The Terning of the Seasons

With post-breeding dispersal well under way, now's probably a good time to summarise the Forvie ternery's season. Just the one word required - fabulous. All breeding species have had an incredibly productive season, as evidenced by the huge numbers of fledged Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns currently littering the lower estuary.

Of course, such a gathering does attract the occasional passing scarcity, such as yesterday morning when a juvenile Black Tern and two adult Roseate Terns were present among their commoner cousins. Well worth a look from the Tin Hut on the golf course at the moment.

Roseate Tern among juvenile Sandwich Terns - photo courtesy LMS

 

Same again, with adult Sandwich Tern for comparison 

Also lots of passage waders on the go, including Knot, Dunlin and Sanderling in an assortment of plumages, plus Curlew, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper going through. Finally, an unseasonable Long-tailed Duck and two redhead Goosanders completed the picture on a decidedly autumnal Ythan Estuary.