In early June I made two separate visits to
Gronant in North Wales. A rather unprepossessing location for birding as it is the site of many caravan parks. In the a small part of the miles of sand dunes nearby the
North Wales Little Tern Group (
NWLTG) undertake voluntary wardening of the only Little Tern colony in Wales. More information on the site and the work of the group can be found
here:
Here is a collection of images I made on these trips.
Little Terns are small – about Blackbird-sized but with 50% longer wings. The black-tipped yellow bill with the white 'forehead' is diagnostic.
There is 4 kilometres of netting around the terns' nesting area as protection against foxes and errant dogs. When the wardens locate a nest scrape – there is no nest as such – they place a numbered marker. Sadly they do this in front of the bird from the viewing point. I did ask them to put the marker the other side in future!
Probably a pair by this marker.
This passing bird is against the backdrop of two of the many wind turbines in the Dee Estuary.
Another one against a whole line of turbines.
Like most terns the species has a forked tail.
A plan view, this with tail closed.
And here with tail partially open
The tail appears longer when viewed from above as there is no distinction between the back, the upper tail and the tail itself.
The tail fork is not apparent when the tail is fully spread.
One returning from a fishing expedition. They always seemed to hold the fish in the very tip of their bill. It is just possible to make out that this bird has been ringed – on its right leg.
This passing bird has the ring on its left leg.
Like all terns they are noisy with a constant cacophony of calls. These calls are not so far-carrying as with many species of tern. At the start of the half-mile walk to the viewpoint no sound can be heard. The ring on the left leg of this bird is clearly visible.
It has been a successful year with the largest number of birds recorded – over 400. As with most tern colonies large groups can suddenly take off for no apparent reason. These are known as 'dreads'. They will also take-off to gang-up on any Kestrel or Carrion Crow that appears.
The formation team practising.
Other Species
It is not all Little Terns. There are many rare and protected species of plants and insects inhabiting the area and, next, a few other bird species I saw.
An unexpected sighting was this distant passing group of c.25 all-drake Common Scoter. A strange date as this species moves North in April and it is normally mid- to late-July before the drakes start to return, leaving their mates to finish raising the off-spring. The site is well inside the Dee Estuary. Not at all the place you would expect to see this sea-duck pass on what was a calm day.
Other species take advantage of the protective fence around the terns. An Oystercatcher with young.
Here a Ringed Plover sits on its nest scrape.
This Skylark decided to save energy. It had been singing while standing on the edge of the boardwalk which leads to the tern viewpoint.
While this Skylark has found a beetle for a snack.
(Ed Wilson)
