Little terns double their breeding record in Northumberland

What did rangers count?

The little tern is the UK’s second-rarest breeding seabird, according to National Trust rangers. It has declined over the long term across the country.

At Long Nanny, on the Northumberland coast, rangers counted at least 126 nesting pairs in 2026. The previous record for the site was 57 pairs, set in 1994. At least 82 chicks are known to have fledged. Rangers said the final total could be more than 100, but that figure was not confirmed when PA reported the counts.

The same colony also had at least 730 active Arctic tern nests with 1,346 eggs. That is slightly up on 2025.

Why does this season stand out?

Recent years were hard for these birds. Avian flu devastated the Arctic tern colony at Long Nanny in 2023. In later seasons, high spring tides and extreme weather washed out nests.

James Porteus, the National Trust’s lead ranger on the Northumberland coast, described the season as following several years dominated by bird flu outbreaks and flooded nests. Rangers said the record was a testament to the staff, volunteers and organisations who protect the colony each year.

What helped, according to the National Trust?

The Trust describes protection measures at its colonies. These include fences to keep out predators such as foxes, “refuge areas” for breeding birds and tighter restrictions on dogs during the nesting season. PA’s report describes these measures in the context of Blakeney Point in Norfolk.

At Blakeney Point, rangers recorded 1,164 pairs of Sandwich terns. The species had failed to nest there for the previous two seasons. Common terns, Arctic terns and black-headed gulls also increased.

The link between these measures and the results is the Trust’s own assessment. It is not a formal study.

Not every colony recovered

On the Farne Islands, Arctic tern numbers fell by 27%, from 519 breeding pairs in 2025 to 377 in 2026. No common terns nested on the islands this year.

The Arctic tern was recently added to the UK’s Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. The National Trust says species like it still face significant threats.

What these figures do not show

These are counts from one breeding season. They do not show whether the increase at Long Nanny will last. The chick total was still provisional when it was reported.

If you visit a beach colony, follow local signs, keep dogs on a lead where asked and stay outside fenced nesting areas.