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SEA BIRDS
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Sterna paradisaea
Distribution:A summer visitors to the UK. Most birds found on the coasts and islands of the north, with their largest colonies in N and W Scotland. A few pairs usually nest in Norfolk.

Habitat:Coastal areas.

Diet:Mainly fish.



Cepphus grylle
Distribution:Larger sea lochs of western Scotland, and the northern and western isles, but is also found in Ireland, the Isle of Man and in a handful of spots in England and Wales.

Habitat:Breeds on rocky coasts. Winters at sea.

Diet:Fish and crustaceans.



Larus ridibundus
Distribution:The commonest inland gull, particularly in N England, Scotland and Wales. Large colonies along the south and east coasts of England.

Habitat:Breeds on coastal and inland marshes, moorland and gravel pits. Winters on estuaries, lakes, reservoirs, coasts and rubbish tips.

Diet:Worms, insects, fish and carrion.



Larus canus
Distribution:Scotland, N Ireland and N England. Seen in winter in England and Wales on farmland, near lakes and marshes and on the coast.

Habitat:Breeds on moorland and lochs. Winters on estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and coasts.

Diet:Worms, insects, fish, carrion and rubbish.



Sterna hirundo
Distribution:Widely but patchily distributed summer visitor.

Habitat:Breeds along coasts with shingle beaches and rocky islands, on rivers with shingle bars, and at inland gravel pits and reservoirs, feeding along rivers and over freshwater

Diet:Fish



Phalacrocorax carbo
Distribution:Common resident over most of the U.K, numbers increase during the winter.

Habitat:Found on coasts and estuaries, and also inland lakes and rivers. Coastal birds breed on cliffs, while inland colonies nest in waterside trees.

Diet:Fish



Fulmarus glacialis
Distribution: Most abundant along Scottish coastline, especially on the Northern Isles. Least common along the east, south and north-west coasts of England.

Habitat:Always offshore, except when breeding. Found near all suitable cliffs. Best looked for at seabird colonies

Diet:Fish waste and crustaceans.



Morus bassanus
Distribution:Biggest mainland breeding colony at RSPB's Bempton Cliffs. Two mainland colonies - at Bempton and Troup Head, Scotland. Big island colonies on St Kilda, the Northern Isles and Bass Rock in Scotland and Grassholm in Wales.

Habitat:Can be seen offshore almost anywhere, especially in when they migrate south in August and September.

Diet:Fish.



Uria aalge
Distribution:Found on small areas of cliffs on the south coast of England, very locally on the coasts and islands of Wales and in a handful of places in the north of England and Northern Ireland; more widely spread on cliffs of Scotland.

Habitat:In winter it is widespread around UK coasts but usually well offshore. Nests on high cliff in summer.

Diet:Fish and crustaceans



Larus argentatus
Distribution:Herring gulls are widespread and can easily be seen at virtually any seaside town in the breeding season, and inland all year round,

Habitat:Rubbish tips, playing fields and reservoir roosts.

Diet:Ominivorous - a scavenger.



Rissa tridactyla
Distribution:A summer visitor it can be see all around the coast of UK.

Habitat:A strictly coastal gull, nests on high cliffs and winters out at sea.

Diet:Fish, shrimps and worms.



Alle alle
Distribution:A winter visitor seen off the coast of eastern Scotland and England.

Habitat:Winters at sea but may get blown inshore in bad weather.

Diet:Plankton, other tiny marine creatures and fish.



Larus minutus
Distribution:Seen around UK coasts from July to April. In late summer and autumn birds are largely seen between Tayside and Yorkshire, with smaller numbers further south.

Habitat:The species breeds inland on shallow freshwater and brackish lakes, river basins, marshes and bogs, occasionally also at coastal lagoons.

Diet:Insects.



Sterna albifrons
Distribution:A Summer Visitor. A strictly coastal species found around the UK coastline at suitable breeding beaches. Largest colonies found along the east and southcoasts of Scotland and England at sites which include: Blakeney Point and Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; Minsmere, Suffolk; and Langstone Harbour, Hampshire.

Habitat:Coastal, breeding on shingle beaches where prone to disturbance.

Diet:Fish



Puffinus puffinus
Distribution:A summer visitor. Seen on rocky islands around the coasts of Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Isles of Scilly.

Habitat:Breeds on remote grassy headlands and islands; otherwise oceanic.

Diet:Fish, especially herrings, sardines and sprats.



Fratercula arctica
Distribution:A summer visitor. South Stack (Anglesey) reserves; the Farne Islands (Northumberland); the Isle of May (off the Fife coast); and the Shetland and Orkney Islands.

Habitat:Puffins nest in large colonies on seaside and island cliffs, usually laying only one egg, in a burrow dug one or two metres.

Diet:Fish, especially sandeels.



Alca torda
Distribution:It breeds around the coast of the UK, with the largest colonies in northern Scotland..

Habitat:Rocky cliffs and among boulder scree close to the sea. Winters at sea.

Diet:Fish, especially sandeels, sprats and herrings.



Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Distribution:Scottish colonies on Orkney, Shetland, the Inner Hebrides and the Firth of Forth. Elsewhere they can be seen commonly around the coasts of Wales and South West England.

Habitat:Mainly rocky coasts and harbours. Rare on inland waters.

Diet:Fish and occasionally crustacea and molluscs.