Friday 18 December 2020

Roseate Terns - Coquet Island

This is a post I wrote some time ago, but it got lost in the cloud. I thought I'd post it now to remind me of some good summer birding. Hope you enjoy it too.

On my way to the Farne Islands in the Summer I made a special visit to Amble in Northumberland. From there I could take a boat out to Coquet Island to see the UK's only breeding colony of Roseate Terns. These terns have a really nice pink tinged breast. I've only ever seen them here, so when I head to the north east in the summer, I can't leave them out.

We have 3 types of Tern in this picture along with the Puffins. The largest Tern, front left, is a Sandwich Tern, while the two smaller birds to the right of this with black bills are the Roseate Terns. The others that you can see with orange bills are Arctic Terns.


There were plenty of seals around our boat around the island.

14 comments:

  1. Lovely to see! Brings back memories of about 4 or 5 years ago when we did our only trip to Amble for this boat trip. Hope to repeat it some time. Have done the Farnes a few times. Pleased to hear record numbers of Roseate Tern chicks were raised this year on Coquet.

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  2. Hello,
    I would love to see all the Terns and the Puffins. They are all beautiful birds. I love the seal too, great sightings. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend!

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  3. I like them all: terns, seals and...puffins!!

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  4. I think I would like visiting here very much. Your photos are terrific, as always!

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  5. What a lovely area to visit. Beautiful birds.

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  6. Hello Adam, how awesome that you get to the Roseate Tern breeding colony. Thanks for sharing. Great to see a seal, too. Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and healthy NEw Year. Jo

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  7. I would say that any time you can capture three species of tern in a single frame is a banner day. Those coastal region of northeastern Britain are so incredibly productive.

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  8. I visited Farne Island once about 10 years ago. And I love every time I see images from that place. Brings back memories of all those gorgeous birds. :)

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  9. It's many a year since I saw Roseate Terms so it's good that your pictures remind me of how special they are. Have a great Christmas Adam.

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  10. Hi Adam,
    Beautiful pictures show you, I have never seen puffins.
    I think the seal is a great photo.
    Greetings Irma

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  11. Wonderful photos - thanks for taking me on a little trip. I needed that. Merry Christmas!

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  12. Beautiful photos! Merry Christmas to you!

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  13. The terns are pretty! Nice shots!
    Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/12/quarantine-christmas.html

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  14. What an amazing birding day Adam! The puffins and different kinds of terns all together would make my day (heck, my whole year! Just wonderful). Thank you and acHappy and hopeful New Year!

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