Adult Arctic terns
Adult common tern

17th August comments: Terns on the Isle of May fluctuate fairly often with on average holding around 400 breeding pairs of Arctic and 20 common terns. They can be transient species and will often move between colonies especially if they haven't had a good breeding season previously at a site.

This season we recorded 382 breeding Arctic terns, down 4.5% on last years count. More pairs nested around the jetty area giving all our visitors a warm welcome, giving the impression an increase in the colony however fewer were record at the Beacon colony. After a success breeding season we are hopeful birds will return next year and expand the colony. Higher numbers in a colony increases their chances of a good breeding season as more adults attacking and warning off predators increases egg/chick survival.

Common terns, have increased by 8 pairs from last years count to 23 breeding pairs, all but one pair bred at the Beacon, always preferring this site to the Jetty area.  

Currently on the island we still have a few adults that are feeding chicks, their second breeding attempt after failing the first time. These are likely to fledge in the coming week, so if you are visiting try and spot the last couple of chicks by the picnic site.