Common Tern in the Tame valley

Common Tern, Kingsbury Water Park

Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern

Oystercatcher

Holly Blue, Shustoke Reservoir

Wednesday 6th July 2011

Had a wander round the southern end of the Tame valley. Shustoke Res.was quiet, no dogs but few birds either, a Lesser Black backed Gull and about 4 Common terns drifted about, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats were in hedges near the Sailing Club and about 20 Sand Martins were over the water. A bloke emptied a bin liner full of bread rolls into the water clearly eager to put Shustoke res. on the map by winning the Fattest Ducks in Britain competition. The ducks would have been better employed consuming the filamentous algae which is rapidly clogging up the wetlands in the Tame valley.

There was a Little ringed Plover on Cliff pool, Kingsbury WP as well about 12 Common Tern, 2 Kingfishers and again 20 or so Sand Martins as well as the usual selction of Ducks, warblers and Hirundines.

The status of the Common Tern as a breeding species in the Tame valley is unclear. The large colonies of a few years ago have dispersed due to competition from Black headed gulls for prime sites. There are still Common Terns in the southern parts of the Tame valley but there was no evidence of breeding.