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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Little Tern - sterna albifrons

 

Little Tern breeds in colonies on gravel or shingle coasts and islands. At the beginning of the 19th century the Little Tern was a common bird of European shores, rivers and wetlands, but by the 20th century populations of coastal areas decreased because of habitat loss, pollution and human disturbance. Little Tern populations have declined or become extinct in many European countries and former breeding places on large rivers have ceased completely. Suggested by Linnaeus in 1758 as Sterna minula and first noticed in Gould 1834 when it was called Lesser Tern.

 

There have been around 220 Little Tern reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2012:(1)

One was seen in flight up river past Oldbury Power Station at 18:20 on May 1st;

 

2011: (4)

One was seen off shore from New Passage on May 2nd; One was seen off shore from Severn Beach on May 4th. Also an unconfirmed report of thirty (30) were noted off Severn Beach also on May 4th!; One was seen off Severn Beach on May 22nd; A juvenile was seen off Severn Beach on September 5th & 6th.

 

2010: (1)

A juvenile was seen on the Tidal Reservoir at Oldbury Power Station for 10 minutes on September 12th.

 

2009: (3)

One was reported off Severn Beach in the evening on June 17th; Two were seen off New Passage in the morning on September 8th.

 

2008: (7)

One was seen flying down river at 09:35 from Severn Beach on April 24th; One was seen at Severn Beach on May 7th with another there on May 8th; Two were present at Severn Beach on May 26th, one north-east past the Second Severn Crossing at 11:10 and a grounded bird on the beach at 11:50; An adult was seen at Severn Beach in the evening on June 18th; Two were seen flying down river at Oldbury Power Station at 08:00 on August 20th.

 

 

Little Tern at Severn Beach. May 2008. Paul Bowerman.

 

2007: (3)

Two were present off Severn Beach on May 1st; One was seen on July 1st at Severn Beach.

 

 

Little Tern at Severn Beach. May 2007. Paul Bowerman.

 

2006: (7)

Records for this year are all from Severnside; Six were seen on May 4th at Severn Beach and one was present at New Passage on May 29th.

 

 

Little Tern at Severn Beach. May 2006. Paul Bowerman.

 

2005: (1)

One was present at Severn Beach on May 12th.

 

2004: (5)

On Severnside, two were seen on April 29th, one was seen on May 4th and two were present on May 16th.

 

2003: (7)

Severnside reports all come from April; One was present on the 16th, two on the 18th and three on the 28th; One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on May 9th.

 

2002: (2)

Singles were reported from Severnside on April 30th and May 1st.

 

2001: (c.6)

Two were present off Severn Beach on April 22nd; Two were seen at Northwick Warth on April 23rd; One was noted off Severn Beach on April 29th; One was seen heading north-east at Severn Beach on May 13th.

 

2000: (1)

One was present off Severn Beach on May 10th.

 

1999: (2)

One was seen at Severn Beach on April 23rd; One was noted off New Passage on May 28th.

 

1998: (2)

Two were seen heading north-east off Severn Beach on May 9th.

 

1997: (c. 5)

Three were seen at Severn Beach on May 2nd with two possibly lingering into May 3rd.

 

1996: (1)

A juvenile was seen at Severn Beach on October 28th.

 

1995: (1)

One was reported from Severn Beach on April 28th.

 

1994: (5)

One was seen on Severnside on April 23rd; Three were noted heading south-west on Severnside on August 7th; An adult was seen at Oldbury Power Station on September 4th.

 

1993: (5)

An adult and four juveniles were present at Severn Beach on August 17th.

 

1992: (13)

Thirteen were reported at Aust on September 11th.

 

1991: (6)

All reports for this year come from New Passage: Three were seen on April 20th and singles were noted on May 2nd, May 16th and June 1st.

 

1990: (74)

All reports for this year come from Severnside in May: A remarkable passage of birds moving upstream with 34 on the 1st, 28 on the 2nd, 8 on the 3rd, singles on the 4th and 5th and two on the 9th.

 

1989: (2)

Two were seen heading north-east at New Passage on May 21st.

 

1988: (4)

All reports for this year come from New Passage: An adult was seen on July 25th; Juvenile's were present on September 24th, 28th and October 8th.

 

1986: (1)

One was reported at Aust on May 11th.

 

1985: (2)

One was noted heading south-west at New Passage on August 10th; A 1st winter was seen of Aust on October 10th.

 

1984: (8)

One was seen at New Passage on April 22nd; Two were present at New Passage on April 29th with four at Aust on the same day; An immature was seen at Severn Beach on September 4th; One was noted at Northwick Warth on September 30th.

 

1983: (24)

Two were seen at New Passage on May 17th; One was present at New Passage on June 12th; Twenty were reported during gales at New Passage on September 3rd; One was present at Oldbury Power Station on September 10th.

 

1982: (2)

Singles were seen on Severnside on August 13th and September 27th.

 

1980: (1)

One was reported flying north-east off Severn Beach on June 14th.

 

1979: (3)

One was seen at Northwick Warth on May 19th; Two were present at Severn Beach on August 25th.

 

1978: (3)

One was seen at Severn Beach on April 27th; One was seen at Severn Beach on May 8th; One was noted at New Passage on May 1st and 2nd.

 

1977: (2)

One was reported in the Severn Beach area on April 27th; One was noted at Severn Beach on August 25th.

 

1976: (3)

One was present at Aust on September 26th and 27th; An immature was seen at New Passage on October 10th and another on October 16th.

 

1954: (1)

One was noted on Estuary at Shepperdine on May 9th.

 

1945: (2)

Two were identified at close range on the shingle at Severn Beach on May 9th. The yellow bill and leg coloration, and other distinguishing characters, were clearly seen. This is the only authentic record within recent years for this side of the district. (Howard H. Davis).

 

©TBOSG November 2005 - All rights reserved