Hi Birders I was at the Sewage Works at L Cargellico, NSW, last week (Tue 6th Oct) with a number of birders from Birdlife Shoalhaven. There were numerous Gull-billed and Whiskered terns there and one other tern that was not in summer plumage. It was resting on a mud bar along with many other GB and W terns It appeared to be smaller than the Whiskered While not as strongly marked as I have seen other White-winged Black Terns my first inclination was to suggest it might be Others agreed it looked different form the W and GB but identification was not conclusive I cant think what else it would be (and I am not a brilliant twitcher!!) and was wondering whether others have seen WWBT there before Your comments appreciated Many thanks Bob Ashford bobash@tpg.com.au
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5 responses to “Unidentified tern at Lake Cargellico”
Simon, I’m afraid the black IS pretty definite on Whiskered Terns….I’d be surprised if and WWBT have any black undersides here, now. Experts might differ, but I’ve seen lots of both, at different seasons. Would be a nice view for you, but….!! However, hey, enjoy the Whiskered… 🙂 Cheers Peter Madvig —– Original Message —– Cc: <birding-aus@birding-aus.org> Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2015 8:03 AM
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Hi Mick You’re right about the breeding plumage, of course – but could it be that they’ve just arrived and are losing their breeding plumage? The black was very definite and not patchy like breeding whiskered. General opinion seems that we probably saw a whiskered, but it seems a strange coincidence that white winged suspects should be seen at two inland lake within a few days. Simon Robinson +61 2 4883 7186 0412 252 177
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I agree, whiskered tern are regularly recorded at yanga, and so this is the most likely species, particularly if you were looking at yanga lake near the homestead. Cheers, Peter
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Why would WWBT de developing breeding plumage when they have just migrated from their breeding grounds in the Northern hemisphere? Sounds an odd observation, they were probably Whiskered Terns which do develop black on their belly and chest and breed in Australia in spring!!! Sent from my iPhone
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Hi Bob, There was a single White-winged Black Tern at the Cargy Poo Ponds in late October last year. Mick
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