Psilos Bird Journal
Saturday June 28th 2008
     
"Gone!"
 
 
By late afternoon the weather had turned quite good so went up to see if the juveniles would come out for me. The raft is very heavily overgrown with weeds so it is not easy to see all the birds at once. From the near side I could see only two juvenile terns and they were vocally begging for fish.
For a little while two adults hunted for fish close by and I got some great views in the early evening sun as they hovered.
Tonight the terns were not nearly so aggressive and as I watched I am certain that four of the tern juveniles have left the raft. In the past when they fledge they do not tend to stick around but I did not think they would leave so quickly. Sadly though I think I have missed them. I will have to hope that I can catch the two that are remaining. So feeling deflated I decided to walk the whole of the lodge for a change and see what else was around.
The only one of two Great crested grebe chicks to be born on the lodge this year is still alive and thriving.
 
I was also delighted to see a little brood of Greylag geese sleeping quietly on the waters edge. That brought the number of broods of goslings to survive the egg smashers this year to two.
 

 
 
 
Juvenile Black headed gulls are also starting to turn up from the colony nearby in larger numbers. I think these birds look so pretty and they have the advantage of being quite tame. I sat quietly and watched one feed for quite some time. Ok so its not a tern juvenile and Im beginning to think I am not going to get to photograph them but it will do for now.