Predators and the weather take their pick of bird

The local countryside scene in July is reviewed by John Almond with the help of members and friends of Alnwick and District Natural History Society.

As the breeding season for most bird species drew to a close it was time to assess the success or otherwise this year when the weather has changed from one extreme to another.

The cold, wet spring had a particularly bad effect on butterflies but they seem to have made use of the mostly fine weather in July to get on with mating and laying eggs.

A spotted flycatcher was still nesting near Powburn on July 1.

In Belle Vue Gardens, a song thrush was taking food for young on July 1 and 5, a robin was collecting food for young on July 3, and a juvenile robin was present on July 5.On July 4, blue tits, coal tits, song thrush and blackbird were reported to have nested in Royal Oak Gardens.

There was mixed success for the Long Nanny colony of nesting birds.

On July 4, there were 2,000 pairs of Arctic terns and 18 pairs of little terns.

Predation by a kestrel feeding young was causing problems with the subsequent loss of chicks and even adult birds.

There was only one little tern chick left at the end of the month, a badger being thought to be responsible for the losses.

A ringed plover was present on July 4, but the eight pairs that had attempted to nest were thwarted by black headed gulls.

Continued