less than three occasions, conflict between Oystercatchers and Grey Partridges was recorded. It seems the partridges were walking too close to the Oystercatchers' nest:

Sea Holly is coming into flower. This plant was initially uncommon on the Point, but has spread considerably over the past decade.

Lots of Sea Bindweed flowers are out too. Sea Bindweed has spread extensively across the sand dunes following the disappearance of rabbits.

- Photos: Ajay and Matt (Sea Holly)