My passion for nature has taken me all around the world to experience some of the greatest wildlife spectacles. Over 30 years ago I saw the great tuskers in Kenya, before poaching took it's toll on the population. I've seen the mountain gorillas in Uganda, looked for tigers in India, searched the Namib desert for the elusive desert elephants and witnessed the great wildebeest migration in the Serengeti. All were wonderful experiences. A recent encounter in Langstone Harbour, however, reminded me that the most incredible wildlife is right there on our doorstep and it's rather unnecessary to imagine that we have to travel thousands of miles to witness something special. We were on the boat heading to the harbour entrance to take part in a fish survey. We often have the company of gulls for a minute or two until they establish we're not a fishing boat and head off for richer pickings. This though was quite unexpected......
common tern
Our companion on this occasion was to be a common tern and it wasn't just a fleeting visit either. For about 10 minutes (and a few hundred photographs) this majestic beauty graced us with its presence. The sun shining overhead illuminated every shape and contour of its pristine feathers and elegant features. Apart from the odd glance ahead it was looking directly at us, I suspect bemused, and rather funnily shooed off any rival for our attentions. Why did the bird do this? Was it curiosity or fun, was it both or neither, we will never know.
our fellow voyager with tail spread attempting to see off another tern
An encounter with a common tern may not sound as sexy as Bengal tigers or as adventurous as a desert trek, but it was a privilege to feel just for a few minutes, at one with nature. So often the programme's aired on TV (with the almost exclusive exception of Springwatch) lead us to believe that the best wildlife experiences can only be found in far off places, that you have to go 'elsewhere' to really get blown away by nature. Not so, I'm as guilty as anyone of imagining this to be the case, but here was a better experience. It was better because it was unexpected, spontaneous, personal and it has to be said, free. So put your suitcases back on top of the wardrobe and go a walk, a bike ride, a trip out on a boat and look. What you see may not be rare or unique, but it's your experience in your country - why buy apples when you have a perfectly fine orchard at home!
The fishing seems good for the terns. Wez and Amy are busy surveying common tern feeding patterns at the Oyster beds and there is plenty coming in. They were rather bemused though, when the chick they'd been watching for over a week turned into afternoon tea for a Mediterranean gull. We have footage of the heinous crime and whilst the end was extremely swift, the swallowing of the rather plump chick wasn't. It took 10 minutes of grizzly flattening before the carcass was finally swallowed, and even then you could see the gulls neck bulging snakelike with it's prize. That will be one happy Med gull chick!
the dive
the plunge
the catch
The sandwich terns are doing well and there are a number of large chicks on the islands flapping away and very nearly airborne. We don't want to count our chicks as they say, but we suspect they have had a productive year and the final figure will be good. The common terns stepped in when the gulls failed, but nevertheless are paying a high price for being surrounded by big hungry gull chicks. The little terns too have had a very bad year. We had high hopes that, after losing almost all of the nests to bad weather, they may try again, but it appears only a handful have managed to re-charge their batteries enough for a second attempt. (more on this soon)
And finally, In case you ever doubted the aerial prowess of the terns, I leave you with this shot, and I promise I didn't rotate the image....
common tern upside down
If you're not easily upset here is the link showing the med gull eating the common tern chick.....