Monday 2 January 2012

Beachy Head 2011 Summary No.12

BLACK TERN

2011: 19/4 3 E, 3/5 3E & 4/5 1E Per B.H.Log.

(19/4 would appear to be our earliest listed date. In recent years, the Black Tern has become a lot scarcer on our sea-watches, compared with the numbers being recorded between 1970 to 1990. with our maximum of 320 E on the 9/5/1989).

COMMON TERN
2011: Only identified on 5 dates. Earliest date 2/4 (2 E) and last identified 17/9(21 W). See under Commic Tern. Per B.H.Log.

ARCTIC TERN
2011: 23/7 1 juv. lingering off Birling, 17/9 2 W., 29/10 2 juv’s W, & 2/11 1 juv feeding of Birling is our first November record. Per B.H.Log.
(Also see under Commic Tern).

COMMIC TERN
2011: Spring sea-watches: Recorded from 10/4 (71 E) until the 18/6. A total of 2,344 moved E during this period with the daily maximum of 317 E on the 19/4 & 1009 on the 3/5. On the 12/6 25 E and these appeared to be all Arctics. Autumn: Recorded on just six dates from 6/8 (16 W) to 11/10 (2 W). On 10/10 15 were seen of which 10 appeared to be Common & 5 Arctics. Per B.H.Log.

LITTLE TERN

2011: Recorded on 6 dates: From 10/4 (2E) to 7/5 (3E). In total 24 E during the Spring sea-watches. Per B.H.Log.

SANDWICH TERN

2011: Spring sea-watches: Recorded from 12/3 (3 E). A total of 1,265 moved E, with daily maximum of 379 E on the 2/4.
Small numbers recorded on 14 dates during the Autumn with a daily maximum of 60 W on the 23/7, and on the 9/10 (12). Our first December record was 1E on the 28/12. Per B.H.Log.