Little Terns in the Spurn Area

A Brief History

by

Geoff Neal

Apart from small numbers which breed irregularly in the very north-east of the county, and some pairs which apparently bred at Tunstall in the 1970’s, the area encompassed by the Spurn Heritage Coast holds the only breeding colony of Little Terns, Sterna albifrons, in Yorkshire. Although numbers have fluctuated considerably over the years due to various external influences the colony is a long-standing one, as witnessed by Chislett’s comment in his Yorkshire Birds that the species had bred along the coast south of Kilnsea from “times ornithologically immemorial”. The fortunes of the colony have been fairly well documented in recent years but there has been no published comprehensive historical account, this is therefore an attempt to remedy that situation.

In the early days many more terns nested to the south of the Spurn Warren area than is the case today and many early references mention only this colony so that it is difficult to know the status of the species in the Easington area, which is the current stronghold. However it is known that the species has nested on the beach in the Kilnsea Beacon/Easington area since at least the start of the twentieth century, albeit not continuously. One of the earliest references to the Spurn colony is an account of a visit during the last week of May in 1861, when it was stated that the nesting site was on the seaward side of the peninsula about half a mile (0.8 km) from the Point. About 40 to 50 pairs were noted on that visit but a report in the Naturalist in 1885 gave the colony at about a mile (1.6 km) north of the Lighthouse and expressed the concern that the colony was becoming smaller each year owing to “the senseless and relentless plunder of nests by excursionists”. Similar sentiments were expressed in 1890 by John Cordeaux, who thought it surprising that the Spurn colony continued to exist, considering the ceaseless plundering that went on year after year. It was clear that something had to be done. In 1891 the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union had initiated a committee dedicated to bird protection, initially designated the YNU Yorkshire Wild Birds and Eggs Protection Committee, later to become the Protection of Birds Committee. In 1894 this committee was successful in persuading the East Riding County Council to apply to the Home Secretary for an Order “prohibiting the taking away or destroying of Wild Birds’ eggs on the promontory of Spurn including Kilnsea Warren south of a line taken from the road leading from the village of Kilnsea towards the site of the old village of Kilnsea”. This area coincides with the current recording area of Spurn Bird Observatory (now unfortunately much reduced in an easterly direction as a result of coastal erosion). The Order began on 31st March 1895 and lasted five years, to be renewed thereafter as required. In 1898 in his address to the Council the chairman said “The Order has already, so far as we have been able to ascertain, had the effect of arresting the extermination of the Lesser Tern, a bird interesting to naturalists and which has its nesting ground almost exclusively at Spurn.” Grabham (1900) and Mather (1986) state that a watcher was also appointed, ostensibly for the same five year period, (although there is no mention of this in the minutes of the County Council from the time) and Mather further states that the venture was apparently successful, for in 1900 about 200 young were hatched. The reality of the matter is less clear cut as Petch (1900) reports. He comments on the problems facing the watcher, in that Spurn presented more difficulties than any other protected area that he knew of, due to the length of the colony, the children living on the site, the Grimsby trippers and the gravel diggers who walked daily from Kilnsea to Spurn. In fact in 1897 the watcher had little to watch as almost the whole colony was washed out by exceptionally high spring tides in June. In the subsequent two years no watcher was appointed and systematic egg-collecting continued unchecked, with one individual alone taking thirty-four eggs.

According to Grabham a watcher was again present in 1900 as a result of a number of private individuals, at the instigation of Mr. W. H. Quintin of Scampston Hall, collecting a small fund for the purposes of paying his expenses, and a Mr. Robinson of Kilnsea, gamekeeper to Colonel White, took on the responsibility. It was reported that at least 100 pairs hatched eggs although some eggs were taken in spite of the assistance of the local policeman, the lighthouse keeper and some local inhabitants. Petch however was somewhat less enthusiastic and held that 1900 must still be reckoned among the bad seasons due to the wreck of a vessel loaded with timber at Kilnsea in May. The cargo subsequently washed up all along the peninsula and its collection occupied much of the main part of the nesting season, such that accidental destruction could hardly be avoided. Some degree of protection apparently continued over the next few years and Petch, writing again in the Naturalist in 1904, affirms that most eggs had hatched successfully but there was evidence, despite the protection afforded, that many had been taken and states that it seems almost impossible to adequately protect rare breeding species in Yorkshire from the greed of the egg collector. An interesting little snippet concerns an extract from the Spurn Point school log book for June 14 1906: “succeeded in finding 55 nests of the Lesser Tern containing 139 eggs and 6 nests of the Ringed Plover containing 18 eggs.” There is no mention of what happened to the eggs!

