Sketches of juvenile Arctic Tern from a considerable distance, so as much an impression as anything. I've been searching for this species ever since the Common Tern numbers started to build but haven't had any luck, although I did have a lone bird off Orcombe Point the other day. This bird was quite easy to pick out on its smaller proportions but the wing detail was of course needed to clinch the id.

A look off Mudbank after work on the dropping tide, produced 2 juvenile Little Gulls, 1 juvenile Black Tern and at least 1 juvenile Arctic Tern in with a lovely flock of 335+ Common Terns - all resting on Cockle Sands. Also this afternoon - 7 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Redshank, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and 3 Common Sandpipers. Nearby - 11 Whimbrel in Duckpond.

This evening off the seafront - 2 Arctic Skuas and c20/30+ Balearic Shearwaters along with at least 2 Manx Shearwaters. Masses of terns well out in the bay too.

Black Tern - stretching it a bit to even call this a record shot but gives some idea of the distances you have to contend with from Mudbank.

I thought the Little Gulls would stick mid-river but a really odd call drew my attention to this bird that had ventured a little closer.