( 250 ) 

 THE BLAKENEY POINT TERNERY. * 



BY 



WM. ROWAN. 



Blakeney Point, Norfolk, a shingle-spit now owned by 

 the National Trust, is familiar in name, at all events, 

 to the readers of British Birds, for it has of recent 

 years been the scene of much botanical and zoological 

 activity and has figured prominently in many of our 

 daily papers. Not only is it famous as a resting-place 

 for rare migratory birds and holds many unique records, 

 but in the summer it is the home of a fine colony 

 of Common Terns {Sterna hirundo). This colony has 

 now been under my observation for several years and it 

 forms one of the most interesting features of the Point. 



Of the history of the colony I can find out httle. It 

 is generally believed to be very old. TiU 1901, when 

 Mr. R. Pinchin was engaged as bird-watcher, the colony 

 was unprotected and the eggs were systematically 

 taken. The birds were also freely shot, mostly for 

 sport or for mounting, though Mr. H, N. Pashley, of 

 Cley, tells me that he remembers an old wild-fowler, 

 who died some twenty years ago at the age of ninety, 

 recalling how he used to shoot the " Dip-ears " when 

 a boy and eat them on the " smack." 



In 1901 the estimate of the colony was 140 nests. 

 Since then the numbers have increased more or less 

 regularly. During the last season (1914) there were 

 about 600, probably the largest number on record. But 

 this was an exceptionally good year for all birds. The 

 Oyster-Catchers which have nested there since 1906 

 also did better than in any previous season. 



A short description of the Point is necessary here to 

 give an idea of the area in which the colony is situated. f 



* Blakeney Point Publication No. 13. The first of the series to 

 appear in British Birds. 



f For a more detailed description see the first part of the seventh 

 of the Blakeney Point series of publications — " Topography and 

 Vegetation of Blakeney Point, Norfolk," by Prof. F. W. Oliver 

 and Dr. E. J. Salisbiiry. 



