Cramped conditions in Kitti City!

From our recent blog posts you'd be forgiven for thinking that our Roseate and Common Tern chicks have occupied all of our time over the last few weeks and that we've barely had time for anything else. You'd be forgiven for thinking that, because you'd be correct!

A couple of thousand Tern chicks will keep you very busy it'd seem, but we have been taking the occasional glance at our Black Guillemots and Kittiwakes when we get the chance. Kittiwakes are a gull species that nest almost exclusively on cliffsides, building nests with mud, seaweed and vegetation. The chicks take around 43 days to fledge from hatching, so none have fledged yet, but they're quite big at the moment and still have a bit more growing to do. Needless to say space is usually limiting on the side of a cliff, so things are getting very cramped at the minute as the chicks grow bigger and start stretching their wings. 

We'll keep you updated on counts and fledging news, but in the mean time here are some pictures from a part of the east-side of the Island known as 'Kitti City':

Adult Kittiwake - or 'Black-Legged Kittiwake' to give its full name. (Picture taken under NPWS license)

Kitti City - not much space! (Picture taken under NPWS license)

We're so used to Common Tern chicks running around, and Roseate Tern chicks disappearing and reappaearing that it's nice to see some chicks that stay in the same place! (Picture taken under NPWS license)

Not much space, but at least they're sheltered from the weather. (Picture taken under NPWS license)

Some of the chicks are already close to adult-size, but they'll have some plumage differences for around two years before getting the clean and simple white and grey of the adults. (Picture taken under NPWS license)

Still some growing to do. (Picture taken under NPWS license)

 If you look closely there are actually two chicks in this nest. (Picture taken under NPWS license)

(Picture taken under NPWS license)

(Picture taken under NPWS license)

(Picture taken under NPWS license)