OUR COASTAL TREASURE
Sandbanks in the Kromme River Estuary
(Walk on Shore Road towards The Cove)
Sandbanks are the place to see waders and terns. Some can be seen all year round but most of them are summer visitors.
Waders
Waders are seen feeding whilst walking around on the muddy flats at low tide. The lengths of their bills differ according to the type of food they eat. This allows them to feed close together without competing.
White-fronted Plover
A small, dainty bird, buffy coloured with a white forehead (front), the black eye stripe connecting to the dark bill; often seen in pairs or little groups running over the sand.
Common Ringed Plover
With its bright orange legs and black band across the chest.
Curlew Sandpiper
With a beautiful, down-curved bill.
Grey Plover
Identified by the black patches under their wings in flight.
Sanderling
Greyer than the White-fronted Plover, often seen in little groups. When feeding they look as though they are sewing little stiches in the sand.
Ruddy Turnstone
A darker, orangey bird with red legs, which has a habit of turning over stones to search for food.
Pied Kingfisher
Seen hover-hunting over the river. It has black and white plumage and the very strong kingfisher bill.
Terns
Terns fish for their food and are often seen in large, active, fast-turning flocks.
Groups of them regularly rest on the sandy banks amongst the waders.
Caspian Tern
A large, gull sized bird sporting a bright red bill.
Crested Tern
Easy to identify by the bright yellow bill.
Sandwich Tern
Has a black bill with a yellow tip. (Think of it as a blob of butter on a sandwich.)
Common Tern
With a grey carpal bar on the shoulders and orange to brown legs.
Little Tern
Much smaller than all of the other tern species.
Look out for the other bird species that frequent this area.
Black Oystercatcher
A medium-sized black bird with bright red legs and bill. This bird makes a lovely kleep, kleepa call. A conservation success story!
Kelp gull
The quintessential “seagull”; bright white and black plumage and a strong, yellow bill with a red tip.
White-breasted Cormorant
A large cormorant that is often seen drying its wings after diving under the water to catch fish with its hooked beak.