Despite some excellent numbers of breeding birds present (20+ pairs of Lapwing, 10+ pairs of Ringed Plover, 6 pairs of Oystercatchers & c.5 drumming Snipe) most seemed to have failed due to a combination of persistent wet weather, predation from Foxes & crows, severe Spring tides & abandonment of nests. This follows a nationwide pattern of poor breeding success reported so far this year.
Only one clutch of Oystercatcher eggs hatched but the chicks vanished soon after. Several broods of Ringed Plovers were to be seen scampering around the beach a few weeks ago but none of the expected fledged juveniles have materialised on the nearby marsh & estuary. As few as 6 Lapwing young are thought to have fledged despite plenty of clutches hatching successfully. Snipe are out of our reach for checking on breeding success effectively but lots of drumming, singing & displaying has been noted so hopefully they did ok.
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| Tern warden Niall Keogh fitting a Ringed Plover chick with a uniquely coded metal ring © Jamie Durrant |
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| Ringed Plover chick just after being ringed © Jamie Durrant |
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| Adult Ringed Plover brooding a chick during wet weather. An all too common sight this season © Ronnie Martin |
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| Ringed Plover nest with an adopted stone! These eggs failed to hatch unfortunately © Niall Keogh |
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| Distraction displays by an adult Oystercatcher on the day the eggs hatched © Laura Nuttall |
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| A well grown Lapwing chick © Niall Keogh |
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| A 'drumming' (i.e. displaying) Snipe © Brian Carruthers |
