Scolt Head Sandwich Terns - up date on birds ringed in June 2025

 After ringing over 300 gulls and terns, of which 128 were Sandwich Terns, we are now beginning to get resightings reported.

To date there have been no Mediterranean gulls and we're curious to to find out about their dispersal. There have been two Black-headed gulls seen, both at Titchwell, so only quite local movements recorded at present.

The Sandwich Tern reports have all been from north of Scolt Head. Resighted individuals are now into double figures with the majority coming from Kilnsea, Beacon Ponds in East Yorkshire with some birds remaining there for several days. There have been two other sightings, one from Coquet Island, Northumberland on the 13th July and this bird was also recorded at Beacon Ponds either side of the Northumberland record. The newest report is of a bird that has reached Wrecked Craigs, Port Sedon, Mid Lothian on the 19th, via Beacon Ponds on the 10th, so we expect further resightings from Scotland to follow.

Juvenile Sandwich Tern. Image courtesy of Tate Lloyd

We have some idea of where these birds are likely to turn up next and await further records to support our expectations of how Scolt Head juvenile Sandwich Terns usually disperse from the site.

Sightings of our birds can be made via https://iceni.shinyapps.io/sightings/

Use the app for an immediate history with map. Photographs are particularly welcome.