Amazingly, this remarkable individual has returned to the very colony in which it hatched 12 years ago! Tate was fortunate enough to spot it and digiscope these images. Great work, Tate!
Welcome home, weary traveller!
2/2
@btobirds.bsky.social @smp-seabirds.bsky.social @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
18.06.2025 19:06 — 👍 14 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
A small, light grey and white bird with a black head, a yellow beak, and orange legs. It is sitting on a sandy beach with water in the background.
A small, light grey and white bird with a black head, a yellow beak, and orange legs. It is sitting on a sandy beach with water in the background. The bird has turned its head to preen its back.
A close-up photo of a white bird with orange legs. Only a small part of the tail, the belly, and the legs are visible. On the right leg is a metal ring. On the left leg is a green ring with the letters HKL written on it. The bird is standing on sand.
Wow! A very exciting discovery by one of our wardens, Tate, during his afternoon shift today.
This Little Tern was first ringed as a chick at the Beacon Ponds colony back in 2013.
It was recaptured in Senegal last April and fitted with a green colour ring - HKL.
1/2
18.06.2025 19:06 — 👍 56 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 1
The glorious weather has allowed us to carry out our first colony walkthrough of the season. An astonishing 91 Little Tern nests were counted, which is the highest count for the protection scheme (previous highest count of 70 in 1996). We're keeping everything crossed for a record-breaking season!
16.06.2025 19:27 — 👍 38 🔁 5 💬 1 📌 0
If you wish to watch the Little Terns, please do so from Long Bank via Kilnsea Wetlands. To minimise disturbance, we kindly ask that you do not attempt to view them from the beach.
With your help and cooperation, we hope to make the 2025 season a success. Thank you for your continued support. 🤍
08.06.2025 10:46 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The Little Tern breeding season is now well underway, with more birds arriving daily.
Electric fencing has been installed, and our wardens are doing a sterling job of monitoring the colony.
Please remember to keep dogs on a lead & under control, and stay well back from the fence line.
1/2
08.06.2025 10:46 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
SMPnews header image: Beacon Ponds, written by Rob Hunton, Spurn Bird Observatory. Link to www.bto.org/smp-news
📰 Have you read SMPnews? 🖋️
It's packed with articles on all things seabirds, along with survey-specific news. Check out Rob's article covering the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds in East Yorkshire at
🔗 www.bto.org/smp-news 💻
...and follow the Beacon Ponds project at @spurnterns.bsky.social 🐣
27.05.2025 15:10 — 👍 4 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0
We’ve had a recovery of a Little Tern! Initially ringed as pullus at Beacon Ponds on the 8th of July 2024, this individual traveled 4444km to Senegal where it was recaptured on the 22nd of March 2025! 🗺️📍
21.04.2025 11:37 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Our crack team of full-time wardens, residential volunteers, and local volunteers work tirelessly each season to monitor, protect, and educate.
From putting up fences to clearing vegetation; counting chicks to running up and down the beach with a massive flag (don't ask) - they do it all! 💪
18.04.2025 07:28 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
🚨🚨🚨
Hurrah! Two Little Terns have been sighted on Beacon Ponds this morning, heralding the start of a new season at the colony.
If this duo decides to make Easington their home for the summer, one of the perks will be access to a dedicated team of bodyguards in the form of our amazing wardens. 🦸♂️🦸♀️
18.04.2025 07:28 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
It’s all go! SBOT and the BTO are joining forces once again to deliver the annual Spurn Migration Festival over the weekend of 12–14 September.
🗞️ spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/the-mig...
#MigFest2025 #spurnbirds
@btobirds.bsky.social @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social
02.04.2025 12:48 — 👍 33 🔁 13 💬 1 📌 0
We're recruiting for a Little Tern Head Warden
📍 Kilnsea, East Yorkshire
🗓 1st May - 31st August 2025
💷 National Living Wage
🛌 Cheap accommodation
📅 Apply by: 24th Feb 2025
Read on for more info: https://buff.ly/3DYHLHT
17.01.2025 09:21 — 👍 12 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 0
We are now live on Bluesky! Click the follow button to keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Easington Little Tern colony.
Also, please feel free to share this post and spread the word. 🙏 🐦
24.02.2025 15:11 — 👍 18 🔁 11 💬 0 📌 0
