Common Tern  Sterna hirundo

Broughton Trout Pools, Nr Aylesbury - April/May 2007

Photos copyright Mike Wallen

A pair of Common Terns took up temporary residence at Broughton Trout Pools, allowing these excellent photos to be obtained. 

Little Marlow Gravel Pit - 2005

Photos copyright Adrian Parker

In 2005 11 Common Tern chicks were ringed on the rafts in late June.  Two other chicks were too small to ring and 2-3 more have hatched since.  The colour scheme for 2005 is Yellow/Orange as shown above.   The ringing was again carried out by Mick McQuaid and Mike Collard.

For reference the colour rings used in the last few years at Little Marlow have been :-

2002	16 young ringed			BTO	ring on left leg; dark green/ yellow on right leg
2003	18 young ringed			BTO	ring on left leg; red/ yellow on right leg
2004	16 young ringed			BTO	ring on left leg; blue/ yellow on right leg
2005	11 young ringed			BTO	ring on left leg; orange/ yellow on right leg

Please report any sightings to Mick McQuaid  or Mike Collard

Little Marlow Gravel Pit - 2004

These pictures of adults show the black in the wing tips really well.

Above and below - The juvenile bill and upperwing patterns are shown very well.

Above photos copyright Adrian Parker

Photo copyright Mike Collard

2004 was another good year for the Common Terns at Little Marlow GP.  There were 16 terns ringed on the rafts this year, each one given a blue over yellow colour ring on their left leg.  There were also 5 dead young on the rafts following wet cold weather on the 24th June.  The ringing was again carried out by Mick McQuaid and Mike Collard.

Of interest is the news that one of the colour rings birds from 2002 was recently seen at Hayling Island, near Portmouth, Hampshire.  In 2002 the colour scheme used was dark green over yellow.

To see an article on the Common Tern Raft project at Little Marlow click here.

Little Marlow Gravel Pit - 2002

To read more about the Common Tern raft scheme at Little Marlow click here

Photos copyright Jim Rose

Just one of the pairs of Common Terns that bred at Little Marlow in 2002. Pictures taken on 26th May 2002

Little Marlow Gravel Pit - August 1999

Video still copyright Dave Ferguson

This species is a common passage migrant and regular breeder at a few lakes with islands or purpose built rafts.  At Little Marlow, Common Terns have bred successfully since 1994 when the first Tern raft was launched there.   This bird decided to breed on a tiny island (more a lump of mud) rather than either of the two rafts provided.  To see an article on the Common Tern Raft project at Little Marlow click here.