Help!!
I was at Manly Wader roost, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Qld yesterday...
(report to follow) and had 6 small Terns sitting on the island in clear
view. They were all Little Tern size and, when they flew, looked and
sounded like the Little Terns I have seen occasionally in Aust and was
very familiar with in Ireland. However, 2 of the 6 had red legs. All
were in a non-breeding style plumage ie black rear cap and nape and
black bill and 4 had black legs. I can't be 100% certain as I didn't pay
enough attention at the time, but I think the 21 with red legs had a
less marked shoulder patch as well. All in excellent view, good, flat
light about 50m away scoped X 40+.
Are the red legs some plumage/age variation I am not familiar with? or
were they something else??
I'm thinking possible Fairy Terns, there is a reference in Pizzey &
Knight which shows reddish legs on an imm Fairy .. is it
possible/likely/not very exciting/very exciting/unusual/hey-where-
have-you-been/ho hum???
I have no problem with terns in adult breeding plumage - well, not to
date anyway, but I do know that some imm plumages are a bit mmmmmmmm
weird?
Any advice/suggestions eagerly sought...
--
Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
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