Jill/AusBirders,
We had 2 'affinis' at the Goolwa Barrage area on Dec. 13, 2007. Colin
Rodgers relocated one at Murray Mouth on Jan. 26, 2008. This sub-species is
noticably smaller and were in non-breeding plumage. I understand this was
the first record for SA.
Dean Cutten
Victor Harbor, SA
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Jill Dening
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 6:46 AM
To: martin cachard; birding-aus
Subject: Tern migration peak on Sunshine Coast, Qld
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
>
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