One of the UK’s rarest seabirds has recorded a 'good' breeding season despite threats from bird flu and predators.

The National Trust has said a minimum of 49 little tern chicks had successfully fledged by the end of the breeding season at Blakeney Point National Nature Reserve - the highest number since 2020.

Fakenham & Wells Times: A little tern chick being ringed on Blakeney PointA little tern chick being ringed on Blakeney Point (Image: Duncan Halpin)

The main little tern colony at Blakeney Point starts to form in mid-May, and by the end of June, more than 80 pairs were nesting.

Duncan Halpin, National Trust ranger, said: “It’s always satisfying when you reach the end of the nesting season and you know a species has done well.

Fakenham & Wells Times: National Trust Ranger Duncan Halpin monitoring seabirds on Blakeney PointNational Trust Ranger Duncan Halpin monitoring seabirds on Blakeney Point (Image: Hanne Siebers)

"We are able to maintain a 24/7 presence on Blakeney Point throughout the breeding season thanks to our team of dedicated volunteers and employ a range of approaches to give little terns and other shorebirds the best chance of breeding.”

Little terns are one of the UK’s smallest seabirds and migrate thousands of miles from Africa to shingle beaches along the UK’s coast.

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Fakenham & Wells Times: A little tern chick next to one of the protective chick shelters on Blakeney PointA little tern chick next to one of the protective chick shelters on Blakeney Point (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Since the mid-1980s there has been a sharp decline in little tern numbers.

The species has also been impacted by habitat loss, high spring tides washing away nests, and threats from predators including foxes, rats, and birds of prey.

Electric fencing has been introduced to keep predators away, and ‘chick shelters’ to increase security. Rangers also used remote monitoring cameras.

Fakenham & Wells Times: A young little tern in flight over Blakeney PointA young little tern in flight over Blakeney Point (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Mr Halpin said: “Although they’ve had a successful year, little terns are still under threat so it’s important we keep up our efforts to ensure they have safe sites to breed.”

Ringed plovers and oystercatchers have also had a successful breeding season at the Point. There were 17 pairs of ringed plovers, which produced a minimum of 20 chicks - up from 14 pairs and eight chicks last year.

There were 89 oystercatcher pairs, which was up from 68 pairs last year.

Fakenham & Wells Times: A little tern chick on Blakeney PointA little tern chick on Blakeney Point (Image: Hanne Siebers)

Fakenham & Wells Times: A pair of little terns in a courtship ritual on Blakeney PointA pair of little terns in a courtship ritual on Blakeney Point (Image: Hanne Siebers)