COMMON TERNS

[(c) Arthur Grosset again, many thanks Arthur]

Finished work at 14:30 today, and as it was a sunny, warm afternoon, Anna and I went for a little stroll by the river for a little pic-a-nic.


First thing I noticed (heard really, and then saw) was a few Common Terns over the weir pool at Caversham Lock.


Known as "Swallows of the Sea" (even their Latin name, "hirundo" (the "Hirundines" are the Swallows, Martins etc...) suggests this), these are beautiful, graceful birds, with a forked tail, very pointed wings and a "pointy" beak and head shape too.

Common Terns are summer visitors to the UK. Time was they just nested around the coasts, but these days they nest in many, many inland bodies of water - in fact I clearly remember seeing my FIRST ever Common Terns at a Marina near Reading over twenty years ago. They do, for some resaon, seem to be more prevalent in the south east of the country, rather than the south-west, (they've obviously got no taste...!).

Both Common Terns and Arctic Terns are very vocal birds, constantly calling to each other with a high-pitched "kik kik kik"! One can tell the difference between Common and Arctic Terns in the following ways, as their plumage is pretty well identical!

1)Common Terns have a black tip to their red bill.

2)Common Terns are longer in the leg, (smaller body but stand taller) than Arctic Terns.

3)Arctic Terns do nest mainly in the north of the UK, and mainly by the coast.


NB. 04/05/07 - A photo from my own fair eyes. Click on it to enlarge.