Blog
27/07/2022
Nearing the End of the Season
Hi all, I hope all is well; I can confirm 2 new borns in 1, at least 1 new chick in 5 and expecting 2, 1 on nest in 6, 1 on nest in 5 and buffer still on her one egg. Loads of fledglings again today, and our “buffer twins” are getting quite plump, now enjoying the grass on 7. A very soft day with loads of Sanderlings, some new Plovers chicks have hatched 🐣 on 8 ( 3), full tide is wonderful, tomorrow near 11:30 am if you want to enjoy it! I leave you with some shots, loads of plovers around too and a hidden Knot, will you spot it? 😉. I also put a picture of Rockabill, at 3pm all was so clear and we counted over 100 guillemots! Ok, I am off! Slán Tamall! Franck
19/07/2022
"Heat Wave"
Good evening! Well it was actually quite cool this afternoon with the South Eastern winds ( 23 in the shade) but back home and I had up to 33 c. A new chick is out on a nest I didn’t even spot ( hidden on 4, close to us in front of the caravans, I would expect a second one by tomorrow). Still 2 on eggs in 4 and 1 and our oldest bird with one egg on buffer. One must believe but that would be incredible! Speaking of the “miracle chicks”, they are doing great, survived the even higher tide of last night and have now move to pen 7, in and out and eating well. That hot spell was no bother to them all, especially this afternoon. Amazing activity around, displays, feeding and fun. But a Peregrine launched a more serious attack near 1:30 pm and I was concerned when I saw white feathers this morning on the very low tide but it could be other things so no sweat. Franck
18/07/2022
Hot!
Nice afternoon at the site at Baltray yesterday, despite the heat. Large numbers of juvs along the tideline (at one point i counted 155 mixed juvs and adults covering the southern half of the colony). Also about 20 arctic terns arrived. According to Franck there are still four or five pairs sitting, bu tthe big news was that a nest, apparently abandoned, but fortunately moved ahead of a big tide, finally produced chicks after 30 days incubation (little terns typically 18-22 days, with a further 20 days to fledging), quite a record! Also were increasing numbers of waders and other tern species, several dispersing roseates calling around the bar.
15/07/2022
Bastille day
Good evening dear friends! The colony is slowly getting smaller since a good few chicks are now flying, more activity in the morning and late afternoon. High tide is pretty strong but the high pressure will be keeping it in check. Sandwich Terns spent a lot of time on the south strand with 155 individuals and mostly young ones. Also feeding the able air smiths just like ours. Still about 5 to 6 terns on nests so we’ll see what happens next. All in all, the colony has had a very healthy and peaceful season and one should be grateful about that fact, in so many ways. I will leave you with a few shots of some sandpiper friends who have kept us entertained since the beginning ; Dulins and Sanderlings. Oíche mhaith! Franck
15/07/2022
Sunset at Baltray
14/07/2022
Update
Good evening all! Another busy day for the Little Terns, 110 on the shore and many chicks out and about, no big change from yesterday and still 7 on eggs. Noticeable this afternoon was over 90 Sandwich Terns with their young, shooting the breeze and sharing an auld fish or eel. 20+ Common Terns with a couple of young ones also. A kestrel hovered for a wee while “Northside” but was more interested in what was happening in the dunes. Chatted to a few people and invited them to look at a few birds on the telescope 🔭. So very positive. It is now very important to spend more time on the northern fence/ area to leave all birds in peace. Over 15 curlews also, Dunlins and Sanderlings and a very colourful Knot. Franck
13/07/2022
Enclosure from Space
The enclosed area for nesting little terns is over two kilometers in length in two cordons, the outer just flexi fencing and the inner electrified. Erecting and dismantling this involves a huge volunteer effort every season. The fencing keeps foxes and other ground predators, such as rodents, out. The specific design has been improved over the years so that these days is it very rare for a fox to cause problems.
11/07/2022
Sixty Chicks On The Move
This morning there were at least 60 chicks along the shore practicing flying, four of which are now fully fledged. There are still six nests with eggs. It should be a great week for them given the weather forecast Franck
08/07/2022
About Franck
Franck Le Moënner is our lead ornithologist for the little terns site at Baltray this year. Franck was born and grew up in Brittany, near Vannes in the old salt marshes of Séné, home of the black winged stilt. This is where he trained to become an ornithologist, as well as in Cap Sizun on the kittiwake project. He is a licensed ringer, mostly passerines but also kittiwakes and storm petrels. He trained as a wildlife guide in the marshes of Brière and Guérande and worked in various locations and ecosystems around Brittany, also worked in Glenveagh National park and I have been living in Ireland since 1994.
08/07/2022
Site Update
Yesterday evening there was a lot of courtship behavior at Baltray, with wing display and food presents. These are likely to be refugee birds from other less successful sites. We have heard that chicks are being found dead in the nest elsewhere, likely to be caused by a starvation. If these birds do lay their chicks wont fledge until mid August at the earliest, still just enough time to make their migration to west Africa. Also notable this year is the general aggression of the flock. When any crow or gull passes overhead 100 birds lift and harry them until they leave the site. This is very positive and contributes tot eh success of the breading season.
06/07/2022
95 Chicks and Counting
As of yesterday evening there are 120 adults, at least 95 chicks, many very mobile, and at least 28 further eggs to hatch per Franck LeMoenner, our site ecologist this year. To date only one nest has ben abandoned, while only three were lost to the spring tide backed by wind mid-last month. If all goes well this will be comparable to our most successful years.
02/07/2022
June update
As of the end of June we have 42 chicks fledged out of 120 adults.
28/06/2022
Little Tern Blog
Today we have recorded a total of 43 chicks with a further 60 or so eggs to hatch. So far we have had only one bad weather day last week, when the outer seaward fence had to be repaired. Thanks again to all the volunteers for their help and support. Breffni