The chase

Another brief visit to Hilbre before work this morning was rewarded with fantastic views of an adult plae phase Arctic Skua chasing Sandwich Terns off the East Hoyle. The Skua's technique was interesting as it sat on the wet sand waiting for a tern to appear with a sandeel and seemed to be homing in on the noise of the youngsters begging to be fed. It then took of and launched itself into a dive forcing the tern to take off.

Despite the terns twisting and turning the skua invariably succeded in chasing them down and forcing them to drop their catch.

All good stuff and made up for the lack of migrants............................