MarkyMark's Nature Blog:- Terns #17

Roseate Tern

This blog is slightly different to previous blogs, with respect to it not being about garden or woodland wildlife. As a change, I thought I would talk about the arrival of our spring, ground-nesting seabirds. This may help with tern identification for those who can walk to the coast now or when lockdown relaxes. Like a lot of people, I cannot visit the coast at present as I do not live close enough to do my daily exercise. Therefore I will try and bring a little bit of the coast to you in this blog. The Solent hosts three species of our most elegant breeding seabirds; Sandwich, Common and Little Terns. The Roseate Tern also used to breed here, but hasn't done so since 2006. The Roseate Tern is Europe's rarest nesting sea bird. In recent years all tern populations have unfortunately declined.

Common Tern feeding chicks - Photo by Paul Willis

I have previously worked for Bird Aware Solent working as a ranger along the Solent coast line, helping people to enjoy the coast without disturbing the thousands of birds hat over-winter here.

Common Tern - Photo by Mark Appleton

Before the lockdown occurred, I was due to work as a Tern Warden for the RSPB Roseate Tern Life Recovery Project along the South coast. Unfortunately due to the Corona Virus outbreak this had to be cancelled. A lot of people have worked very hard for many years to help this tern conservation and have seen successes in Ireland and North East England. This work is still on going along the South coast to try and expand the Roseate Tern's range. I will describe a little bit about the project as well as the different Terns we are likely to encounter along the Solent. The overall purpose of the RSPB Roseate Tern LIFE Recovery Project is to improve the conservation prospects of Roseate erns throughout its range in the UK and Ireland by improving its breeding status in the UK and helping the species reclaim its former habitats. For this to happen it is important all species of tern thrive. Roseate Terns never breed on their own, so the larger the colonies of neighbouring tern species, the better. Roseate Terns are relatively timid and prefer to nest among the more assertive Common Tern colonies where they gain some protection from predators.




Conservation efforts aim to improve the Common Tern colonies within the former range of Roseate Terns in the hope that big thriving colonies of Common Terns will lure Roseate Terns to settle there once again.

Sea Bird Threats

• Eroding Nesting Habitat:- This is a big problem, due to the sea level increase and extreme weather events a lot of nests get washed away, or chicks perish with adverse weather
• Food Shortages:-Due to climate induced changes in the marine environment eg. dwindling stocks of small fish such as sandeels.
• Human disturbance:- Nest disturbance by humans, dog walkers and they still suffer from egg collectors
• Predation:- Natural predators include foxes, otters, rats, large gulls, crows and peregrine falcons
  

The North-West Solent is the principal breeding location for Common, Sandwich and Little Tern in the Solent and Southampton Water special protected area (SPA). This is where I would have been working, especially around the Lymington and Keyhaven Nature reserve. I have not included the Artic Tern in this blog as it tends to be a more northerly breeder.

Gulls and Terns 
A lot of people confuse Terns with Seagulls. Firstly there is no such species as a seagull but there are many different types of species of gull. Secondly a tern is not a gull and there are also several species of tern. Some differences between terns and gulls are described below:-

Wings:- Terns have long-pointed wings while gulls have broad wings. 
Bills:- Terns have sharp bills while gulls have hooked beaks. 
Body:- Terns are smaller. 
Predatory practice :- Terns tend to dive to the water to grab fish while gulls float on water to pick up prey.

All Terns are migratory, often seen outside their breeding areas in spring and autumn, but absent from Europe in winter as they return to Western Africa

The Terns of the Western Solent

Roseate Tern
Sometimes referred to as a 'sea swallow'. Approximately over 100 pairs on Coquet island in the North East of England.

Roseate Tern calling - Photo by Amanda Boyd (USFWS)

Roseate Tern flying - By NatureFramingham

Identification:- Similar in size to a Common Tern, much much whiter, with a pale grey back and wings . Roseate has features similar to the Common and Artic Terns, having a long bill and relatively long legs and even longer tail streamers than the Artic Tern. The all dark bill is a strong feature of the spring Roseate Tern, which usually develops a red base as the summer progresses. It is a very pale tern, looking whitish except for a darker wedge on the leading edge of the longest flight feathers in late summer. Often has a pinkish or slight rosy flush to its underparts.

The sounds of a Roseate Tern can be heard here:- Roseate Tern Sound

Key Features:-

• Very pale, almost ghostly white tern

• Very long, loose tail streamers

• Nearly wholly black bill

Habits:-

• In flight has a stiffer action than Common and Artic Terns.
• It also has faster shallow wingbeats that are almost kestrel like.
• When fishing, it looks more confident as it turns and flies from a greater height into water than the Common Tern

Breeding:-

• Normally nests on small marine islands close to shore
• Nesting begins in June, shallow scrape made by both birds, usually in shelter of rock or vegetation
• Clutch of 1 or 2 eggs, incubated by both parents, with female main incubator
• Eggs hatch after 21-26 days, young stay near nest for up to 20 days, usually fly by 30 days
• Remain dependant on parents for at least 8 weeks after fledging.

