Rye Harbour Terns
8th June 2009, MondayThe biggest disappointment of the spring has been the failure of the Little Terns to nest for the second consecutive year. This could be due to increasing disturbance from people and dogs, the “greening” of the beach as False Oat Grass becomes dominant, or a collective memory of year upon year of failure due to Kestrel taking the chicks.
On a more positive note, about 500 pairs of Sandwich and 200 pairs of Common Tern are nesting on the islands and they seem to be doing well. The Sandwich Tern chicks are now quite large and there are lots of fish being carried in from the sea (photo). Today we had a brief visit from the first Roseate Tern of the year.
