Kensai65
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
We were told that there were three types of Tern on the Inner Farne the Arctic Tern, Common Tern and Bad Tern. Well they were all very bad Terns I can tell you from the moment we stepped off the beach and onto the path they ran sortie after sortie against us poor bird lovers, never mind that we would not hurt a feather on their pretty sleek bodies or mess with their rather simple nests. One even made a landing and played woodpecker on my head. It’s a wonder any of these photo’s are in focus. These Arctic Terns are from the Farne Islands of the coast of Northumberland UK.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America The species is strongly migratory, seeing two summers each year as it migrates from its northern breeding grounds along a winding route to the oceans around Antarctica and back, a round trip of about 70,900 km (c. 44,300 miles) each year. This is by far the longest regular migration by any known animal. The Arctic Tern flies as well as glides through the air, performing almost all of its tasks in the air. It lands once every one to three years (depending on its mating cycle) to nest; once it has finished nesting it takes to the sky for another long southern migration. Arctic Terns are medium-sized birds. They have a length of 33–39 cm (13–15 in) and a wingspan of 76–85 cm (26–30 in). They are mainly grey and white plumaged, with a long red beak, white forehead, a black nape and crown (streaked white), and white cheeks. The grey mantle is 305 mm, and the scapulars are fringed brown, some tipped white. The upper wing is grey with a white leading edge, and the collar is completely white, as is the rump. The deeply forked tail is whitish, with grey outer webs. Terns are long-lived birds, with many reaching thirty years of age. They eat mainly fish and small marine invertebrates. The species is abundant, with an estimated one million individuals. While the trend in the number of individuals in the species as a whole is not known, exploitation in the past has reduced this bird's numbers in the southern reaches of its range. Arctic Terns mate for life, and in most cases, return to the same colony each year. Both sexes agree on a site for a nest, and both will defend the site. During this time, the male continues to feed the female. Mating occurs shortly after this.[15] Breeding takes place in colonies on coasts, islands and occasionally inland on tundra near water. It often forms mixed flocks with the Common Tern. It lays from one to three eggs per clutch, most often two It is one of the most aggressive terns, fiercely defensive of its nest and young. It will attack humans and large predators, usually striking the top or back of the head. Although it is too small to cause serious injury, it is still capable of drawing blood.[5] Other birds can benefit from nesting in an area defended by Arctic Terns.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
We were told that there were three types of Tern on the Inner Farne the Arctic Tern, Common Tern and Bad Tern. Well they were all very bad Terns I can tell you from the moment we stepped off the beach and onto the path they ran sortie after sortie against us poor bird lovers, never mind that we would not hurt a feather on their pretty sleek bodies or mess with their rather simple nests. One even made a landing and played woodpecker on my head. It’s a wonder any of these photo’s are in focus. These Arctic Terns are from the Farne Islands of the coast of Northumberland UK.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America The species is strongly migratory, seeing two summers each year as it migrates from its northern breeding grounds along a winding route to the oceans around Antarctica and back, a round trip of about 70,900 km (c. 44,300 miles) each year. This is by far the longest regular migration by any known animal. The Arctic Tern flies as well as glides through the air, performing almost all of its tasks in the air. It lands once every one to three years (depending on its mating cycle) to nest; once it has finished nesting it takes to the sky for another long southern migration. Arctic Terns are medium-sized birds. They have a length of 33–39 cm (13–15 in) and a wingspan of 76–85 cm (26–30 in). They are mainly grey and white plumaged, with a long red beak, white forehead, a black nape and crown (streaked white), and white cheeks. The grey mantle is 305 mm, and the scapulars are fringed brown, some tipped white. The upper wing is grey with a white leading edge, and the collar is completely white, as is the rump. The deeply forked tail is whitish, with grey outer webs. Terns are long-lived birds, with many reaching thirty years of age. They eat mainly fish and small marine invertebrates. The species is abundant, with an estimated one million individuals. While the trend in the number of individuals in the species as a whole is not known, exploitation in the past has reduced this bird's numbers in the southern reaches of its range. Arctic Terns mate for life, and in most cases, return to the same colony each year. Both sexes agree on a site for a nest, and both will defend the site. During this time, the male continues to feed the female. Mating occurs shortly after this.[15] Breeding takes place in colonies on coasts, islands and occasionally inland on tundra near water. It often forms mixed flocks with the Common Tern. It lays from one to three eggs per clutch, most often two It is one of the most aggressive terns, fiercely defensive of its nest and young. It will attack humans and large predators, usually striking the top or back of the head. Although it is too small to cause serious injury, it is still capable of drawing blood.[5] Other birds can benefit from nesting in an area defended by Arctic Terns.