Hi, I was at Saltwater near Old Bar, NSW over the xmas period. I took some photos of terns. I initially thought that they were common terns, until upon looking them up, found out they aren’t really that “common” in Australia. Also, although the terns all look similar there seems to be a variation in size with a couple of them (I don’t think it is the photo angle?) the photos are in flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/43736762@N02/sets/72157625951571797/
Would also appreciate some help with some older photos – are these of a juvenile grey strikethrush? photos taken in Krambach NSW in April 2010. http://www.flickr.com/photos/43736762@N02/sets/72157624332472772/
And not sure what type of cuckoo this is. photos taken in Krambach NSW in Jan 2010. http://www.flickr.com/photos/43736762@N02/sets/72157624332374890/
Many thanks from an amateur!! ===============================
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The larger Terns are Common Terns in non-breeding plumage and the smaller ones are Little Terns in non-breeding plumage, and there could be a Little Tern in breeding plumage as I can just make out one with orange legs in your photo. There is a colony at Old Bar.
Darryl McKay Bankstown
Kim I’ll have a stab at the terns, but leave the door open for definitive comment on the terns to others. They look like Commons to me – wings and tail look about equal in length – wingtips could be slightly longer even. Feet look slightly reddish and smudgy cap comes well beyond the eye, but I know that there are other factors at play as well that take Arctics in or out of the reckoning. On photo 3, I think the smaller birds are Little Terns – they seem to have yellowish bills? Certainly looks like a juvenile Grey Shrike-Thrush – the rusty mantle on the side on shots Cuckoo looks like a juvenile Fan Tailed (the yellow eye ring apparent in several shots). Cheers Tom Wilson