Sandwich terns tell us it’s nearly spring

On Saturday, February 18 a Sandwich tern was seen off Hythe which then flew past Dungeness fishing boats an hour later. Although there a few wintering individuals along the Dorset coastline, this is a sure sign spring is coming. So as we move through into March and towards April this is the time to get to the coast to see the start of the terns returning from Africa and flying up through the English Channel and heading north into the North Sea and their breeding colonies. When there is an onshore breeze they keep close to the shore. The Sandwich tern is one of the larger ones found in Britain in the spring and summer. It is one of the first terns to arrive on our shores. Breeding populations of these terns occur at Rye Harbour, around Portsmouth and across the English Channel near Calais. The name Sandwich tern is linked to the town in east Kent, as the naturalist John Latham was sent some specimens from there in 1785 by schoolboys. These very noisy birds have what looks like a shaggy haircut at the back and a long black bill with a yellow tip. They have a greyish wash to the upperparts and wings and a short white tail and short black legs.

For more information contact Owen Leyshon, Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership, telephone 01797 367934 or log on to www.rmcp.co.uk