After their rapid early departure during the record heat wave on the 17th and 18th of April, numbers continued to slip away as the breeding pairs departed. Numbers rebounded a bit on the 24th with the arrival of more juveniles. Last evening their numbers peaked at 102. Latest count today is 83 including six adult drakes.
A ridge of high pressure will build over the island tomorrow so expect the departure of the juvenile portion of the population is imminent, and probably similar to last spring, despite the marked early departure of the adults.
Friends of Shoal Harbour 