Caspian tern, Budworth Mere

An adult Caspian tern was at Budworth Mere yesterday but disappeared by midday while I was still at Martin Mere. I wasn't too concerned about missing it because although they're great birds, it is quite a cosmopolitan species which I've seen all over the world on my travels, including Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, USA, India, Kuwait, Australia and New Zealand, plus I've previously seen a few in the UK including in the North West at Leighton Moss. So I was very relaxed about it.... 

Then it reappeared this morning so I just dropped everything and went! Why I can't say, I just felt like going and I had the time available. I left home at 10:55, drove to Budworth Mere, walked to the viewing spot, saw the bird, filmed it, watched it get flushed by walkers and fly off, so I returned to the car, drove home and was home by 12:30. A ninety-five minute return journey!

The photos might be described by some as record shots, by others perhaps less than record shots, but give me a break, the bird was nearly 400m distant in heat haze. As far as I'm concerned, they're awesome photos and I'm still waiting to see better 😆