1st Year ARCTIC TERN at Watermead... in JUNE!

By DAN FORDER WILDLIFE (@DanFWildlife)


I was a bit surprised to see this 1st Summer (?!) ARCTIC TERN feeding a couple of hundred yards from my flat at Watermead last night, especially in June - this is very unseasonal as the Artic Terns that do wander inland should be moving through north between end of April & beginning of May, but making it even more unusual is the fact that 1st year birds usually don't migrate north from their wintering grounds, & are rarely seen in Europe.


1st Summer ARCTIC TERN, Watermead, Bucks, 07/06/21


1st Summer ARCTIC TERN, Watermead, Bucks, 07/06/21

It was feeding far out on the large lake from 19.55 at least, until 21.25, when it circled-up very high, until only just visible as a dot to the naked eye, then headed off slowly S/SSE.


1st Summer ARCTIC TERN, Watermead, Bucks, 07/06/21


Although the light was very nice, it was tricky to photograph, especially at distance - the light was actually not that bright with the sun just dipping behind the tree-tops, so with such an active bird I needed a high ISO to maintain a fast enough shutter speed, & it was constantly moving erratically through patches of sunlight, then shade, & against a backdrop of brightly lit gardens & houses, then dark trees, then against the water, brightly lit with dark reflections & shaded areas. So, I had to be quick with my settings!

I've included here three of my favourite shots, & one showing the upper-wing pattern.


1st Summer ARCTIC TERN, showing upper-wing pattern, Watermead, Bucks, 07/06/21

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