After a few weeks of boat problems, yesterday saw us back out on the water in earnest making the best of the gorgeous weather. Joining me on our sojourn was former Warden Chris Cockburn, Local Area Manager Tim Callaway and our new Langstone Harbour people engagement officer Jasmine 'Jaz' Atkinson (who you will be hearing a lot more from very soon!). We set off from the slipway around 15:30 on a rising tide with a relatively calm sea. Pulling out into the Langstone Harbour channel, we were all slightly nervous about what was in store. This was our first close up check of the islands since the various Terns arrived back from their tropical wintering grounds. What were they up to? Were they interested in our work over the winter? It is fair to say that a lot was riding on our observations over the coming hours.
(Langstone Harbour looking stunning)
Luckily, it was not too long before we started to get an answer. Cruising along past Long Island and the Round Knap (both with their full compliments of nesting Black Headed Gulls and the odd Mediterranean) we moved cautiously up to South Binness Island. The majority of our habitat creation work was carried out on the south of this island earlier in the year and so this was the one place where we wanted to see Little Terns prospecting and appearing keen to nest. Taking advantage of the local geography, we came ashore on a small area of solid ground in the lagoon behind the main island. From here, we could take a good look over the rear of the shingle ridge (the main nesting area) and see what was about. To the east the ridge was alive with Black Headed Gulls noisily defending there territories and squabbling with their neighbours. They were very settled and nesting was obviously well under way. As we scanned slowly from east to south, our eyes came to the newly heightened shingle area created in April. The Black headed Gulls thinned out until there were none nesting at all. There was plenty of Space for our Little Tern neighbours but no sight of them.
(The shingle recharge area of South Binness with a worrying lack of birds......)
At this point, I can assure you I was worried. You can understand a species nesting habits perfectly, design and build a perfect habitat for them and protect the area from other threats, what you can’t do is make them nest somewhere. That last part of the equation is up to the birds themselves.
As my hope started to dwindle, there was a familiar and very welcome sound overhead....the chattering sound of Little Terns bouncing through the air. First two, then four made their way over us and circled the island in a large loop. Scanning skywards, a tiny but very important detail became apparent “Fish!!’. You see, clasped within the yellow beak of two of the terns was a flash of silver reflecting from a miniscule fish. Although tiny, the implications were big! Here were Little Terns courting, declaring their avian love with a display of fish hunting prowess! We followed the spectacle south with each bouncing wing beat before they disappeared over the new shingle area.
(A Little Tern with fish. Photo by Sergey Yeliseev)
Encouraged by this and hopping back into the boat, we made our way around the island carefully to avoid disturbing any of the Gulls. Soon enough, the new shingle bank was coming into view and all would be revealed. And then, just like that, that same familiar sound came from above. Little Terns, only this time it wasn’t just a few! One after another of them darted into view until there were at least thirty-five of our beautiful local seabirds displaying in the air above us! It is hard not to anthropomorphise and assign human emotions to them in moments like this, they all seemed extremely happy to be back and enjoying the perfect summer day. Some were carrying fish, others were chasing rivals away. Some carried on swooping around in the warm air whilst others landed on the shingle and inspected our handiwork. Although none were nesting at present, they had obviously taken a shine to the new habitat. I counted no less than twenty-one sat in various places on the shingle bank as we made our way along it. Although most of these were on the waters edge (and so below the tide line) this is still a good indication that the area is appealing to them.
Leaving South Binness behind us, we carried on around the islands and reached a total figure of approximately 85 Little Terns present. At this stage in the breeding season, this is good news. They have returned and they are gathering in the places we have created to give them the best chance we can. To use the first of many Tern based puns this season, it was a good Tern out! Returning to the slipway later that afternoon, I was palpably relieved. Now comes the next stage... nesting. I am routing for them and I hope you will all join me. Remember, Helping Havants Little Terns is a Community Project and we want as many people as possible to join us in our passion and support of these Little Birds that travel half the world each year to make our home their home. I’d love to hear from you. (Wez Smith, RSPB Site Manager, wez.smith@rspb.org.uk ).