Where to see Roseate Tern in Northumberland

A Guide to this beautiful seabird

The best place to see Roseate Terns in Northumberland is Coquet Island RSPB Reserve ,located a mile off the coast of Amble. While landing is prohibited, boat trips (e.g., Puffin Cruises) from Amble harbour offer excellent views of the nesting colony between May and July. The boats are often able to pull alongside the jetty at Coquet Island which will allow for good photo opportunities.



Roseate Tern illustrationby MiE Fielding





Coquet Island RSPB Reserve

The RSPB reserve is located one mile off the coast at Amble Northumberland. There are daily boat trips via Puffin Cruises that take around one hour to do the circular trip. After leaving the harbour at Amble the seas here are often well populated with auks such as puffin and guillemot. Eider are also evident. Although Roseate terns are rarer on the estuary, there are often sightings of both sandwich Tern and Arctic Tern. The Roseate Terns on Coquet Island are given protection from predators by providing them with special nest boxes. Therefore sitting birds will be hard to see, although partner birds will readily sit in advantageous spots allowing for good photographs.

 

Hauxley Nature Reserve

Hauxley nature reserve lies around 1 mile south of Amble and more or less opposite Coquet island. Towards the end of the breeding season, Roseate Tern along with other species of tern will often bathe beneath the aptly named 'tern hide'.  will often bathe in fresh water beneath the aptly named 'tern hide'. .


The Long Nanny Burn.

The Long Nanny Burn lies around one mile north of High Newton. Park here (charges apply) and walk along the dunes path to the burn. The (mainland) site is wardened by The National Trust, which has erected a viewing platform looking directly over the tern colony. The main breeders here are Arctic Tern with a few pairs of Little Tern and other species. This site has also produced a regular single American Black tern in recent years.


All of these sites are easily accessible from the accommodation.