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Hi birding -aussers,
spent Saturday 16th at the Murray Mouth after Colin Rogers
had seen many White-fronted Terns and two Arctics there the previous Sunday.
South Australia is the furthest west that W F Terns migrate to. They are
considered a locally uncommon winter visitor previously only seen in ones and
twos during or after hard weather. The highest S.A. tally of this species known
to me is approximately 30 birds. Standing on the southern shore of Hindmarsh
Island scanning the sand flats towards the Murray Mouth revealed no less than
109 W F Terns, mostly first year birds but several non breeding adults. At least
three individuals were seen to have a metal band on their right leg. This
is an unprecedented number for S.A. Do W F Terns occur in such large
concentrations elsewhere in Oz?
To complete the Kiwi theme at least twenty
Double-banded Plovers were running about the place as well, many showing varying
traces of the double band. The other 'best bird' was an adult Kelp Gull. This
species is quite rare in S.A. with few records of late, although this one has
been known to be hanging around the Murray Mouth on and off for the last couple
of years. All in all not a bad days birding!
Unfortunately the Arctics had pushed
off
Cheers
David Harper
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