Leave Only Footprints

06/06/2026

“The UK’s smallest tern undertakes one of nature’s biggest journeys—crossing continents to return to the same stretch of beach each spring. Here are 10 incredible facts about this remarkable acrobatic little seabird…

1. They are the UK’s smallest tern, with a wingspan of only 41–47 cm and weighing little more than a blackbird.
2. Despite their size, they are long-distance migrants, travelling thousands of miles between their breeding grounds in Britain and wintering areas along the coasts of West Africa.
3. They can hover like tiny helicopters before plunging into the sea to catch small fish such as sand eels and sprats.
4. Their chicks are remarkably well camouflaged, blending almost perfectly with shingle and sandy beaches, making them difficult for predators—and even wardens—to spot.
5. Little terns often return to the same breeding colony year after year, showing strong loyalty to successful nesting sites.
6. A newly hatched chick can leave the nest scrape within hours, although it remains dependent on its parents for food and protection.
7. They nest directly on open beaches, laying eggs in a simple scrape in the sand or shingle rather than building a traditional nest.
8. Their lifespan can exceed 20 years, although many birds face significant challenges during migration and breeding.
9. They are highly vocal and fiercely protective, often mobbing much larger birds, including gulls and crows, that venture too close to their nests.
10. They are one of Britain’s rarest breeding seabirds, with conservation teams working every summer to protect colonies from disturbance, predators, flooding, and habitat loss.

05/06/2026

Same dragonfly. Same moment. Two completely different photographs — all because of the relative position of the sun.

In photography, the light is often just as important as the subject.

These two images were taken of the same dragonfly, within a minute of each other, but from opposite directions. In one photograph, I was shooting towards the sun, allowing the wings to glow with the light and revealing intricate details that would otherwise remain hidden. In the other, with the sun behind me, the dragonfly is illuminated more evenly, bringing out its gorgeous colours, textures and natural appearance.

In my opinion, neither image is better than the other—they simply tell different stories. One emphasises shape, transparency and atmosphere; the other highlights colour, detail and realism.

It’s a useful reminder that changing your position by just a few metres can completely transform a wildlife photograph. The subject may stay the same, but the light can create an entirely different image.

05/06/2026

02/06/2026

Whether it’s sunny, cloudy, windswept, foggy or raining my morning route always brings a smile to my heart.
It’s the same route but never looks the same on two given days. The colours, the brightness, the birdsong, the tide, the smell of sea air , the reflections of light on the water and the brief wildlife encounters differ every single day.
And this makes me cherish my time here and realise how valuable every single day is. 😊

02/06/2026

There is something undeniably majestic about a Grey Heron — whether soaring overhead or standing statue-like at the water’s edge.

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is one of Britain’s most recognisable wetland birds. With a wingspan reaching up to 1.9 metres and standing around a metre tall, it is our largest resident heron. Often seen beside rivers, lakes, marshes and coastal lagoons, the Grey Heron feeds mainly on fish but will also take amphibians, small mammals, insects and even young birds when the opportunity arises.

Unlike many birds that rely on speed or pursuit, herons hunt through patience and precision, remaining almost perfectly still before delivering a lightning-fast strike with their dagger-like bill. They nest in colonies known as heronries, often high in mature trees, and can live for over 15 years in the wild.

Although currently considered a species of least concern in the UK, Grey Herons remain dependent on healthy wetlands and waterways. Their presence is often a good indicator of a thriving aquatic ecosystem.

22/05/2026

It’s been a while since I had a walk around the full reserve so seeing as it’s my day off that’s exactly what I did and wow what a morning . Feeling grateful 😊🙏.

Some places don’t need drama to feel special — just sunshine, sea air and the sound of birds overhead.

Warm sunshine, a fresh coastal breeze and the sound of birds carrying across the dunes — May at Gibraltar Point feels alive from the moment you arrive. Skylarks hover high above the grasslands, little terns return to the shoreline after their long migration from Africa, and marsh harriers drift low across the saltmarsh searching for prey.

The reserve is full of movement at this time of year. Swallows skim across the pools, butterflies begin appearing along the paths, and wading birds gather along the tide line as the sea rolls in under bright blue skies. Even on quieter days, Gibraltar Point has a way of slowing everything down and reminding you how important these wild coastal spaces really are.

After a long winter, May feels like the reserve waking up properly again — full of colour, sound and new life.



Common Tern, Soldier Beetle, Great White Egret, Little Grebe, Crane Fly, Coot chick, Mute Swan, Reed Warbler, Oystercatcher, Rabbit

19/05/2026

Felt immensely privileged to witness the Sanderling high tide roost whilst monitoring our nests over the recent high tide sequence. Sat still, hunkered down in the dunes as over 1000 birds swooped in off the mudflats.

The tide leaves little room for rest.

At high tide, flocks of Sanderling gather tightly along the upper shore at Gibraltar Point, conserving energy between feeding sessions on the retreating sands. These small Arctic breeders travel thousands of miles to winter along our coastline, yet even here their survival depends on something as simple as peace and space to roost. Repeated disturbance from people, dogs, or sudden movement can force them into flight again and again, wasting precious energy reserves they need to survive migration and harsh weather.

Watching a high tide roost is one of the best reminders that sometimes the most important thing we can do for wildlife… is simply give it room. 💚

14/05/2026

Feeling very grateful. Not only seeing this one eyeing me from the ridge but noticing the rising morning sun reflected in its eyes. What better start to a day 😊

Silent, watchful, and often hidden by the landscape, roe deer are one of the countryside’s true ghosts.

Unlike larger deer species, roe deer move lightly through woodland edges, reedbeds and farmland, relying on stealth rather than size to survive. During spring and summer, their rich reddish coat blends perfectly into the surrounding vegetation, while winter brings a thicker grey-brown coat to cope with colder conditions.

Although still widespread across the UK, roe deer face growing pressure from habitat fragmentation, road traffic, and increasing disturbance. Their survival depends on connected wild spaces where they can move, feed, and shelter safely.

A brief glimpse is often all you get — and somehow that makes the encounter even more memorable.

12/05/2026

The last of our three protected species arrived today! Little Terns - often called the Swallows of the Sea - so acrobatic, so elegant . To hear the skies over the sanctuary filled with their calls really has made my day 😊

After thousands of miles across desert and open ocean, they return to a fragile coastline for a few short special months.

Little terns arrive on our coasts carrying the weight of an uncertain future. Once a far more familiar sight along the shores of Lincolnshire, these tiny migratory seabirds now face mounting pressure from habitat loss, rising sea levels, disturbance, pollution and increasing storm events during the breeding season. Despite weighing little more than a tennis ball, Little Tern undertake remarkable migrations between the UK and the west coast of Africa each year.

Their preferred nesting habitat is fragile — open sandy or shingle beaches just above the tide line — leaving eggs and chicks highly vulnerable to predators, flooding and human activity. UK breeding numbers have declined significantly over recent decades, and the species is now one of Britain’s rarest breeding seabirds. Conservation work at sites such as Gibraltar Point has become increasingly important to give these birds a fighting chance each summer.

When we started the sanctuary to protect these birds in 1976 there were nine breeding colonies in Lincolnshire . Now sadly there is only one, Gibraltar Point. Which is why it’s so vitally important we do all we can to halt the decline.

If you are visiting Gibraltar Point please respect and stay outside of the sanctuary area and help us give these remarkable birds a fighting chance - thank you 🙏