A weather forecast showing light showers for
the morning clearing to sunnier spells was good enough for the seabird
ringing
team to venture forth to Jethou on Tuesday 9th June 2009. The team consisted of La Societe Guernesiaise
members Jamie Hooper, Chris Mourant,
Paul and Catherine Veron who caught the 08.00 boat across to Jethou
courtesy of
Jethou Island. On arrival the team were
welcomed with coffee with Dr Peter Ogden and Annie.
The
team explained their intentions for the day which as well as ringing
seabirds
also included the Shag productivity project which Paul was keen to run
on
Jethou and the Humps to assess how successful the breeding birds were
over a 5
year period. The last few years had proved
very poor for Shag productivity and the team felt it was now very
important to
monitor in a scientific manner productivity of 100
identifiable nests. It was proposed that
plastic numbers be
attached to each monitored nest. Dr
Ogden was supportive of the project and asked for any information
relating to
Jethou to be relayed to him, which the team were more than happy to do.
With the tide slowly falling, and the rain
holding off, the team set off towards Grande Fauconniere.
A colour ringed Herring Gull was noted on the
beach with the burner – 5.AA6 which the team had ringed the
previous weekend as
part of the cannon netting session at Chouet landfill, Guernsey run by
the
North Thames Gull Group. The sighting of
colour ringed gulls on their nesting grounds is particularly valuable. A colour ringed Lesser Black Backed Gull from
Paul’s scheme ringed in Guernsey was unable to be read completely. It is hoped that we can track this gull
(which was on its nest) during the next visit.
A number
of Shag pulli were ringed along the rocky south-east coastline, but no
nests were
marked. A raft of a 12 puffin was
seen
between Jethou and Herm with 3 – 4 other birds passing by. The Lesser Black Backed Gull colony
above
the quarry was not so busy this year with more Herring Gulls present
than
normal. When the team reached Grande
Fauconniere beach it worked along the top of the beach marking Shag
nests and
ringing pulli where possible. Good
numbers of successful breeding birds were present along here with 10
nests
marked (numbers 41 – 50) and a total of five Shag pulli was
ringed. A number of Herring Gull pulli
were also
present amongst the boulders although not yet big enough to ring (bar
one). There was worrying evidence of the
none
native Hotentot Fig present along this coast line, which some of the
gulls were
using for nesting material. This is an
invasive species which once established, out competes native flora
resulting in
vast swathes of this succulent which is of very little benefit to
wildlife.
At the south west corner, we ringed a further ten
Shag pulli and noted evidence of a Peregrine kill.
One Great Black Backed Gull nestling was also
ringed here.
At the west end further nests were marked and a
total of 36 Shag pulli was ringed. A
further Great Black Backed Gull pullus was ringed.
The team then returned back to the boat house
enjoying spectacular views of 40 plus painted lady butterflies on the
Red Valerian
by the House.
After a quick coffee and sandwich in the
sunshine, the team headed off to Grande Fauconniere which had just
dried. Jamie managed to corner an adult
Fulmar
sitting on its egg – ringed with D4541.
A total of 36 Shag pulli was ringed and a further ten nests were
marked. An adult Razorbill was also
ringed – K10201
which had a half grown chick. Good
numbers of Razorbills again seemed to be present on the islet. A species similar to Firebug was noted on the
islet.
With the tide now low, the team focused its
efforts on Crevichon and marking the remaining 30 Shag nests. A total of 47 Shag pulli was ringed on this
islet along with 13 Great Black Backed Gull chicks, seven of which were
colour
ringed (yellow plastic ring with black code).
Two adult shags were caught in
the quarry on Crevichon: - F27559 was found on its nest by Jamie. It had originally been ringed on 17 June 2004
by Jamie on Jethou. F21376 was caught by
Paul below the Elders in the quarry. It too had been ringed as a
nestling on
Jethou by Jamie (in June 2001). The Little Egrets appeared to be doing very
well with 15 nests in the Elders within the quarry. Two small young
were colour
ringed – KX and KZ. The Little
Egrets’
breeding season is clearly well-spread with a wide range with nests
containing eggs,
while others had very small young. There were also a few nestlings that
were almost
ready to fledge.
The team was delighted with the results of the Jethou ringing with a grand total of 154 Shag pulli ringed. After two years of no notable Shag breeding, this is an immense relief for the Bailiwick’s seabird fortunes. It also fairs considerably better than 2006 when a total of 90 Shag was ringed on Jethou. Most of the Shag seem to have good productivity levels with three young present in the nest, again a favourable sign.
C Veron
10th June 2009