Disastrous summer for terns

AT this time of year terns gather on our local beach for their annual Árd Fheis.

Huddled together, they face into the wind, adults and young of several species rubbing shoulders in the flock.

Dogs disturb them occasionally and the little seabirds fly around noisily before settling on the sand again. Similar gatherings occur elsewhere around our coast. In 1970, 12,000 terns were recorded at Scolt Head in England. Do these gregarious and vocal birds exchange tern gossip or tell tall fishing tails? If so, the theme of this year’s conference must surely be the recent awful weather.