Unfortunately now rarely seen on the Solent. Keep your eyes peeled. 

Common Tern
Common Terns frequently breed along the Solent. They will use a wider range of breeding sites than the Roseate Terns. They will nest inshore and will readily use artificial sites, including floating rafts. Approximately 10,500 UK pairs. 

Common Tern - Photo by Amanda Boyd (USFWS)

Common Tern flying Photo by Tony Hisgett

Identification:-
This is the tern most likely to breed inland as well as the coast. It has classic tern features with grey wings, black cap and red bill but its the wings that give a lot of clues to its identification. The inner wings (called the secondaries) form a narrow dark band. The outer primary feathers instead of being pale and translucent have a dark, smudgy, wedge. Its body looks moderate in proportion, with mid-length tail streamers.

The sounds of the Common Tern can be heard here:- Common Tern Sound

Key Features:-

• Classic tern pattern of grey wings, black cap and red bill
• Tail streamers of moderate length
• Long bill is red with a black tip
• Dark 'wedge' in the outer primary feathers

Habits:-

• Flight more direct and powerful than other smaller terns
• When fishing, flies with bill pointed down and often rises gently before hovering and diving head first
• A social species breeding in colonies and often seen in flocks
• Sometimes seen carrying a fish crossways in its bill to feed young or as a courtship offering to the female.

Breeding:-

• Breeding begins in May, with both adults constructing a scrape in the sand
• Sometimes pebbles and vegetation are added to the rim of the nest before and during incubation
• Incubation of 2 or 3 well-camouflaged eggs is by both sexes and lasts for 21-22 days
• Young leave the nest after 3-4 days and hide in nearby vegetation or in hollows in the sand whilst waiting to be fed
• They fly after 22-28 days and are fully independent after 2 or 3 months
  

Sandwich Tern

The sandwich Tern is the largest breeding tern in the UK. You can usually recognize it by its shaggy black crest. Approximately 11,000 UK pairs.

Sandwich Tern perched - Photo by Ron Knight

Sandwich Tern Flying - Photo by Richard Enfield

Identification:-
It has a front-heavy look, compounded by having a relatively short tail and large head, with a shaggy crest at the back. The bill is long and thick, black with a small yellow tip and the legs and feet are black.

The sounds of a Sandwich Tern can be found here:- Sandwich Tern Sound

Key Features:-

• Pale wings
• Relatively large head and short tail
• A long bill which is black with a yellow tip

Habits:-

• Often flies higher than other terns and can look very 'angular' and less buoyant
• Looks short tailed and will often fly with head and  bill pointing down
• Seldom hovers, but frequently dives with quite a large splash and usually stays under for longer than other terns
• Colonies can seem fickle and appear to move for no apparent reason

Breeding:-

• Breeds exclusively in coastal locations. using shingle, sandy and sometimes rocky beaches and also islands close to the shore
• Breeding begins at end of April and nests in large colonies with both adults making a simple scrape on the ground with little or no special lining
• 1 or 2 eggs are incubated by both adults for 21-29 days
• The young fly at 28-30 days and remain dependant on their parents for about 3 months

Little Tern

The Little Tern, as its name suggests, is the smallest of the terns and is the UK's second rarest breeding seabird. Approximately under 2000 pairs in the UK.

Little Tern - Photo by David Raju

Little Tern flying - Photo by Stefan Berndtsson

Identification:-
A tiny localised tern, much smaller than the other sea terns. It has a relatively large sized head in comparison with rest of the body. The forehead is white and the bill is yellow with a black tip. Legs are also yellow but usually hard to see. Its slightness is also emphasised by the extremely pointed wings and narrow bill giving it a 'spiky' appearance.

The sounds of a Little Tern can be found here:- Little Tern

Key Features:-

• Very slim wings and relatively large head
• Yellow bill
• White forehead extending over eye
• Fine black leading edge of underwing

Habits:-

•  Wingbeats are very fast
•  It frequently hovers before diving into the water
•  Does not normally form very large communal flocks like the larger terns
•  Breeds in colonies of average 30 pairs

Western Solent Status
The EU life Roseate Tern Recovery Project is trying innovative habitat creation and restoration techniques to improve the breeding success of our terns. Hopefully this will encourage the beautiful Roseate Tern to nest along the Solent once again. This work is being carried out in partnership with organisations including Hampshire County Council, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Lymington Harbour commissioners, National Trust, Natural England and the RSPB.

For more information on the Roseate Tern project, click on this link:-

Roseate Tern Life Recovery Project

For more information on Gulls and Terns, click on this link:-

RSPB - Gulls and Terns

and lastly

A BIG SHOUT OUT FOR ALL OUR ESSENTIAL KEY WORKERS WHO ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES

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