Caspian Tern at Stanford Reservoir

Northamptonshire’s 6th Caspian Tern shows briefly before heading east.

It was Chris Hubbard’s lucky day as patch persistence paid off this morning with the arrival – and hurried departure – of a Caspian Tern at Stanford Res. Initially glimpsed flying toward the dam, it reappeared almost immediately, flying east over the inlet at around 08.25. Chris was able to grab a series of shots in the 10-15 seconds it was in view before it headed off and away. It was not seen subsequently.

This one follows hot on the heels of the county’s fifth (here), which was seen just under three years ago at Summer Leys LNR on 1st July 2017 before relocating to Clifford Hill GP later the same day. This particular colour-ringed individual ranged widely within the UK, visiting Carmarthenshire, Avon, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Buckinghamshire.

Prior to this, previous records were:

1967: Pitsford Res, 2 on 12th July                                                                                                                                              1968: Stanford Res, one on 3rd June                                                                                                                                    1998: Ditchford GP/Stanwick GP/Earls Barton GP, one on 1st August                                                                      2003: Stanwick GP/ Earls Barton GP, one between 16th and 20th July