COM MON TERN 



Sterna fluvzatihs 



N the north of Great Britain this species is not nearly so 

 abundant as the Arctic Tern, but occasional colonies are 

 met with, all up our coasts as far as the Orkney Islands ; 

 south of Yorkshire, however, it is the most abundant 

 species. In Ireland it breeds in most suitable situations 

 round the coast, as well as on some of the inland loughs, 

 and is more common than the Arctic Tern. 



The Common Tern arrives on our coasts about the end of April, collecting 

 into flocks again during the latter half of July and August, and gradually 

 working south during August and September. It retires to its accustomed 

 breeding-haunts soon after its arrival in our Islands, and is especially partial 

 to low-lying islands and rocks, where it is comparatively safe from disturbance. 

 It is very fond of the shallow waters of quiet estuaries, and often follows the 

 course of some of our larger rivers, at times breeding on the small islands 

 in them. It is a charming sight to see a flock of these graceful birds following 

 some shoal of small fish : they hover above it in a whirling, confused cloud, 

 each bird intent on its prey, swooping down on those which come too near 

 the surface, or plunging into the water with a splash in their anxiety to 

 capture their food. It seldom disappears entirely below the surface like the 

 Gannet, though sometimes it is hidden for an instant by the shower of spray 

 which it has raised. On land it walks awkwardly, and seldom alights on the 

 ground except at its nest. Its flight is slow and easy, rather like that of a 

 Gull, but when chasing each other in the pairing season they turn and twist 

 and dart about in a wonderful manner. When gorged with food they may 

 be seen lying on the sand on the shore, and in stormy weather they sit on 

 the shore in flocks in some sheltered place. 



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