Arctic terns, Pennington Flash

Five arctic terns joined the common terns in the heavy afternoon drizzle, all adults and really smart birds especially in comparison to the rather scruffy looking common terns. Very pale wings, long-tailed, short-necked with short, cherry red bills.

Altogether pale birds actually.

A very white underwing with a thin dark trailing edge to the primaries.

Common terns at this time of year have dark primaries giving this dark wedged appearance and they are also starting to moult.

Arctic terns such as this are not moulting yet and the primaries remain pale and so lack the dark wedge.