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Tern! Tern! Tern! (to misquote Pete Seeger)

To: Allan Richardson <>
Subject: Tern! Tern! Tern! (to misquote Pete Seeger)
From: Allan Richardson <>
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2012 11:47:29 +1100
Hi again,

Too true that our recent Arctic Tern is a rare commodity around here not to 
mention the tropical blow-ins that come through from time to time.

This highlights the fact that Newcastle is a transit location for a number of 
species. 

I'm expecting that someone from SE Qld, SW Aus, Cairns, or Broome for that 
matter, will chime with a tern mix, possibly including Roseate, Bridled and 
Lesser Crested to make up the numbers of an impressive tern score.

Regards,

Allan

On 02/12/2012, at 10:19 AM, Allan Richardson wrote:

> HI Guys,
> 
> There is another tern hotspot and it's in Australia - Newcastle in fact - 
> who'd a thunk it!
> 
> Recently we had the privilege of having five tern species before us (Crested, 
> Common, White-fronted, Little and Arctic) on the rock shelf behind Newcastle 
> Ocean Baths, while just 20 minutes by road (5 km as the tern flies) at 
> Stockton Sandspit, in the Hunter River estuary, we had a further 4 species 
> (Caspian, Gull-billed, White-winged Black and Whiskered). A total of nine 
> species easily viewable within an hour or so. 
> 
> Furthermore, just recently, we also had Sooty Tern on a pelagic trip off Port 
> Stephens a little to the north, but we've also had White Tern earlier in the 
> year and our waters, and the Newcastle rock shelf, is occasionally visited by 
> Common Noddy.
> 
> Late October was certainly an exceptional time for us, likely a function of 
> birds moving through. Although, it does highlight the importance of east 
> coast estuarine and rock-shelf habitats as important stopover points for 
> migratory birds in our flyway. 
> 
> As many others seem to be voicing on our forums, we are finding our migratory 
> bird habitats here in the Hunter are under increased pressure from the 
> community at these sites, more often than not from a lack of information 
> about their importance.
> 
> It has been our challenge here to find solutions that will accommodate the 
> birds while including the community, and I'm pleased to say that we have a 
> tireless group here that are working toward doing just that.
> 
> Happy terning,
> 
> Allan Richardson
> Morisset NSW
> 
> On 02/12/2012, at 9:00 AM, Steve wrote:
> 
>> G'day Richard
>> 
>> I immediately thought of Port Isabel, Texas where I had a great tern day a 
>> few years ago.  I've just checked and I saw only 6 tern species 
>> (Gull-billed, Caspian Royal, Cabot's, Least and Forster's).  Other tern 
>> species are to be found there so I reckon it is a good candidate for a 
>> global tern hotspot.  
>> 
>> I went on a boat with Scarlet Colley (http://www.fin2feather.com/) for a 
>> three hour birding trip and we also saw such birds as Great Northern Loon, 
>> Northern Crested Caracara, Long-billed Curlew, Willet, Dunlin, Laughing and 
>> Ring-billed Gulls, Black Skimmer and Mangrove Warbler.  Lots of dolphins 
>> too.  
>> 
>> Cheers
>> Steve
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 01/12/2012, at 10:30 PM, "Richard Nowotny" <> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> A big tern day at the Western Treatment Plant (Werribee, Vic) today (with
>>> John and Shirley Tongue and family):
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Caspian, Crested, Common, Whiskered, White-winged Black, Little, