Janine Duffy asked about some terns she saw recently at Lancelin
north of Perth. The photo is very blurred, but I certainly would
expect them to be Roseate Terns as she suggested. There is a small
population of Roseate Terns that breed in the south of WA in the
winter. I have seen them in the past at Rottnest Island, Shoalwater
Bay and Geraldton Boat Harbour. So I am not surprised that they
would be at Lancelin.
Roseate Terns are very interesting in WA. Noone knows exactly how
many populations there are.
There is a much larger population that arrives in the south west in
spring and breeds in places such as the Abrolhos Islands. You can get
colonies of 1000 birds.
There are large numbers also off the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts. I
have seen a flock of 1000+ near the Monte Bello Islands in late
October. I have seen a flock of ~10000 at the Lacepede Islands in
late October, and I believe they do breed there (not certain what
month). I have seen large flocks offshore from Barred Creek just
north of Broome. There are good numbers on the beaches around Broome
in November mixed in with a larger flock of Common Terns at places
such as the port, near Gantheaume Point, Coconut Wells, Barred Creek
and James Price Point.
Some of these must be non breeding birds from the northern
hemisphere. We have caught, banded and leg flagged some birds in
Broome (<50 from memory), but as far as I am aware there have yet to
be any resightings in the northern hemisphere.
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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