Common Tern on the pier, 25 May 2004

Common Terns often fish in the wake of boats leaving the harbour...

...and make use of the abundance of whitebait in summer.

JDM Records

2003 - Noted 21 Apr to 9 Oct, with birds displaying on 22 Apr, and juvs from the breeding colony on Lodmoor noted from 31 July. Rather lower spring nos than last year, but summer max about the same. Monthly maxima as follows:

2002 - Noted 17 Apr (earliest ever recorded) to 7 Oct, with juvs from the breeding colony on Lodmoor noted from 26 July. Excellent spring nos, with max 48 on both 17 & 27 May. Monthly maxima as follows:

2001 - Noted 27 Apr to 10 Oct, with juvs from the small breeding colony on Lodmoor swelling the numbers in summer. Max 32 on 14 July, with juvs noted from 24 July. Monthly maxima as follows:

2000 - Noted 19 Apr to 28 Sep, with juvs from the small breeding colony on Lodmoor swelling the numbers in summer. One juv. caught by an angler on 16 Sep was unhooked and released unharmed! Max 28 on 7 Aug. Monthly maxima as follows:

1985 - 14 bird-days. Noted 26 Apr (5), 9 May (1), 26 Sep(2) , 2, 9 & 11 Oct (2).

1983 - Noted 27 Apr - end June sporadically, then almost continuously July/Aug. Max 4 on several dates. Then noted sporadically, max 18 on 27 Sep along with the Sandwich Tern gathering until the last single on 4 Nov in Newton's Cove, the latest ever recorded at The Nothe.

1982 - Noted 1 May - 19 Oct. Max 6 on 27 Aug.

Records from Bird Reports

1997 - 20 in Newton's Cove on 12 Sep.

1996 - 1st-w at The Nothe, 27 Oct.

1992 - 50 in Newton's Cove on 19 Sep.

1984 - Common/Arctic Tern: 45N at The Nothe on 16 May