A 1906 article by Fortune says that “Spurn Point was declared a sanctuary by the County Council of the East Riding but unfortunately there is no-one to see these orders carried out… Some years ago a subscription was obtained and a watcher employed but for some reason this system was abandoned”. In 1907 the YNU Bird Protection Committee took over responsibility for protection of the colony, when representatives from various natural history societies attended a special meeting in Leeds. All agreed to provide financial assistance towards the opening of a subscription fund to pay the wages of a warden at Spurn. His particular duty was to be the protection of the nesting colony of the Little Tern, which at that time was still reckoned to number about 200 pairs, although in that year the logbook noted that 55 pairs nested on the Point. The first report of this committee to be published in the Naturalist was for the 1909 season when it was reported that the season was late and at the usual time for the watcher to cease there were still “lots of helpless terns” so the season was extended by two weeks. The committee paid out £13. 5s. 0d (£13.25) for the watcher.

In 1912 the main colony had moved due to a sandstorm having buried all the nests at the Point a year or two previously and 80 nests were situated north of Kilnsea, with two to the south, 8 were on the Humber side and 4 at Spurn Point. Subsequently breeding north of Kilnsea decreased and evidently ceased there except for occasional returns. However there appear to have been very few published reports of visits by bird-watchers to Spurn and there is a paucity of references to the colony between 1912 and c.1930, apart from the annual reports of the Protection of Birds Committee which make interesting reading (see appendix). Sheppard (1927) states that during the (first world) war many drastic changes had taken place in the Spurn area and species which bred there had suffered considerable disturbance, however the area was still home to a colony of “the beautiful Sea-Swallow or Lesser Tern.” In 1935 a few pairs bred on pastureland a little way inland in the Kilnsea Beacon area, and in 1936 Proctor recorded 94 nests containing 259 eggs in the whole area. A paid watcher was still present in the early 1930’s and one of his responsibilities was to mark the eggs with indelible ink or pencil to lessen their value to collectors. He presumably had some help with this as Vera Cross, the daughter of Robert Cross, a very celebrated lifeboat coxswain, remembers when she was a young girl going with her mother to mark the eggs to prevent them being stolen (pers. comment), this would presumably have been about the same time. A further reference to this practice comes from Henry Bunce (pers. comment) who states that before World War Two he and a friend used to help John Clubley, a local farm lad, to carry out this task in the Beacon area. In a good year then there would be about 100 nests in the Kilnsea/Spurn area divided roughly 50/50 between the two. On returning after the war he was shattered to find only about half a dozen pairs. Henry remembers that in those days the coast north of Kilnsea was very different from what it is now (as of course is all the coast down to Spurn). There was a line of dunes with dune slacks along the east side of the Beacon area, which was pastureland with a pond, and there was a high shingly beach along the top of the shore. Most of the nests were on the beach, some in the dune slacks and others round the pond on dry, exposed mud. The dunes were low at the north end near Long Bank, and the Beacon area would occasionally be flooded during winter storms.

