We went out of Milford Haven for a quick trip this afternoon to see if we could find any birds or cetaceans. The only auk we saw was a solitary adult puffin, but still manxies around, as well as gannets.
Around 6km west of St Anne’s Head, and the same distance south of Skokholm we were suddenly surrounded by a large flock of terns, feeding and then landing on the water in tight groups for a quick rest, before moving on again. They all seemed to be Common Terns, mainly adults, but some already in winter plumage. Certainly no Little or Sandwich Terns.
The most we counted in a single group was 36 but, since the flock(s) would form, break and then re-form some way away, this could be an underestimate. It was really a treat to hear them communicating in rather low cackles when all sat on the water together: very un-tern-like.
