Common Terns Playing Catch at Warnham Local Nature Reserve

Welcome to my wildlife photography journal! Warnham Local Nature Reserve is always capable of producing something unexpected, and my visit on 26th July 2026 provided a fantastic example of just how entertaining young birds can be. I spent some time photographing a group of young Common Terns, and what started as fishing soon appeared to turn into a game of catch.

The young terns repeatedly carried fish around before dropping them, creating plenty of opportunities to watch and photograph their behaviour. On one particularly memorable occasion, a young Common Tern deliberately dropped a fish in mid-air before diving after it and catching it again. It was fascinating to watch, and the behaviour made for some challenging but rewarding photographs.

It was also a wonderful reminder that wildlife photography isn't always about simply capturing a bird at rest or feeding. Watching young birds develop their skills through play can provide a much better insight into their behaviour and development. The repeated attempts to carry, drop and retrieve the fish seemed to be providing these young terns with valuable practice while also giving me plenty of action to photograph.

Warnham Local Nature Reserve once again provided an enjoyable wildlife photography session, with the young Common Terns supplying plenty of action and some memorable behaviour. Moments like this are exactly why spending time watching wildlife before reaching for the camera can be so rewarding.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to explore my other wildlife adventures and photography from Warnham Local Nature Reserve and beyond. Every visit brings something new, and I look forward to sharing more moments from the field soon.