birding-aus

Possible Arctic Tern

To: Alistair McKeough <>
Subject: Possible Arctic Tern
From: Alan McBride <>
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:33:03 +1000
Did you consider Whiskered Tern?

Alan
On 29/08/2009, at 18:31 , Alistair McKeough wrote:

Max

Which end of the pond? I'll be down there first thing tomorrow.

Alistair

2009/8/29  <>

Hi all,

I know this sounds like a long shot, but today I was at the Waterbird
Refuge in Sydney Olympic Park and I watched a tern which at first I thought was a Common Tern, but when I got home my Pizzey & Knight proved me wrong. I was able to watch the bird for about 10 minutes and during this time I
think I picked up most of its features:

Smallish, size of a Common Tern.
Very bouyant, almost bouncy flight. Flying about 2-3m above the mud about
50m from the hide.
Bright red bill and feet and with an almost full black cap extending to the
nape.
Completely white apart from cap and slightly grey-toned wings.

Constantly flying around above the the lake/mud about 50m from the hide and on the western side. Occasionally dipped down for food, but didn't seem to
pay any attention to the other birds.

My Pizzey & Knight makes me think its an Arctic Tern, but like I said its a bit of a long shot. Maybe the strong winds had something to do with it???

Other birds around include: 2-3 Bar-tailed Godwits, plenty of Fairy and
Tree Martins, Black-shouldered Kites, White-bellied Sea Eagle and a
White-necked Heron.

Thanks in advance for any advice or ideas.

Max Breckenridge,
Gladesville, Sydney...


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