Arctic Terns- Shetland

Love terns, this colony seems to have more Arctic then common (which seem to have increased in many areas

Even at this late stage, there are about 20 Arctic terns flying round with two binging in fish. Not long until they all head south
 

Shetland Arctic Terns

Although there has been less Arctic Terns in Shetland, possibly down to Bird Flu the colony down at Grutness seems to have done ok

There might only be 25% of last years terns here. Elsewhere on Bressay only one check raised with a few dead ones 

These terns will be migrating south anytime now and have to pass though several areas infected with the flu and already 1,000 have died further south.

It will be interested to see how many return next year

 

The young Arctic Terns

 

So good to see plenty of young Arctic terns about, and well fed too

Arctic Terns doing well

 Good to see the Arctic Terns doing well and so far not too affected by bird flu. The flu has affected both Skuas and very few have been seen around the colony at Grutness so this will have helped 

Lots of terns bringing in Sandeels and sillocks to the hungry young

Some times the fish were just too big for the young and the adult carried it away and ate the fish