The scene was entrsancing. At intervals one and then another checked the pace, poising with wings uplifted and vibrating and tail depressed and expanded. Suddenly wing movement ceased and each bird plunge-dived into the sea reversing as it dropped. Often on completely submerged, but was on the wing again before the splash subsided. Little terns work hard for a living and by no means every dive brings rewards.
Rough season conceal the shoals of small fry upon which they survive.
Young little terns become highly mobile, making short excursions from the nest within hours of birth and soon becoming widely separated. During the short hours of darkness the parents remain with small chicks making a scrape to brood them. In bad weather they may be brooded until almost three weeks old at which time the first short exploratory flights are made. Little terns begin the long southward flight to the Atlantic seaboard of West Africa towards the end of the month. By mid-August few will remain in local waters.