Long Pierre, Humps
23 June 2008
This was the second
trip of the season out to the Humps,
courtesy of Tara, Island Rib Tours.
Originally, the trip was scheduled for 17:00 but a call from
Tara a few
hours earlier meant that we squeezed in an earlier departure time due
to a slot
in the window of tour bookings (thank goodness for flexible working
hours!).
However, unfortunately neither Jamie nor Chris could make it.
Accompanying the
ringing team was Darcy, Island Rib Tours
who, after an unfortunate start to the expedition (slipped on the rocks
as we
beached the dingy and got rather wet including the life jacket which
self
inflated), did seem to enjoy himself. (Did he slip…or was he
pushed by
Catherine…who nearly went in herself?!).
The team approached
the island from the east, and discovered
two Shag pulli of suitable age to ring.
Further investigation of the top of the islet, revealed that the
Guillemot colony in the centre was doing well with approximately 15
adults, 10
chicks and half a dozen eggs. The team
ringed a total of five adult Guillemots and one pullus.
They also managed to find a ringed adult
(H1389) which was originally ringed on 9th June 2005 on
Longue
Pierre by the Seabird Team. The other
Guillemot colony on the north side of the islet contained two adults
(one of
which was caught) and one pullus.
The remainder of the
islet was then systematically searched,
resulting in the ringing of two Great Black Backed Gull pulli. The vegetation was particularly lush, making
good cover for the chicks to hide in.
An Oystercatcher
nest with eggs was noted and four or five
Herring Gull pulli were present on the beach but all too small to ring.