On Saturday June 29th we travelled to Normandy Lagoon, near Lymington on the south coast of Hampshire, hoping to see the Roseate Tern pair that have nested there. The Roseate Tern is an uncommon visitor to the UK and the nest was constantly monitored by volunteers to ensure no interference while the eggs were being brooded. News of the pair was only released once the chicks had hatched.
It was a beautifully sunny day, and we spent a couple of hours watching the Common Terns, Little Terns and Avocets while waiting for the Roseate Tern to appear. We had heard that they go out to sea when they hunt for food for the chicks and may take an hour to return. John spotted a Roseate Tern as it arrived back with food, and almost immediately we heard the shout go up from other birders watching for the tern, letting everyone know it had returned. It was a lifer bird for both of us!
The Roseate Tern looks almost identical to the Common Tern, but has a black bill with a red base, whereas Common Terns have a red bill with a black tip!
I got some pretty poor photos, due to the distance and heat haze, but was able to watch the bird through the scope.
Two other birders (Diana and Susie) came over to ask if we could point it out, and John showed them the view through the scope. We chatted for a while, the Roseate Tern having disappeared into a clump of flowers where its nest was. It turned out that Diana was a long-time listener of The Casual Birder Podcast - it's so lovely to meet people who already know about the show!
John and I wandered around the bay in the afternoon sunshine and had our picnic lunch while watching Terns fly by. A lovely birding day, and with the additions to my June list, I finished the month on 92 species!
A new lifer bird!
