Sunday 5 June 2011

Common Tern



This is the first year that a `tern raft` has been placed in the water at Maxey gravel pits, it is there for the Common Terns to breed on.

There is always next year!

The only time I have seen Common Terns near this raft is when they have been perching on the posts surrounding it, they have had a look, but don`t seem too impressed! I have not seen any sign of tern breeding on the site, there are still a couple of pairs about, but I have not yet seen any chicks. Hopefully the raft will remain and be in place for when the terns return next year after their long migration. We may then see a successful breeding year.

10 comments:

  1. These are stunners,love the first image.
    John.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I could watch terns flying and fishing all day, such bouyant, athletic flight. I must call in at Maxey one day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think it will take some time to get Terns interested in a new location like that John.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi John,
    Thankyou very much!
    J

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi John,
    They are true masters of the air, aren`t they! Maxey is well worth a visit, you never know what you are going to see.
    Thanks for the `Follow` John.
    J

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Roy,
    Yes, I know it will be a while. Hopefully it will be used at some point though! ;)
    J

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maybe next year John, definitely something to keep your eye on! Lovely photos anyway, I too particularly like the first one.

    By the way, I was thrilled to see you have put the petition against bird traps on your sidebar, that's great, I really don't think enough people realise the disgusting things exist!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Jan,
    I will keep my eyes peeled ;). Thanks for the kind words about my humble efforts!

    I was moved by your story on your blog and also by the recent `spot` on Countryfile when they were discussing these traps due to a call for a cull on Magpies and Crows from the shooting community. Seems they don`t like Magpies and Crows eating young Grouse and Partridge, they would much rather let them grow up and then blast them out of the sky!
    J

    ReplyDelete
  9. I missed the Countryfile item but had cottoned onto the fact that it is really the shooting brigade who are responsible for this vendetta and your last sentence is one I have uttered myself! I hate the way they try to fool people into thinking it is to protect song birds when there is no evidence at all to suggest that their numbers are threatened by Corvids!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Jan,
    I know, they say it is to protect song bird numbers, but we all know it is protect their wallets ( i.e. young game birds that they sell to kill). Domestic cats are responsible for the deaths of over 55 million birds every year (not that I am suggesting removing these), also the way we farm now is detrimental to the welfare of farmland birds, as shown in the drastic fall in numbers of birds such as Yellowhammer, Skylark and Linnet to name three. Do we hear these arguments? No, let`s just kill all the Crows and Magpies! It makes me mad!!
    J

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment on my humble blog.