Reasonable numbers were apparently maintained up to 1939 but were reported to be much reduced during the war years, although in 1946 there were c.75 pairs in three colonies, with the main colony being north of the lighthouse. A new road had been laid to the Point during the early years of the war and Chislett wrote in 1946 “If the new road to the Point remains open the terns will probably have disappeared in a very few years.” During the late 1940’s a watcher was reinstated by the YNU Protection Committee and in 1949 about 75 pairs nested at the Point with limited success, but 30 pairs which attempted at the main colony produced no young. In 1950 60 pairs nested with about half of these successfully rearing young. The next few years saw very few successes as the result of much disturbance; Lee and Saunders writing in the Naturalist in 1953 reported the results of a survey carried out at the Point in late May of that year, when they found a total of 50 nests containing 101 eggs. However Ainsworth reported that later in the year only one young bird was subsequently seen on the wing. Several Magpies were seen taking eggs and many sucked eggs were found. He noted that holiday-makers and fishermen appeared to ignore the birds but the presence of those people kept the birds off the eggs. In 1956 the late summer was unusually wet which kept away day-trippers and enabled the Little Terns to rear some broods from second layings, with some 20 birds fledging. In 1957 17 young were ringed but from then on the situation continued to decline with the number of pairs in most years throughout the 1960’s being in only single figures, with virtually no young reaching the flying stage. In 1970 in addition to the regular problems of disturbance and predation there was a new entirely unexpected hazard. Two pairs were established at the Point and the area had been duly marked off for protection when a helicopter landed on precisely that section of beach, completely destroying the nests and eggs. The following year the Point was unsuitable for nesting as all the high beach had been washed away during the winter and there was then no attempted nesting until 1977 when 3 nests on the Humber shore at Chalk Bank were washed out by a high tide on July 3rd.

On a more optimistic note 1977 saw the re-establishment of the colony at Easington Lagoon, where at least 5 pairs nested, with at least 2 young fledged. The following year 2 birds held territory on the Spurn Scrape but there was no confirmed breeding. In the same year an area of sand and shingle near Chalk Bank was cleared of vegetation in the (forlorn) hope that the terns would nest there. Meanwhile at Easington the YNU reported that at least 4 birds laid but no young were seen, however, extracts from Gillian Granger’s diaries from that time confirm that at least 20 pairs were present in late May. In the absence of an official warden she appears to have done sterling work in helping to protect the colony and in early August she reports that at least 2 birds were still being fed, unfortunately it is not known if these fledged successfully. In 1979 breeding was not confirmed, then in 1980 the YNU again took steps to protect this newly established colony when a local Easington birdwatcher, Arthur Piggott, was asked to warden the area on a voluntary basis, which he agreed to do. In that year 6 pairs laid eggs but breeding success could not be confirmed. He continued to act as voluntary warden until 1985 when it was decided to employ a full time seasonal warden. During his period there were varying degrees of success, such as 4 pairs in 1982 raising at least 8 young and 8 pairs rearing 23 young in 1984. In writing of his association with the colony Piggott commented that he encountered many problems, mainly from motorcyclists and a few people who believed that the fencing of the ternery was an infringement of their right to walk unhindered upon the beach. In fact the area chosen for nesting, although covered in sand, was private land owned by the Yorkshire Water Authority, something which he frequently had to point out.

In 1985 11 pairs laid 31 eggs but these were all destroyed on the night of 9th/10th June, presumably by foxes. Many birds laid again but were again subject to considerable predation, however 8 young successfully reached the flying stage. There was little or no success during the next three seasons but in 1988 breeding was once more attempted at Spurn for the first time since 1977, with 3 pairs laying eggs from which 7 chicks hatched, unfortunately none fledged. In 1989 the Heritage Coast Project took over responsibility for the protection scheme at Easington and thanks to the erection of fencing, regular wardening and the provision of notices informing the general public of the importance of the Little Terns, that year at least 20 pairs attempted to nest. Unfortunately due to fox predation they suffered heavy losses and only one young fledged. The following year an electric fence was erected around the nesting site and this proved extremely effective at excluding foxes, so that 31 pairs reared a record 29 young. The problems facing Little Terns are many and varied however and in 1991, a promising start came to nothing when a cold, very strong, northerly wind at the end of May caused the first breeding attempt to be abandoned, in early June 27 pairs settled down to a second attempt but a combination of egg predation by a family of Carrion Crows and a further spell of bad weather resulted in the entire colony being once again abandoned by the end of the month. A third and final nesting attempt took place in early July when 9 pairs laid eggs, resulting in 8 chicks hatching. Five of these were within a few days of fledging when they were predated by a Merlin, resulting in the entire colony deserting.

