Good news is our terns have settled in more heavily and are starting to look more like a bustling colony, our newly white-stained attire from Friday was quick proof of that. Unfortunately then as we got ready to start the bulk of monitoring tasks for them, this weekend’s storms rolled in to thwart all that.
Since it’s still early in the egg laying stages, the break isn’t an issue and there was no need to disturb the colony anymore beyond a couple quick jaunts out to stop some incoming sheep and a few concerning gulls and ravens hovering over the eider ducklings getting thrashed about by the waves in North Cove. This was the crews first quintessential ‘stuck inside during a seabird season’ moment as we each tried to make use of the hours tucked inside the cabin by the fire all day. There was the assortment of reading, rearranging, crocheting, drawing, and talking about our food orders we are patiently waiting for in the next few days.
As is with every island storm, something seems to have to get blown about by the wind and this time it was sections of the snake drift fence coming unstapled from its stakes. Quick repair was made to hold it in the meantime but we’ll have to wait until things clear to patch it fully and rebury the base but the hope is not too many snakes will be moving about given how cold and wet it is.
Prior to the stormy weather, we’ve been seeing plenty of life in terms of shorebirds using the island both to breed and for stop overs on their migration further north. Early last week I noticed the Killdeer pair we’ve consistently seen had started suddenly acting rather suspicious. After crouching in the raspberry patch for a few minutes, I was able to see why. With each adult alarm calling from different areas of the berm it was hard to locate the source why until one flew down to usher two tiny fluff balls out and away from a driftwood log letting them know the coast was clear for the time being. They were my first Killdeer chicks and boy are they cuties!

They happened to be right around where I had previously noted a potential Spotted Sandpiper nest and after quick inspection there was a nicely hidden nest of four eggs placed between a few little sprigs of greenery. If things have gone well for the male incubating them they could hatch any day now but ideally not until after things dry out a little. Killdeers may be cute but nothing tops a new little bobble-butt (Spotted Sandpipers characteristically bob their rear end up and down).
Our nonbreeding attendees have included several groups of Black-bellied Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones along with selected visits by Short-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, a Dunlin, and Least, Semipalmated, and Purple Sandpipers. One of our supplemental tasks over the course of the season is documenting what species of shorebirds and how many of them use Metinic each year so we’re always on lookout for who’s visiting and are awaiting the many more coming as fall migration eventually turns back around.

With more news of terns soon,
Metinic Island crew leader Ryan Potter