This is the best time of year to see a good variety of terns in Kerry, especially at the likes of Beale Strand, Rough Point and Cloghane Estuary. There's plenty of juveniles about too, presumably at least some from the local colonies, but also with others from elsewhere. Only one pair of Sandwich Terns bred on the Maharees this year, but there are upward of 100 in the general Rough Point/ Brandon Bay area at the moment.
Arctic, Sandwich and Common Terns, Rough Pt., 17th August 2018 (M.O'Clery).
The roosting flock at Rough Point numbered about 100 birds, a mix of mainly Arctic and Sandwich, with just a handful of Common Terns, and only one Little Tern.
Adult and juvenile Little Terns, Brandon Bay, 16th August 2018 (Kilian Kelly).
Little Terns are still about, though they must surely be thinking of heading south some time soon.
Adult Sandwich Tern, Brandon Bay, 16th August 2018 (Kilian Kelly).
Juvenile Arctic Tern, Rough Point, 16th August 2018 (M.O'Clery).
Fresh-plumaged juvenile Arctic Terns are really smart-looking birds. Hardy little things too, about to launch south of the Equator any moment now.
Arctic, Sandwich and Common Terns, Rough Point, 16th August 2018 (M.O'Clery).
Below, a useful comparison of juvenile Common and Arctic Terns. Nearly as useful as the stunning comparison photo of Cormorant and Robin which you can see on this page HERE
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Top) Juvenile Common Tern; Bottom) Juvenile Arctic Tern, Rough Point, 16th August 2018 (M.O'Clery).
