Roseate Terns at Dawlish Warren

13 July 2009

Lee Collins took this series of excellent close-ups of adult and 1st summer Roseate Terns at Dawlish Warren on 11 July.

The Devon Bird Report 2007 describes Roseate Terns as very scarce passage visitors, mostly in May and July–August. The species was first recorded in Devon in 1949, and has been seen annually at Dawlish Warren since 1951. Single birds are occasionally seen further up the Exe Estuary and at other sites along the south coast, but are rare on the north coast and inland.

Roseate Tern adult, Lee Collins