A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



graceful flight terns have been aptly called 

 " sea-swallows." Indeed among all the 

 British birds there is no more graceful flier 

 than the tern. To see this pale grey bird 

 with its buoyant hovering flight is to see 

 perfect symmetry on wings. The tern skims 

 along, now high, now low, now hovering, 

 now balancing and then with a sudden 

 stoop the wings close and it executes 

 a perfect dive. A shower of foam and 

 spray mark where the fisher disappeared 

 to reappear shortly with its prey in 

 its bill. 



How many delightful hours can the bird- 

 lover pass away watching the terns fishing ! 

 It is a sight one can never tire of or watch 

 too often. 



The Common Tern (Sterna fluviatilis) and 

 the Arctic Tern (Sterna macrura) are both 

 migrants to our shores, arriving in spring 

 and departing in autumn. The arctic tern 

 ranges farthest north, and is the commonest 

 species off the coast of Scotland. These 

 birds breed in immense communities, their 

 nests being placed close to each other on 

 rough grass and shingle, or sometimes on 

 bare rock. 



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