Sooty Tern

Onychoprion fuscatus (Linnaeus, 1766) (10, 12)

Photo © Iain H. Leach

STATUS

Oceanic, Tropics and Sub-tropics. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

The first five individuals were inland with a further individual in Northamptonshire. Five have appeared in Scotland with just three in Wales.

Annual since 2017 apart from 2022 with one individual being present in three successive years.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1852 Derbyshire/Staffordshire River Dove, near Tutbury, shot, October.

(E. Brown, Zoologist 1853: 3755-3756; Eds., Proceedings of the Linnean Society 2: 213; J. McIntosh, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 3: 84; Mosley; Yarrell, 1856; Mosley, 1863; Newman, 1866; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Seebohm, 1883-85;  Whitlock, 1893; W. G. Clarke, Zoologist 1903: 394; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 420; Witherby, 1920-24; Smith, 1939; Harrison et al., 1982; Harrison & Harrison, 2005; Frost & Shaw, 2013).

2). 1869 Oxfordshire Near Wallingford, Berkshire, shot, 21st June.

(J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1869: 1867-1868; J. E. Harting, Field 26th June 1869: 538; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Aplin, 1889; W. G. Clarke, Zoologist 1903: 394; Witherby, 1920-24; Radford, 1966).

3). 1885 Avon Near Bath, Somerset, adult, caught alive, 4th or 5th October.

(Saunders, 1889; Saunders, 1899; M. A. Mathew, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society 39: 132; W. G. Clarke, Zoologist 1903: 394; Witherby, 1920-24; H. E. Rose, Avon Bird Report 1995: 104).

4). 1900 Suffolk Santon Downham, moribund, early April, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. No. NWHCM: 1904.3).

(W. A. Dutt, Field 3rd Oct., 1903: 600; W. G. Clarke, Zoologist 1903: 393-394; J. H. Gurney & T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 7: 739; W. G. Clarke, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 7: 752-753; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 308; Witherby, 1920-24; Ticehurst, 1932; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009).

5). 1901 Greater Manchester Hulme, near Manchester, Lancashire, picked up exhausted, 9th October.

(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 12: 26; C. Oldham, Zoologist 1902: 355; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 308; Witherby, 1920-24; Oakes, 1953; Spencer, 1973).

6). 1909 Meirionnydd Barmouth Golf Course, male, killed, 17th August, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.4434).

(F. C. Rawlings, Zoologist 1909: 438; Forrest, 1919; Witherby, 1920-24; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994; Watson, 2010).

7). 1911 Sussex Black Rock, Brighton, adult female, moribund, 24th April, now at Booth Museum, Brighton (BoMNH 207623).

(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 27: 95; A. F. Griffiths, British Birds 5: 81; N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 5: 119; Witherby, 1920-24; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979; James, 1996).

8). 1933 Cumbria Drigg Point, Ravenglass, adult, seen, late June.

(W. Marchant, Field 29th July 1933: 294, 721; Witherby, 1941; Hutcheson, 1986).

9). 1935 Norfolk Blakeney Harbour, adult, seen, 11th September.

(J. Sladen Wing, British Birds 29: 187; Seago, 1977; Stoddart & Joyner, 2005).

10). 1939 Upper Forth Myot Hill, near Denny, Stirlingshire, moulting into second-winter, found dead, late May, photo, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1939.45).

(J. Ritchie, British Birds 33: 197-198; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Thom, 1986; P. R. Gordon & D. L. Clugston, Scottish Birds 18: 138; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

11). 1961 Hampshire Hurst, adult, 17th June.

(C. M. Swaine and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 55: 575).

12.0). 1966 Suffolk Minsmere, 11th June; also in Norfolk.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 60: 322; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 477).

12.1). 1966 Norfolk Scolt Head and Blakeney Point, adult, 14th to 19th June, and 11th July; probably same as Suffolk.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 60: 322; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 477; Stoddart & Joyner, 2005).

12.2). 1966 Northumberland Inner Farne, Farne Islands, 21st June; presumed same as Suffolk, Norfolk.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 60: 322).

13). 1969 Hampshire Fawley, adult, found dead, 18th August, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 64: 369).

14). 1976 Suffolk Minsmere RSPB, adult, 3rd August.

