I always remember my mentor John Leedal saying to me, May was the best month of the year. Well, from the single point of view that this month sees the return of the Common Tern to Conder Green, he was obviously spot on there. I was confident the Common Tern would keep to form and return to Conder Pool by Tuesday or Friday at the latest as the dates below predict, but the birds have beaten me to it and put in their first appearance 3 days earlier yesterday 2 May (LDBWS/FBC)
It is interesting to note, the first year the Common Tern came to Conder Pool was on the late date of 2 July 2014, but they went on to breed and to successfully fledge 2 young to be last seen on 14 September at Cockersand. The following year 2015, the birds were first seen on 22 May, had 3 young to fledge, and were last seen on the Lune Estuary as a family party of 5 on 28 July.
For the next 4 years the Common Tern arrived on Conder Pool between the dates of 5 - 8 May....
2016: 6 May, fledging 2 young, last seen on 12 July.
2017: 8 May, fledging 3 young, last seen on 14 July.
2018: 7 May, fledging 3 young, last seen on 13 July. A second pair of Common Tern which arrived before the original pair had hatched chicks, appeared to be having a second breeding attempt, seemingly having abandoned the first. A chick was eventually seen, and fledged on 15 August and was last seen on 23 August.
2019: The year was quite eventful for the Common Tern on Conder Pool, the first pair arrived on 5 May, they were followed the next day by a second pair. Both pairs hatched 2 chicks followed by a runt for one of the pair, it was later killed by the Black-headed Gulls which were breeding on the pontoon, the second pair of Common Tern also had both their young attacked by the gulls but amazingly escaped with their lives, even more amazing they fledged 3 days later to be last seen on Conder Pool on 8 August.
....and did an indoors portrait job with the Aquilegia which I thought turned out quite good.
The Merry Month of May....Not too sure about that this time around.
I'd Sooner Be Birding!
It is interesting to note, the first year the Common Tern came to Conder Pool was on the late date of 2 July 2014, but they went on to breed and to successfully fledge 2 young to be last seen on 14 September at Cockersand. The following year 2015, the birds were first seen on 22 May, had 3 young to fledge, and were last seen on the Lune Estuary as a family party of 5 on 28 July.
For the next 4 years the Common Tern arrived on Conder Pool between the dates of 5 - 8 May....
2016: 6 May, fledging 2 young, last seen on 12 July.
2017: 8 May, fledging 3 young, last seen on 14 July.
2018: 7 May, fledging 3 young, last seen on 13 July. A second pair of Common Tern which arrived before the original pair had hatched chicks, appeared to be having a second breeding attempt, seemingly having abandoned the first. A chick was eventually seen, and fledged on 15 August and was last seen on 23 August.
2019: The year was quite eventful for the Common Tern on Conder Pool, the first pair arrived on 5 May, they were followed the next day by a second pair. Both pairs hatched 2 chicks followed by a runt for one of the pair, it was later killed by the Black-headed Gulls which were breeding on the pontoon, the second pair of Common Tern also had both their young attacked by the gulls but amazingly escaped with their lives, even more amazing they fledged 3 days later to be last seen on Conder Pool on 8 August.
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From the archive 9 years ago today 3 May 2011.
Dawn Chorus Day.
I was in the garden at 4.30am this morning to experience the Dawn Chorus. The air was alive with birdsong, the Blackbirds were particularly outstanding. Then the sunrise gave cause to realise that Covid-19 can never end that, nor silence the birds.
I was in the garden at 4.30am this morning to experience the Dawn Chorus. The air was alive with birdsong, the Blackbirds were particularly outstanding. Then the sunrise gave cause to realise that Covid-19 can never end that, nor silence the birds.
Allium. Pete Woodruff.
I had a wander around the garden, and got a half decent pik of the Allium....
Aquilegia. Pete Woodruff. Clik the piks
....and did an indoors portrait job with the Aquilegia which I thought turned out quite good.
The Merry Month of May....Not too sure about that this time around.
I'd Sooner Be Birding!
Hi Pete ... I hope May is a good month ... Thanks for your comment and stay safe ... :-)))
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update on the Conder Pool Common Terns, Pete - I hope that 2020 is a good year for them. Brian's header image is an absoluter cracker!
ReplyDeleteFingers are also crossed that May will see a significant improvement in the Covid-19 situation, but I'm keen that restrictions aren't lifted too soon. I suspect that Lindsay and I will be greatly lagging behind 'what we can do' with 'what we actually do do'!!
Take great care - best wishes to you and KT - - - Richard
May is indeed a wonderful time to be out and about in our glorious countryside.Unfortunately Covid 19 has put paid to that !!
ReplyDeleteLet's hope Boris gives us a bit more freedom next week
I like your pic of the colombine and thanks for the header terns shot.I had forgotten about that one.Think they are back now at Preston Docks,I will have to combine a visit with some shopping !!
Take care and keep well.