FoPL Readers Corner: Gronant

Today I paid a visit to Gronant, near Prestatyn on the North Wales coast to view the Little Tern colony. The birds nest on the sandy beach. The site is managed by Denbighshire Countryside Service who employ knowledgeable wardens to interact with visitors and attend to the security fencing which prevents predators and errant dogs gaining access.

Here are a few images. An un-forecast shower gave me a soaking on the walk out. Presumably as a result the camera gave me a series of incomprehensible error messages that, thankfully, did not seem to affect the results.

Nearly there after a long trek along a boardwalk from the village.

Starting with a randomly chosen set of flying birds. Black-tipped yellow bill and white forehead on otherwise black cap characterises this species.

One carrying a fish.

And another. A single fish is carried, always held at the head end.

Just visible is the ring on the left leg. All the birds are ringed and regularly monitored.

The ring perhaps more visible here. A few battered feathers in the wings of this one.

This species, like many terns, can be quite feisty if you get too close. It seems a few birds are nesting in the dunes and make their presence known.

Another passing.

And another.

One going the other way for a change.

They are noisy too, though walk a 100 yards / metres away and they are barely audible.

Another going the other way.

Two adults, one with a fish, stand on the sand in the colony. A few boxes are provided for nest (most nests are on the sand). Two juveniles can be seen at the entrance to the box.