Late March has seen the island begin to don its breeding season cloak.
Big numbers of gulls have arrived at the last Webs count 624 Lesser Black backs had returned to the lagoons and 518 Herring gulls. This count doesn’t include the salt marshes or the long shingle bank at an estimate these populations add another 200 or so to each species. Which means we are somewhere near the islands population. In addition the Common gulls have returned to they colony and have begun to establish territory. Its not only gulls that are on the move, avocets have been passing through the island, though how many will remain to breed on the island is unclear. Skylarks have been in full song and the meadow pipits are beginning there distinctive parachuting flight display.
The Hares are increasingly active, or at least relatively active. Nether the most lively of animals on the island the warming temperatures have seen them become increasingly boisterous. Its a quirk of the island population that whilst this inherent laziness makes them incredibly confiding it also means that actual behaviour can be a little low on the ground. A warm day tends to get them out and about but too warm tends to leave them sprawled in a big heap catching the sun and soaking up the warmth.
They are looking increasingly smart now. However, Its not been an easy winter for the Hares. Two factors have contributed to a long hard winter for this animal, the cold spell in late December which led to at least a week of completely frozen ground and a covering of snow. However, perhaps more seriously was the loss of five adult animals in October, the exact cause is unknown but the return of the viral haemorrhaging that afflicts the population on Havergate is not out of the question. Partly brought on by the poor diet, Sea-purselane and an enormous amount of salt is not ideal for Hares.
Such an outbreak is recorded on the islands every four to five years and when one considers that the island only plays host to around 29 hares, losing five from the population is a significant chunk. However, Havergate Hares are nothing if not resilient and i'm sure they'll bounce back and they remain remarkably easy to see on the island. The annual Hare census will not be conducted until early May now so results will not be known until then.
Migrants have started to arrive including a Black Redstart and the first Chiffchaff of the year. However, winter still lingers in the shape of a fantastic Short Eared owl and the large flock of Shore larks remains on Belpers lagoons, though mobile and often at times frustratingly elusive. Indeed the flock was missing assumed migrated and but for the sharp eyes of the Webs counters this would have remained the case. It remains a long shot and no doubt in many ways a vain hope but it would be truly great for the island and the species as a whole if Havergate became a favourite of there’s in winters to come. Management of Belpers will reflect this hope next winter.
On a separate note, Operation spoonbill has begun with the area set aside for this enigmatic species beginning to be prepared.