Kittiwakes return to our coastlines
This week we have received reports that Suffolk’s only population of kittiwakes have returned to their nesting grounds at Sizewell. A population of 380,000 kittiwakes can be spotted on coastlines all around the UK, but for us here in Suffolk, we have just one population that choose the coastline at Sizewell as their nesting grounds, returning here after spending the winter out on the Atlantic.
Breeding in established pairs each year, parents in longer established breeding pairs tend to have more successful in raising young due to sharing the strain and responsibility of raising chicks more equally, meaning both parents can continue to feed well.
Our North East Warden, Jamie Smith, took the opportunity to survey the kittiwake numbers from Sizewell beach whilst they are visiting our coastline.