A Special Encounter with a Common Tern at Warnham Local Nature Reserve

On the 18th of May 2025, I enjoyed one of those unforgettable days at Warnham Local Nature Reserve that reminds me exactly why I love wildlife photography.

As I made my way around the reserve, the calm was broken by the elegant flight of a Common Tern skimming across the water’s surface. These birds are always a joy to see, but this one put on a real show. It dipped into the water with a quick splash, taking a refreshing bath mid-flight, then soared effortlessly back into the air.

What made the moment even more special was watching it dive and emerge with a fish in its beak—a perfect example of nature’s precision and grace. Capturing that split-second in a photo was incredibly rewarding. These are the moments I wait patiently for, and when they come together like this, it makes all the hours spent in the field completely worth it.

The Common Tern is such an elegant bird, both in movement and appearance, and seeing it in action like this was a real treat. It’s encounters like these that continue to inspire me to explore and photograph the UK’s wildlife, especially in places as rich and well-managed as Warnham.

If you’re a birdwatcher or nature enthusiast, I highly recommend visiting the reserve during the spring and summer months. You never know what incredible sight might be waiting just around the next corner.

Thanks for reading—and as always, happy shooting!

#CommonTern #WarnhamLocalNatureReserve #WildlifePhotography #Birdwatching #NatureCapture #UKWildlife