North East By A Whisker

By Alan Tilmouth on Apr 30, 09 03:46 PM

The UK has been on the receiving end of an invasion in recent days. There may have only been eleven of them but the Whiskered Terns that turned up (no pun intended) and spread out across the UK created a stir in the birding world.
Birders on Teeside were lucky enough to catch up with two of these fabulous looking Terns at Saltholme Pools RSPB but their visit was a one day only event.
Whiskered Terns breed in East & South Africa, Australia and Europe & Asia. The European population is migratory wintering in Africa. It is a 'Marsh' Tern choosing to breed on inland marshes often near Black-headed Gull colonies.

image courtesy & copyright V Smith

Whiskered Terns are a very photogenic species with their smoky grey breast & belly, flat black cap and classic Tern good looks. Worldwide their population is healthy and an increase in sightings in the UK may be another indicator of climate change.

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