If you're into bird migration then the Arctic Tern, the greatest of travellers, must be high on your list of favourites. Many migratory birds perform gargantuan feats of travel but the Arctic Tern breeds in the northern hemisphere, close to the Arctic Circle, and winters in the Antarctic. This bird lives in a perpetual summer!
Arctic Terns nest in large colonies which are a spectacle to visit. These little terns are strongly defensive of their nests and attack anyone on sight. Hats are advisable when visiting a ternery. During this visit to the Inner Farne colony Arctic Terns concentrated on pecking Geraldine's knuckles (the only part exposed as she took photographs) and drew blood! Still all was worth it for the photographs taken...
under attack!
On islands with rich fishing offshore, terneries may have more than one species breeding. Here we had Arctic Terns (above) and smaller numbers of Common Terns (below).
and sticking together in a separate part of the island is a colony of the larger Sandwich Tern (above and below).
Black-headed Gulls nest scattered between the terns and opportunistically try to rob them of their food. Not surprisingly the terns mob them when they are not busy attacking humans.
but it is the Arctic Terns that are stars of the show, and they make sure you know it!
but you know when you've had enough and the terns have won!
and they all come out to make sure you don't return!
