Wild Wednesday - Common Tern
These lovely looking silvery-grey and white birds have long tails and have gained the nickname 'sea-swallow'. Their bill colour differs, but most have red bill with black tip.
They hover over water before plunging down for fish, with a stylish, floating flight.
Common terns are not the most familiar UK tern species, but are probably the most seen, as their breeding range extends around much of the British Isles coastline.
Look out for them from April to September, as it’s a summer visitor to our beaches and islands around the coast and can also be seen inland on gravel pits and reservoirs, often found in large flocks, especially in late summer.
This bird gives a harsh screeching call "KEEE-yurrrr."
It is currently identified as a conservation priority, with an amber listing. Amber-list species are those with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe; those whose population or range has declined moderately in recent years; those whose population has declined historically but made a substantial recent recovery.
Read more here: Common tern | The Wildlife Trusts