Race Affinis Gull-billed Tern in Victoria

Hi all Reporting this as it may be of some interest to Victorian Birders. Last weekend I observed a Gull-billed Tern in a roost of 48 GBT’s at Stockyard Point in Westernport Bay that was clearly different – being smaller, certainly shorter and finer and in non-breeding plumage as opposed to its friends. I suspected it was the Asian migratory subspecies affinis but my attempts to photograph it resulted in me slipping in the delightful mud and scaring the flock. Enter Steve Davidson who today photographed the bird which confirmed it to indeed be subspecies affinis. My understanding is that this is one of a handful of Victorian records of this subspecies so certainly worthy of a look-see if you are in the area. Good numbers for Victoria of macrotarsa GBT and Far Eastern Curlew as well as other waders make it worth a visit anyway. CheersTim PS – be wary of the mud _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org