(J. O'Sullivan and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 70: 427).

15). 1979 Devon Berry Head, flying west, 9th July.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 74: 477).

16). 1980 Northamptonshire Ditchford Gravel-pits, first-summer, 29th to 30th May when found sick; taken into care, but died 8th November, now in J. Ward private collection, Irchester.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 74: 477).

17.0). 1984 Kent Dungeness RSPB, adult, 9th July; also in Sussex.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 78: 559).

17.1). 1984 Sussex Rye, adult, 9th July, photo; presumed same as Kent individual.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 78: 559, plate 265; James, 1996).

18). 1989 Fife Isle of May, 14th July, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 91: 495; P. V. Harvey & K. D. N. Shaw, Birding Scotland 2 (3): 126-128; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

19.0). 2005 Anglesey Rhosneigr, adult, 5th July, photo; same, The Skerries, 7th to 10th July, photo; same, Cemlyn Bay, intermittently, 10th to 26th July, photo; also in Pembrokeshire.

(A. Davies, Birding World 18 (7): 282-288, plates 1-7, 11; Birding World 18 (12): 505, photo; British Birds 98: plates 277-279; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 51, plate 15).

19.1). 2005 Pembrokeshire Strumble Head, adult, 23rd August; presumed same as Anglesey.

(P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 51).

20). 2017 Argyll Machrihanish Sea BO, Uisead Point, Kintyre, 3CY+, 2nd June, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 584).

21.00). 2018 Northumberland Brownsman, Farne Islands, 4CY+, 7th July, photo; presumed same, Inner Farne, Farne Islands, 19th July, photo; same, Long Nanny, 19th July, photo; also in North-east Scotland, Co. Durham.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 587; Birds in Northumbria 2018: photo).

21.01). 2018 North-East Scotland Ugie Estuary, Loch of Strathbeg and Ythan Estuary, 4CY+, 20th July to 5th August, photo; presumed same as Northumberland; also in Co. Durham.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 587, plate 327; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 608).

21.02). 2018 Co. Durham Whitburn, 4CY+, 23rd September; same as Northumberland; also in North-east Scotland.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 586).

21.03). 2019 Yorkshire Bempton Cliffs RSPB, 5CY+, 24th June, photo; same, Filey Brigg, 5CY+, 24th June; same, Flamborough Head, 5CY+, 9th July, photo; same, Long Nab, Burniston 5CY+, 9th July; presumed returning 2018 individual; also in Cleveland, Norfolk, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

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

21.04). 2019 Cleveland/Yorkshire Cowbar, 5CY+, 9th July; presumed returning 2018 individual; also in Co. Durham, Norfolk, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

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

21.05). 2019 Co. Durham Whitburn, 5CY+, 9th July, photo; presumed returning 2018 individual; also in Cleveland, Norfolk, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

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

21.06). 2019 Northumberland Church Point, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, 5CY+, 9th July, photo; same, Cullernose Point, 5CY+, 9th July; same, Annstead Point, Seahouses, 5CY+, 9th July, photo; presumed returning 2018 individual; also in Cleveland, Co. Durham, Norfolk and Yorkshire.

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

21.07). 2019 Norfolk Weybourne and Sheringham, 5CY+, 2nd August; presumed returning 2018 individual; also in Cleveland, Co. Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

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

21.08). 2020 Suffolk Minsmere RSPB and Sizewell, 6CY+, 8th July, photo; also seen Ayrshire, Northumberland; same as 2018.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 589, plate 396).

21.09). 2020 Ayrshire Maidens, Maidenhead Bay, 6CY+, 23rd July; same as Suffolk; also seen Northumberland; same as 2018.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 589).

21.10). 2020 Northumberland St Mary’s Island, 6CY+, 25th July; presumed same, Dunstanburgh Castle, 6CY+, 28th July, photo; same as Suffolk; also seen Ayrshire; same as 2018.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 589; Birds in Northumbria 2020: photo; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 576).

21.11). 2021 Anglesey Cemlyn Bay, 13th June; same as 2020.

(Web-WIP-29-Mar-22).

22). 2023 Cornwall Pendeen, 31st July.

(BBRC - Web-WIP-11-3-24).

P). 2023 Cornwall Pendeen, 22nd August.

(birding information services).