Tern chicks head for Africa

Tern chicks on the east Norfolk coast are starting to leave the nest and beginning their 3,100-mile (5,000km) journey to winter in West Africa.

One of the UK’S rarest seabirds, little terns rely heavily on Norfolk beaches which support around 20 per cent of the national population.

Known locally as “Little Pickies”, for the way they pick fish from the sea, they measure less than 10in (25cm) and weigh about the same as a tennis ball.

They face many challenges on the coast, with high tides, predators, human disturbance, and freak weather all impacting their breeding success. It is due to these dangers that the take-off of fledglings from the area is such fantastic news.

Little tern chicks take their first flight at between 18-21 days old and must learn fast in order to make the astonishing annual round-trip between the UK and West Africa. Samantha Herbert