Meanwhile at Spurn nesting attempts were continuing with 10 pairs laying in 1989, all being taken by foxes, and 5 pairs in 1990, again with no success. However in 1991 came the first successful breeding at Spurn since 1960, mainly due to the use of an electric fence around the nesting area. Of 6 pairs which laid at the Point, 2 pairs each raised 2 young, 1 pair laid only 1 egg and deserted, 1 pair lost eggs to a fox and the remaining 2 pairs each hatched 2 young but one died and the others were probably taken by a Merlin. Unfortunately this renaissance did not last long and the last successful breeding at Spurn was in 1993, when 1 pair fledged 2 chicks. The Easington colony however continued to prosper, albeit with some setbacks. The 1992 season saw a final figure of 34 nesting pairs, unfortunately only 11 young fledged, due principally to the return of a Merlin on 8th July. In addition to chicks actually taken by the Merlin its presence for long periods perched near the colony prevented the adults from feeding the young which then starved. A Merlin again arrived at the colony in 1993, on the earliest date yet (1st July) but despite this 62 pairs raised 20 young to the flying stage. An encouraging sign was the first sighting of a bird which had been colour-ringed as a chick returning to breed as an adult, whilst also of interest was the sighting of a bird ringed as a chick on the west coast at Gronant in Clwyd, North Wales. Colour-ringed birds were also noted in several years from colonies at Tetney, South Gare and Norfolk. In 1994 65 pairs raised 29 young but in 1995 only 4 chicks fledged from a total of 71 pairs, with once again predation by a Merlin (present this year from mid June), being a major factor, along with bad weather and the flooding of 15 nests by very high tides. In 1996 49 pairs produced at least 54 chicks, of which 31 reached the flying stage, but in 1997 only 2 young fledged, mainly due to very strong northerly winds which covered most of the area with sand to a depth of 1-2 feet, together with the usual Merlin problem, this year compounded by predation from a Kestrel. In 1998 the lack of appearance of any Merlins meant that the only significant cause of failure was fox predation, mostly of young birds which were moved outside the area of the electric fence by their parents. This resulted in a record year with 42 chicks fledging from 41 pairs, however this was exceeded by the 45 chicks which fledged from 54 pairs in 1999, the first increase in the number of pairs since 1995.

So what of the future? As long as regular wardening can be maintained to minimise human disturbance and control natural predation the colony looks set to prosper. Success is of course very much dependent on weather conditions and such natural phenomena as high tides but the Little Tern is a resilient species which is able to cope with natural fluctuations in breeding success

