Passage migrant. Not recorded from December to March
Mathew (1894) considered the Arctic Tern to be common in spring and autumn whereas Lockley et al. (1949) stated it was no longer seen commonly, noting just three occurrences, singles at Goodwick on 13 August 1935 and at Skokholm on 8 June 1938, with 20 at Dale at the end of April 1947.
It is now sparsely recorded in spring when up to eight at a time are seen passing, mainly off the west coast and islands, between 13 April and 23 June. It is more numerous in the autumn, when up to 30 in a day are seen passing between 21 July and 22 November, principally off the north coast.