Monday 21 July 2014

Copeland Island Visited in June (1)

The last time I visited Copeland Island was in May and these photograph  were taken 1 month exactly from that visit this June.   If you are a regular viewer of my blog you will be able to see the great changes in the wildlife and for those who didn’t manage to see the 6 posts published in June, CLICK HERE for the start of them.  These photographs are mainly of the journey out to the island and what we saw when we first landed.


As you can see from this shot, there were 4 of us.  Wesley who was the Duty Officier and the 2 younger people, Richard and Nina from Glasgow University who were doing research on Herring Gulls. (Lots more about that in future posts)


As we neared the island, I was very excited to see a raft of at least 250 Manx Shearwater.  I had never seen a raft of them before and they were gathering so that when it was dark they could land on the island and go to their burrows.  I have a short video at the end. 


Please remember a lot of photographs where taken on a moving boat!



This is a Common Seal however we also have Grey Seals breeding around the island.



The Arctic Terns had arrived now and we were going to have to be extremely careful not to walk on any of their eggs in the nests when we landed. The noise was ‘something else’ and we were prepared to be attacked.   Once again, in later posts I will be showing you more shots of the Terns but the second clip on the video below is of them and Gulls lifting when the boat approached the jetty.



There were both adult (solid black on head) and 
1st year Arctic Terns (white above the bill). Sorry it is a out of focus but I wanted you to see the difference!
  




It would have been a very tranquil scene except 
for the screaming birds everywhere.



Oystercatcher and Common Gulls on the rocks.  Both breed on the island and last time I was here, these birds were incubating their eggs and this time I will be showing you their chicks in later posts.



These next few shots were taken as I was walking up to the house with a very heavy rucksack and another bag plus camera round my neck! Mr and Mrs Mallard were out for their evening walk. 


Rabbits are very important on the island because they keep a lot of the grass paths short but also as they dig burrows, these are essential for the Shearwaters to breed in.


There are quite a number of Wrens breed on the island however they are very difficult to photograph but you hear them singing all the time.


After we left our bags in the house, Wesley and I took Richard and Nina to show them round the island.  Richard was amazed at the beauty of the masses of Pink Campion.




Herring Gull behind in front and Lesser Black backed Gull in front.



This is the first of many chicks of a Lesser Black backed Gull


While we were standing on the cliff top we saw these Shags.  Notice the one with its wings out.  I thought it was about to fly but it kept its wings like that for quite a while obviously drying them but I had only even seen them drying their wings on a rock before.


I hope you found this post interesting.  There are LOTS more I have to show you and I am very excited at what discovered the next morning on my way down to the 'loo with the view'.  You will not be disappointed!

On the video of the Manx Shearwaters, Arctic Terns and Gulls I have cut the noise of the boat out and inserted (I hope) suitable music which can be access at

http://youtu.be/rJyL1NKJc78

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.



Thank you for visiting and also to those who leave comments on any of my posts.

28 comments:

  1. Margaret, what a great post.. I enjoyed seeing the Shearwater and ArcticTerns, they are new ones for me..Maybe some day, I will see them! Thanks for sharing, have a happy day!

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  2. Your shots are fantastic giving that you were on a moving boat! Love the pink field of flowers!

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  3. Wonderful photos, Margaret! I love the seals. They're so cute.

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  4. Totally love these shots, and have never before heard of a raft of birds, so learned something new. I think it is awesome to have the opportunities to go to these isolated islands. What beauty you see there!

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  5. So much wildlife! You got an uncommonly good seal photo. Especially from a boat. I started following! I didn't realize I wasn't. I know I am on google.

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  6. Thanks for the views of the Manx Shearwaters .. I'm hoping one day I'll see some close enough for a photo.

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  7. The island is as fascinating in June as it was in May. I think you did a wonderful job of getting pictures from the boat. The Pink Campion is beautiful.

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  8. Hi Margaret, Amazing the differences between May and June.... You should try to go back every month or two ---because I'm sure the differences will continue to happen with each passing month (at least until winter sets in)...

    Love seeing the TERNS --but I can imagine how loud they were when you approached their nesting areas.... Woooooo!!!!! Hope you didn't step on any eggs....

    Love the wildflower photos... Beautiful..

    Thanks for taking us with you...
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Hi Betsy It was very difficult coming off the boat with all the gear and tip toeing over allthe eggs adn no of us, trod any any of them. thanks for your comment.

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  9. A fine post of these very active birds. I like the details that showed us the adult and the younger ones. The video surprised me with how fast the birds were flying. Well done.

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    1. Hi Don Yes it was quite difficult to film because i did not know where they were going and I was on a moving boat. glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for your comment.

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  10. Lovely series, very interesting photos and video.

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  11. I had not known that the Rabbits hole could also be used by Birds, awesome. I love the Rooster photos, amazingly beautiful shots here Margaret, (I can't access your video but at least I am here today, tomorrow? lord knows;-0 ) Once I'm right I'll have a bit of catching up to do.

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    1. HI Lynn Yes the Puffins and Manx Shearwaters nest in burrows. I have send you an email with another link to see if you can access the video. Mt video are all on Youtube so if you can get that, then there is not reason that you cannot see this video. thanks for comment.

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  12. Your posts are fascinating, for sure, Margaret. I wish there were time to explore them more fully, but I do love to see the places you visit and the wildlife you photograph so beautifully! I am especially interested in Richard and Nina's research. Is there a web site, or any information on their findings? (This, because of our relationship with a Herring Gull we've named Tupper, though we haven't seen her for the past four days.)

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  13. You did well to photograph so much wild life especially from the boat. The seal captures are brilliant!

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  14. Your getting good at these films Margaret, music and all. You will be selling ice cream soon on this post. Great posting i dont know how you do it.


    peter

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    1. HI Peter Well you comment had me belly laughing. Ice cream you say! Now I think if I could do that, it would be very popular! I am having fun Peter learning and experimenting. I have to admit, it does take quite a bit of time and soon I will not have that so I am enjoying it while I have it.

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  15. Amazing shots of the terns. So many! And the seals are very special, too.

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  16. Oh wow. Looks like nature treated you well.

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  17. Your photos are fantastic! Such a beautiful landscape and all those birds... ! A fascinating island!

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  18. That looks like an amazing place.

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  19. This is the most pleasurable activity with camera! You got great shots!

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  20. A beautiful place - so many different sea birds and animals! I do love the terns with their black skull caps and bright coral beaks and feet! How interesting about the rabbit holes, too. I enjoyed the video, but it did sort of remind me of Hitchcock's, 'The Birds' with the dramatic music! Wonderful post.

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  21. HI Beatrice Glad you enjoyed the Terns.I am doing another post just on the Arctic Tern very soon so look out for that. The birds on the video with the music I picked to go with it was deliberate as indeed this is exactly how it felt. The Hitchcock film, 'Birds' was the only film I was really scared in however I was not scared on Copeland even though the Terns did want to attack us. Many thanks for your comment.

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  22. love, love, love those seals. i was chasing our christmas seals all winter and finally got to see them!! a wonderful set of shore birds as well!!!!

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  23. A beautiful place! Lovely fields of pink campion. Love the seals and terns. Great captures!

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