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Re: Possible Arctic Tern

To:
Subject: Re: Possible Arctic Tern
From: Max Breckenridge <>
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:24:30 -0700 (PDT)
Hi all,

thanks for the advice. I had a look through my other field guides and
it seems Whiskered Tern is the most likely candidate. The tail fits
the Whiskered Tern's features and the red bill and feet, some of its
characteristics that Simpson & Day describe also match what I saw. So
I suppose that is the final verdict. I guess this is time of year they
would be starting to move through.

Max Breckenridge,
Gladesville, Sydney...



On Aug 29, 6:33 pm, Alan McBride <> wrote:
> 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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