The Coquet Island ‘airport’
Capt’n Coquet’s Chronicles
Coquet Island is home to some 80,000 nesting seabirds each year. The island habitats are protected as a Sanctuary Site for these birds as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in order to safeguard this impressive number of birds by minimising disturbance, reducing predation and preventing damage to these habitats.
The sandy beach and coves at the south end of Coquet Island stretch from the main jetty to the cliffs beneath the lighthouse. This is one of those habitat areas that play a vital role in the success of the seabird colony.
Birds arriving at the start of the season, such as terns, having flown from as far away as Africa, gather along the entire length of the beach, to rest, roost and start their impressive courtships to attract a mate or strengthen bonds of existing couples.
Similarly at the end of the season, thousands of birds gather on the sand and rocks with their fledgling chicks ready to disperse. Hence the nickname of “Coquet Airport” and an international one at that!
At the end of the season, some species such as Common Tern depart for Africa while the thousands of black-headed gulls disperse along the coast. Kittiwakes with their chicks also join the throng on the sand along with dozens of eider ducklings and their “aunties”, all getting ready to depart.
The gathering of Roseate Terns with their fledglings, on the beach by the main jetty give wardens the opportunity to read their special rings as part of the long-term study of their population studies.
Ten years ago, the habitat of the beach area and adjacent cliffs were improved to attract even more birds. The top of the beach was re-profiled and levelled to attract Little Terns. Consent from Natural England was granted to put out decoys and play a lure (a recording of their courtship calls). Research shows it takes a long time for Little Terns to accept a new nest area but in the meantime, pioneering Sandwich Terns established a new colony there! Kittiwakes also expanded their colony on the cliff overlooking the beach.
Over the years the beach and sandy cove at the jetty were used occasionally as a landing area for the reserve boat. In 2000 a winch block was built to help pull the boat up the steep beach.
Sometimes the boat was stranded thanks to a sudden change in profile of the sand, or rocks exposed on the falling tide made it impossible to land or relaunch.
Sometimes the beach is washed out completely, especially after SE winds, leaving rocks right up to the cliffs! With these limitations and the expanding use of the sandy areas by the birds, the winch was removed and boat landings were abandoned, in order to prevent avoidable disturbance and comply with bird protection laws.
Dr Paul Morrison aka Capt Coquet was a Coquet Island manager for 38 years
