It’s just over two years since any Black terns (Childonias niger) last visited my local area (Phenomenal fliers, 10 September 2022) so I was both delighted and relieved to learn yesterday morning that the Black tern which had been at Cardiff’s Lisvane Reservoir over the weekend was still present.

After narrowly missing the first available train, I was even more relieved when I eventually got to the reservoir and almost immediately spotted the tern performing its amazing aerial manoeuvres in a constant search for food.

It was always distant for my camera, and weather conditions weren’t the best, with grey skies and strong blustery winds, but it was such a joy to spend some quality time watching this incredible flier.

Phenomenal fliers effortlessly performing awesome aerobatics…. It’s easy to get carried away and, at the same time, difficult to describe adequately in words the flying skills of members of the Tern family. It also proved extremely difficult, even with my new camera, to get good photographs as they swooped and swerved, dipped and dived, feeding on tiny insects both on and above the water.

These are juvenile Black terns (Childonias niger), rare visitors to south Wales, so it’s been a treat for many birders this week to have seen first one, then yesterday a second bird, feeding over the lake in Cardiff’s Parc Tredelerch. I spent several magical hours with a friend at the lake yesterday, watching and marvelling at these thrilling fliers.