We regularly see Sandwich Terns skittering around on the pier in Deal. The way they dart among the fishermen and tourists, sometimes up on the benches, other times along the pavement, is often very funny and cute. Yesterady we saw two or three with one foot quite badly damaged or possibly deformed. they seemed to be getting about OK, but clearly they aren't as fast as their two-footed competitors. Does anyone know why this is happening to them?
Could you possibly mean turnstones?
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Ian H said: Could you possibly mean turnstones?
I must agree with Ian, the behaviour you describe doesn't sound like Sandwich Terns at all (plus they are summer visitors, unlikely to be seen before March...). As for the foot injuries, birds that spend a lot of time walking about on the ground where people may have dropped all manner of rubbish are very susceptible to this kind of thing. Stuff gets caught around toes, cuts off the circulation and eventually the bits with no blood supply will die and drop off. You will see this an awful lot among Feral Pigeons. However, birds do often manage quite well with disabilities of this kind.
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Yup- that's a Turnstone :))
S
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As said, it's a lovely turnstone. They feed on the ground and they are coming into more urban areas so many a damaged in many ways I'm afraid.
'Dip a dee dah, dip a dee ay, we're not seeing any birds to-day...'
Yes. I fear we were misinformed by a local. They are charming little birds. Thank you.