Little Tern - 1949

Sterna albifrons albifrons

Occasionally seen on passage, as in Mathew's time, chiefly offshore between Grassholm and the mainland.  One Skokholm, 24 June 1936. Six fishing in Solva harbour (one shot) 8 May 1916 (H.W.Evans)

R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society

Little Tern - 1994

Scarce passage migrant. Not recorded from December to March or July

Both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) considered the Little Tern to be an occasional passage migrant, noting records of up to six birds at Grassholm, Skokholm and Solva. B. Lloyd's diaries for 1930-1937 include records of ones and twos at Fishguard Harbour in August 1930, September 1935 and October 1936 with one at Bosherston Pools in May 1937.

They are now recorded on passage at the islands and coast most years and occasionally enter Fishguard Harbour and the Cleddau Estuary, particularly at the Gann. One or two are seen between 25 April and 16 June and up to seven between 11 August and 27 October, 90% of the records referring to the autumn. An exceptional passage occurred between 22 August and 12 September 1992 with up to six at Strumble Head, 11 at Skokholm and 23 at Skomer. Late birds were noted at Tenby on 6 November 1961 and off Skokholm on 1 and 6 November 1980.

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire

Little Tern - Spring

Sternula albifrons

There have been only 15 records in the spring, between 14th April and 24th June, having been seen eight times in April, three times in May and four times in June. All were occurrences of one or two birds at a time except for six in Solva Harbour on the 8th May 1916.

Graham Rees.

(Covers records up to and including 2006).

Little Tern - Autumn

 Sternula albifrons

The Little Tern has predominantly been seen in the autumn, between 30th July and 6th November. There has been about an equal volume of records for August and September, with fewer in October and just one July occurrence, at The Smalls on the 30th, and singles were seen Tenby on 6th November 1961 and Skokholm on 1st and 6th November 1980. Most records were of one to three birds at a time but larger groups have been seen on 17 occasions, the largest being 23 at Skomer on the 17th September 1992.

Total number of birds recorded 1916 – 2006.

Graham Rees.

(Covers records up to and including 2006).

Little Tern - status

Sternula albifrons

Scarce passage migrant.

Little Terns breed from Britain eastwards into Europe and central Asia and south as far as North Africa and India. They nest on both sides of the Irish Sea and along the west coast of Scotland with just one colony in Wales, post 1989, in Flintshire. Those seen in Pembrokeshire probably originate from these Irish and west coast colonies.

The Little Tern was considered to be an occasional passage migrant by Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al (1949), whereas Donovan and Rees (1994), with the benefit of increased observer cover, concluded it was a scarce passage migrant seen in most years.

Little Terns have been recorded around the coast at Fishguard, Strumble Head, Abermawr, St David’s Head, Solva, Newgale, Broad Haven (North), Skomer, Skokholm, St Govan’s Head, Tenby and Caldey, further out to sea at Grassholm and The Smalls, inside the Teifi and Nevern Estuaries and within the extensive Cleddau Estuary  at the Gann, West Williamston and Picton Point. All were seen over salt water except for singles at Bosherston on the 31st August 1937 and on the 8th September 1993

Graham Rees.

(Covers records up to and including 2006).

Little Tern - 1894

Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"

Click to read more ...