To Everything, Tern Tern Tern, There is A Season, Tern Tern Tern

Yes yes, sorry... Even worse than usual, I know but I couldn't resist.



After work today I nipped over to Berry Head and spent a merry 4 hours watching hordes of Common Terns. They spent most of the time hanging around feeding on poor unfortunate whitebait, with only the odd group getting bored and moving on. Even then they were only passing in small numbers - at least until later on, when a combination of vexing skuas and low-flying Red Arrows persuaded more to go. My final total passing south was a decent 481 [or twice the number that passed the Nose on Monday in less than half the time]. I say Common rather than Commic, because the light was good and every single 'commic' I zoomed in on was a Common and most were easily close enough to not need much of that.


As well as said Commons there were at least 4 Arctics [which stood out nicely] and 2 Sarnies [with more I didn't get on], plus two Black Terns, who despite hanging with the tern mob just to the NE of the Head, were evasive to the point of driving the poor observers - trying to get others on them - to near insanity...



5 or more Arctic Skuas - one staying about for more than an hour, and another a yellow-headed juv. - and a Bonxie were their tormentors, with at least 148 Manxies and 7 Balearics also coming in to join the Kitts and Gannets in the fun. Attacking from below were at least 10 Harbour Porpoises in two groups.


Non-seabird passage consisted of three [single] Swifts - all Common, alas - while there were both a Clouded Yellow and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth reported in the Quarry [but missed by me.. Drat]



It was a brilliant watch, with birds everywhere - though the irritating way the showers all missed made me wonder what else might have been out there - but that's seawatching. Especially when you look across the Bay to see the Nose getting hit.. ::Shrug::