Swallow chick almost ready to fledge (Bex Outram)
Chick being ringed (Bex Outram)
Home for the Swallows...St.Cuthbert's Chapel
Sunday 16th September comments: As the westerly winds continue to dominate (resulting in very few migrants birds to report), the team continue to work effortlessly behind the scenes. On the management front, the old Staple boardwalk is completely gone (ready for new replacement), a fenceline running the length of Brownsman has been complete and all the strimming work is now complete on Inner Farne. The team are kept busy even with our visitors arriving daily.
As well as all the management work, we continue to carry out scientific studies, especially bird ringing. Yesterday the team ringed the two Swallow chicks in St.Cuthbert’s chapel, the second brood of the summer, which are ready to fly any day soon. It’s been a good year for our breeding Swallows, as four pairs have bred across the islands including pairs nesting in the Chapel and the two lighthouses (Longstone and Inner Farne). It has been a change in fortunes for this aerial summer visitor, as up until two years ago, Swallows had not bred on the islands in 12 years, so it’s a very welcome return to form.
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