What am I?
The tern you’re most likely to see on the Essex coast. Often sighted in small noisy nesting colonies or patrolling and hovering above the waves before diving down to hunt for fish.
Common Tern
Common Tern
Conservation Status: 🟠Amber
How to Identify Me
With the nickname ‘sea-swallow’, common terns are elegant in flight, often seen gracefully swooping on the shore or inland. A visitor during the warmer months, it’s bright orange beak and legs help distinguish it from the little tern and sandwich tern.
How Can You Help Me?
Make sure you give them lots of space if you see them patrolling the shores hunting for food, especially if engaging in water sports.
Common terns nest both on the shore and inland and are known to divebomb and swoop close to perceived disturbances. If you notice this behaviour, please move away quickly.
Also ensure to keep your ears and eyes peeled for distress calls or birds becoming aware of your presence.