Belongs to: terns

Sandwich tern Sterna sandvicensis

Large pale tern with black crest on back of head

Habitat: sea, estuaries and adjacent marshes

Summer migrant breeding on most UK coasts, including some in Essex mainly on Maplin bank

Large pale tern with black ragged crest, black legs, black bill with yellow tip

Flies with typical buoyant flight, in which pointed wings and forked tail are apparent

Eats fish

Nest is a bare scrape on a sandy or shingle beach; highly colonial

1 brood April to May; 2 buffy eggs speckled brown

Winters in W. Africa