An impressive overland passage of Arctic Terns was experienced in parts of England last week, with multiple sites treated to triple-figure counts of the species.

Following a switch to a northerly airflow from Sunday 21 April, small groups were recorded in a handful of counties in the south and east of England.

However, on 22nd, a large movement was detected, coinciding with a band of rain that ran north to south through the centre of the country. With birds following the Severn-Trent line, central and northern England was treated to a veritable fall of Arctic Terns, which included counts of 120 or more at Pugney’s CP, West Yorkshire, 234 (including a single group of 97) through Southfield Reservoir, East Yorkshire, and a mighty 240 or more through at North Duffield Carrs, North Yorkshire.