Unknown Tern @ Eastlakes Golf Course

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G’day everyone

I’m having a bit of trouble trying to properly ID a Tern I saw last Monday.

I’ve had a look n HANZAB, but I can’t reconcile it to any of the commic terns. I’m quite stumped with this one, so any help would be much appreciated.

Link: http://bit.ly/V5B61S

Regards, Mark

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11 thoughts on “Unknown Tern @ Eastlakes Golf Course”

  1. Hi Mark,

    Sibirian Common Tern (longipennis) is the typical Common Tern in Australia, the nominate subspecies (hirundo) is a vagrant here. I am not sure about the status of the Asian subspecies minussenis. So, most likely all Common Terns you have seen before in Australia were Sibirian Common Terns.

    Cheers,

    Nikolas  

  2. Hi Mark,

    Sibirian Common Tern (longipennis) is the typical Common Tern in Australia, the nominate subspecies (hirundo) is a vagrant here. I am not sure about the status of the Asian subspecies minussenis. So, most likely all Common Terns you have seen before in Australia were Sibirian Common Terns.

    Cheers,

    Nikolas  

  3. Thanks Alan and Nikolas for the reply. I’m glad you both thought Common, because that’s where my thoughts were going too. But I don’t know enough of these birds to be confident of an ID.

    I hope these next 2 photos help.

    This was taken around the same time as the first one. http://bit.ly/S6PCCg

    This one was taken about an hour later. Unfortunately I’m aiming in the direction of the sun. I can’t say for sure it’s the same bird, but I assume it was because I didn’t see another Tern when I was there. http://bit.ly/TopMvI

    Regards,

    Mark

    Sent: Monday, 26 November 2012 9:15 AM birding-aus@lists.vicnet.net.au

    Hi Mark,

    Looks like a longipennis Common Tern to me. Do you have more photos? Including the upperparts?

    Cheers,

    Nikolas

  4. Thanks Nickolas, I’ve not seen a Siberian one before.

    Regards,

    Mark

    Sent: Monday, 26 November 2012 7:37 PM

    Hi Mark,

    Yes, Siberian Common Tern. Longish, slender, slightly drooping black bill. Dark triangles on the upper primaries (not quite as nice as the classic ‘wedges’ in nominate Common Tern). Broad and diffuse trailing edge to the under primaries. Not really translucent secondaries (although the shot from underneath against the light may trick here). Greyish outer rectrices. All fits well for Siberian Common Tern. The not so prominent dark carpal bars may indicate first summer/second winter?

    Cheers,

    Nikolas

  5. Thanks Nickolas, I’ve not seen a Siberian one before.

    Regards,

    Mark

    Sent: Monday, 26 November 2012 7:37 PM

    Hi Mark,

    Yes, Siberian Common Tern. Longish, slender, slightly drooping black bill. Dark triangles on the upper primaries (not quite as nice as the classic ‘wedges’ in nominate Common Tern). Broad and diffuse trailing edge to the under primaries. Not really translucent secondaries (although the shot from underneath against the light may trick here). Greyish outer rectrices. All fits well for Siberian Common Tern. The not so prominent dark carpal bars may indicate first summer/second winter?

    Cheers,

    Nikolas

  6. Thanks Alan and Nikolas for the reply. I’m glad you both thought Common, because that’s where my thoughts were going too. But I don’t know enough of these birds to be confident of an ID.

    I hope these next 2 photos help.

    This was taken around the same time as the first one. http://bit.ly/S6PCCg

    This one was taken about an hour later. Unfortunately I’m aiming in the direction of the sun. I can’t say for sure it’s the same bird, but I assume it was because I didn’t see another Tern when I was there. http://bit.ly/TopMvI

    Regards,

    Mark

    Sent: Monday, 26 November 2012 9:15 AM birding-aus@lists.vicnet.net.au

    Hi Mark,

    Looks like a longipennis Common Tern to me. Do you have more photos? Including the upperparts?

    Cheers,

    Nikolas

  7. Hi Mark,

    Yes, Siberian Common Tern. Longish, slender, slightly drooping black bill. Dark triangles on the upper primaries (not quite as nice as the classic ‘wedges’ in nominate Common Tern). Broad and diffuse trailing edge to the under primaries. Not really translucent secondaries (although the shot from underneath against the light may trick here). Greyish outer rectrices. All fits well for Siberian Common Tern. The not so prominent dark carpal bars may indicate first summer/second winter?

    Cheers,

    Nikolas  

  8. Hi Mark,

    Yes, Siberian Common Tern. Longish, slender, slightly drooping black bill. Dark triangles on the upper primaries (not quite as nice as the classic ‘wedges’ in nominate Common Tern). Broad and diffuse trailing edge to the under primaries. Not really translucent secondaries (although the shot from underneath against the light may trick here). Greyish outer rectrices. All fits well for Siberian Common Tern. The not so prominent dark carpal bars may indicate first summer/second winter?

    Cheers,

    Nikolas  

  11. G’day everyone

    I’m having a bit of trouble trying to properly ID a Tern I saw last Monday.

    I’ve had a look n HANZAB, but I can’t reconcile it to any of the commic terns. I’m quite stumped with this one, so any help would be much appreciated.

    Link: http://bit.ly/V5B61S

    Regards, Mark

    ===============================

    To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)

    http://birding-aus.org ===============================

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