We have just published some fabulous comprehensions about British sea birds, at three levels of difficulty. We feature some of the most iconic birds that can be found on our coastlines, including:

* **Avocets**

Avocets became extinct in the UK in the 19th century due to loss of habitat, hunters and egg collectors pursuing them and the fashion for having stuffed birds and animals on display. During the Second World War beaches in East Anglia were closed off and flooded to prevent invasion. Avocets found these quiet, flooded beaches and started to breed on them. After the war ended, avocet numbers continued to increase and today you can see avocets on the east coast of the UK during the summer and in the winter they can be spotted in the south west on the Exe estuary. Their revival in the UK has been a great success and the avocet is the emblem of the RSPB.

* **Puffins**

Puffins are one of the most common seabirds in Northern Europe. They are also known as ‘bottlenoses’ and ‘sea parrots’. They are comical birds to look at having a black head and back, white underparts, large pale cheeks, a tall flat brightly coloured bill (beak), red and black eye markings and bright orange legs.

* **Herring gulls**

Since the 1970s the coastal population of the herring gull has fallen by more than 50%. Small numbers breed inland, often on roof tops and while the inland population is increasing it does not compensate for the large decline in coastal areas. They are on the conservation red list due to their ongoing population decline.

* **Oyster catchers**

They love to eat tasty things like cockles, mussels and oysters which is how they got their name. When they find a shellfish they use their strong, orange beak to open the shell and enjoy the yummy snack inside. Oystercatchers that live inland mainly eat worms.

* **White tailed eagles**

White-tailed eagles are the UK’s largest bird of prey. Due to their love of living in coastal places they are also known as sea eagles. They were once native and widespread in the British Isles but after centuries of persecution they became extinct in the UK when the last UK bred bird was shot in Shetland in Scotland in 1918. Since the mid 20th century huge efforts have been made to reintroduce them to the UK. Today white-tailed eagles are thriving in a few places in the UK, most notably western Scotland. There are now approximately 150 pairs in the UK.

Take a look now at our sea bird comprehensions.