We would like to thank all of our fantastic volunteer wardens. We want to say a massive thank you to our project partners, The Crown Estate, Natural England, Portland Court Leet, Dorset Wildlife Trust, and Chesil and Fleet Nature Reserve for their continued support!
Another breeding season comes to a close for our little terns, despite the challenges — predators, weather, and noisy neighbours (the oystercatchers) — many chicks took their first flight. 🐥✈️ #CoastalBirds#WildlifeConservation#ChesilBeach
As of last week, all of our Little Terns departed the site. They will be missed, but we are happy to see our growing colony off on their migration back to West Africa. We look forward to seeing them all next year #LittleTernMigration#ChesilBeach
Photo Credit: Joe Kaplonek
As the season slowly starts to quieten down here are some running counts;
Ringed Plovers - 7 nests, 7 chicks
Little Terns - 60 + nests - 36 fledglings
Oyster Catchers - 2 nests, 5 chicks
#ChesilBeach
BREAKING:
Little tern colony halts nesting to form emergency sky committee after spotting "giant fish with no wings."
Experts confirm it was a UFO.
Little Terns are still unconvinced.
#Chesilbeach#LittleTerns#UFOs
Oystercatcher parenting tip:
If anything gets near the nest, scream at it until the tide goes out and your problems disappear. #OysterCatcher#ChesilBeach
Photo Credit: Angela Thomas
With the little tern colony over halfway hatched, over 30 fledglings were recorded on the foreshore recently #littleterns#chesilbeach
Photo Credit: Angela Thomas
The Little Tern colony continues to develop, with small chicks tern-ing into the 21 fledglings counted a week ago #littleterns#chesilbeach
Photo Credit: Neil Price
Ringed plovers may look cute, but territorial disputes in breeding season can get heated. Expect low-flying standoffs and a lot of posturing #ringedploverlover#chesilbeach
Photo Credit: Angela Thomas
Little tern fledglings spend 90% of their day yelling at their parents and 10% falling over their own feet. Nature's interns. #littleternlearning#chesilbeach
Photo Credit: Angela Thomas
Oystercatchers mate for life, which is adorable until you realize they also scream in unison at seaweed.
Love is complicated.
Photo Credit: Anglea Thomas
As the weathers heats up here on chesil beach, so is the nesting competition with additional nests going down this week bringing the Little Tern nest count above 60 nests!
Photo Credit: Neil Price
#Chesilbeach#littletern
Dear our Ringed Plovers Lovers,
Chesil Beach has recorded 5 ringed plover nests so far this season. One has hatched chicks, while the another two are still incubating. Heres hoping these little floofs are up and running around soon!
Photo Credit: Angela Thomas
Our oyster catchers have been busy this year, with two successful nests and 4 chicks running around the foreshore 🐥#spotthegreyblob
Video credit: Alana Benjamin
Join our Project Officer on board the Dorset Wildlife Trust's Fleet Explorer to get some of the best views possible of little terns and learn more about this vital colony!
Cruises running 24th May, 28th May, and 4th June.
https://t.co/2WGNYoYoAe