Tern migration peak on Sunshine Coast, Qld

[Jill Dening <>]

Hi Martin,

To explain to those who aren't familiar, the Gull-billed Tern occurs in 
Australia in two subspecies. The one resident all around the country is 
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa, while the Asian Sterna nilotica affinis 
migrates in small numbers every summer from Asia. Mostly they are seen 
in north-west Australia.
No, I have never seen an affinis here in SEQ. I have never laid eyes on 
one, but would dearly love to. Now that's a bird I would travel to see. 
I am very much aware of them (from Danny Rogers' excellent paper), but 
have actually not seen many macrotarsa Gull-billed Terns in recent 
times. I put this down to the recent abundant inland conditions. So an 
affinis would stand out like the proverbial if one were present here. I 
wonder if an affinis would follow macrotarsa Gullbills inland?
Paul Walbridge reported an affinis in Brisbane a good decade ago, but I 
don't think there has been another reported since then - around here. I 
guess it makes sense that if they are going to turn (!) up on the east 
coast of Australia, Cairns is a likely place for them, being closer to 
Asia. Half your luck for being able to see them.
Cheers,

Jill

Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

26° 51' 41"S  152° 56' 00"E

On 15/03/2011 7:43 PM, martin cachard wrote:
> Hi Jill&  others
>
> I have read about your tern counts Jill with great interest.
>
> Do you have any records in recent times on the Sunshine Coast of afinnis  
> Gull-billed Terns amongst the visiting terns you've surveyed?
>
> Myself&  Adam Arnold first noticed them here in Cairns amongst the visiting Aussie 
> breeding Gull-bills in very small numbers in October 2007 (3 birds). We have had them 
> here in small numbers in summers since, but the most we've had on the Cairns Esplanade 
> site at any time is 4 birds. They arrive late October&  have usually gone by early 
> March (there are none here at the moment).
>
> Very curious if you get them down there with any regularity....??
>
> Cheers
>
> Martin Cachard
> Cairns
> 0428 782 808
>                                         
> ===============================
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to: 
>
> http://birding-aus.org
> ===============================
===============================

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

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