American Black Tern

Chlidonias niger surinamensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (0, 8)

Photo © Matthew K Naylor

- Long Nanny, Northumberland, 22 May 2022

Sub-species

STATUS

Nearctic.

OVERVIEW

Arrival dates for this Nearctic sub-species of the Black Tern C. niger during autumn are from 21st August to 7th October with one very late individual in the Outer Hebrides in mid-November.

Spring arrivals are between 13th May and 16th June of a returning individual in the north-east.

When alongside a Black Tern its smaller size is apparent and the solidly brown-grey flanks are a starting point for identification in juvenile plumage.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1999 Avon Weston-super-Mare WTW, juvenile, 3rd to 11th October, probably since 2nd October, photo.

(R. M. Andrews, R. J. Higgins & J. P. Martin, Birding World 12 (10): 416-418, photos; British Birds 93: plate 39; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 479; BOURC (2002), Ibis 144: 181-184; R. M. Andrews, R. J. Higgins & J. P. Martin, British Birds 99: 450-459, plates 231-233; R. M. Andrews, R. J. Higgins & J. P. Martin, Avon Bird Report 1999: 151-155, photo).

2). 2008 Outer Hebrides North Bay, South Uist, juvenile, 17th November, photo.

(Birding World 21 (11): 447, photos; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 565; S. Duffield, Scottish Birds 30: 161-162, plates 131-134; Scottish Birds Records Committee, Scottish Birds 31: 10).

3). 2009 Oxfordshire Farmoor Reservoir, juvenile, 28th August to 3rd September, photo.

(Birding World 22 (8): 315, photos; N. L. Hallam & I. Lewington, Birding World 22 (9): 383-388, plates 1, 3-5, 7-8; British Birds 102: plate 416; Birding World 22 (12): 503, photo; British Birds 103: plate 274; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 599, plate 323).

4.0). 2011 Lincolnshire Covenham Reservoir, juvenile, 17th September to 7th October, photo; also in Yorkshire.

(G. P. Catley, Birding World 24 (9): 379-381, plates 1-7; British Birds 104: plate 384; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 589, plates 340 & 341).

4.1). 2011 Yorkshire Spurn, juvenile, 3rd October; presumed same as Lincolnshire.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 589).

5.0). 2012 Lancashire & North Merseyside Eccleston Mere, St Helens, juvenile, 30th August to 4th September, photo; also in Greater Manchester.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 601, plate 349).

5.1). 2012 Greater Manchester Pennington Flash, juvenile, 1st September, photo; same as Lancashire & North Merseyside.

(Birding World 25 (9): 361, photo; British Birds 105: plate 400; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 601).

6). 2018 Kent Dungeness RSPB, 1CY, 21st to 30th August, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 587; S. Message, Kent Bird Report 67: 242-243, plate 36).

7). 2019 Dorset Longham Lakes, 1CY, 4th to 27th October, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 608).

8). 2019 Northumberland St Mary's Island Wetland, 1CY, 7th October, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 608; A. Curry, Birds in Northumbria 2019: 12-15, photo).

9.0). 2020 Northumberland Long Nanny, Beadnell Bay, 2CY+, 16th to 25th June, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 576).

9.1). 2021 Northumberland Long Nanny, Beadnell Bay, Lindisfarne NNR and East Chevington, 3CY+, 19th May to 22nd July, photo; presumed same as 2020.

(J. Porteus & S. Dunbar, North East Naturalist 92: 26, photo; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 576; Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 49, corr.).

9.2). 2022 Northumberland Long Nanny, Beadnell Bay and Budle Bay, 5CY+, female, 13th May to 29th August, photo; presumed returning individual.

(British Birds 115: plate 295; R. Ahmed, British Birds 116: 143-156; R. Ahmed, British Birds 116: 172-173, plates 125 & 126; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 571, plate 343; Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 49, corr.).

P). 2023 Northumberland Long Nanny, Beadnell Bay, adult female, intermittently, 1st June to 7th July, photo; presumed same, East Chevington, 8th to 11th July; presumed returning individual.

(birding information services).

P). 2024 Northumberland Long Nanny, Beadnell Bay, adult female, nesting with Arctic Tern, 15th May to 12th July, photo; presumed same, Coquet Island, 22nd to 25th July, again, 2nd to 3rd August; presumed returning individual.

(British Birds 117: plate 347).