Breeding Success at Easington 1977 to 1999

Appendix

1910: Little Terns breeding at the Point and near Kilnsea Beacon. The latter place requires more watching.
1911: Wages for watcher were £14. Fifteen pairs of Little Terns nested at a more northerly location.
1913: Sunday excursion steamers from Hull and Grimsby bring excursionists who “wander promiscuously about the Point”.
1914: The watcher G. Hall has been the best man we have had on the ground. £12 wages.
1915: Exceedingly good watcher. Keeps a daily diary. Good crop of Little Terns and Ringed Plovers. Wages £6.
1916: Applied to HQ Humber Garrison, Hull. The General Commanding Officer said that no watcher could be allowed. An officer sent a letter saying that since the railway had been put along Spurn the birds had not gone there.
1917: No watcher this season. Major Pauley stationed at Spurn undertook to see that all the eggs were marked with indelible pencil.
1919: We were fortunately able to secure the services of our old watcher.
1920: Very high tides washed away a number of eggs between Chalk Bank and Spurn. Posters have been put up in prominent places.
1921: Tides very low and eggs hatched well. Egg gatherers were plentiful however.
1922. Much reduced numbers, 25 near the Beacon and 30-40 on Spurn were successful.
1923: Crows and Magpies reported breeding near Skeffling and repeatedly raiding the nests. 10 Crows and 5 Magpies destroyed.
1924: Improvement but Crows and Magpies still raiding.
1925: Everything in order when YNU visited.
1927: At Kilnsea Mr. A.T. Brearsley reported by the watcher to the police, a 30/- (£1.50) fine imposed and information got into newspapers which might help to deter.
1930: Three enamelled notices, very plainly and eloquently lettered, have been erected on double poles at the approach to all the sides by arrangement with the War Office. The CO has sponsored attempts to preserve as a sanctuary the nesting headland and has issued instructions to all N.C.O.’s that every care must be taken to preserve these birds.
1931: At Kilnsea and Spurn enamelled notices have been useful, reports the watcher.
1933: Good season.
1935: Changes in terrain at the Beacon have had the result of impelling the birds to nest on the mud inside the bank. On Spurn the usual nesting ground was almost abandoned and a new site used right at the Point. 104 eggs and 107 at Kilnsea.
1936: We have every reason to believe that our protection is meeting with a very gratifying response. At Kilnsea 45 nests with a total of 126 eggs and at Spurn 49 with a total of 133 eggs. A further element in the birds’ safety lies in the fact that the great increase in the number of visitors drove large numbers of them to seek sanctuary on the Point itself, below that area frequented by holidaymakers and visitors and further protected by the military station and the kind offices of the garrison commandant, himself a keen bird lover.
1937: Best in the history of our preservation.
1939: Ban on removal of sand and shingle lifted and thousands of tons were carted away which may expose the birds to danger.
1940: A road has been driven along the isthmus. Our watcher, Mr. J. Clubley is now serving in the forces.
1941: Birds persist despite the militarisation of the coastal area.
1942/3: Terns seen in usual numbers but not counted.
1944/5:No reports.

References

Chislett, R., Yorkshire Birds, A. Brown & Sons, 1952.
Cordeaux, John, “Ornithological Notes from the Humber District, May 1890”, The Naturalist, 1890, pp. 199-202.
Collins, T. “Little Terns at Easington Lagoon, 1991”, Spurn Wildlife, no. 1, 1992, p. 28. – Reports (by various authors) on the Little Terns at Easington Lagoon in subsequent years are contained in successive issues of Spurn Wildlife.
Cudworth, J., “Little Terns at Spurn Point [in 1991]”, Spurn Wildlife, no. 1, 1992, pp. 27-28 – A follow-up report on the 1992 season by B. R. Spence is contained in Spurn Wildlife no. 2, 1993, p. 63.
Fortune, R., “Redshanks breeding at Spurn”, The Naturalist, 1911, p. 297.
Grabham, Oxley, “Report on the Breeding of the Lesser Terns at Spurn during the Season of 1900”, The Naturalist, 1900, pp. 301-3.
Lee, A. H. B. & Saunders, P. H., “Late May at Spurn”, The Naturalist, Oct-Dec 1953, pp. 152-3.
Malkin, Larry et al, ed. “This peculiar and remote little school”: the school at Spurn Point, 1893-1946. Chorley: Countryside Publications Ltd., [1984], p. 60 – selected excerpts from the school log.
Mather, John R., The Birds of Yorkshire, Croom Helm, 1986.
Pashby, B., John Cordeaux, Ornithologist, SBO, 1985.
Petch, Thomas, “Protection of the Lesser Tern at Spurn, The Naturalist, 1900, pp. 321-2.
Piggott, L. A., “The Little Terns”, Eastend News, July 1995.
Pilsworth, M. “Little Terns at Easington in 1998”, Yorkshire Birding, vol. 7 no. 3, 1998/9, p.98.
Potter, E.G., “Eggs of the Lesser Tern”, The Naturalist, 1895, p. 150.
Varty, Clive, “Bird Protection in Yorkshire”, in Mather, Birds of Yorkshire, 1986

Also consulted were various issues of The Naturalist, annual reports of the Yorkshire Naturalists Trust (now the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust), the Yorkshire Naturalists Union, the Spurn Bird Observatory and the Spurn Heritage Coast Project

Acknowledgements

All the hard work of researching this article was carried out by Jan Crowther, for which many thanks, I merely attempted to put it all together in a (hopefully) readable format. My thanks go also to John Cudworth and Barry Spence for agreeing to read the initial draft and for making valuable comments and criticisms.

Geoff Neal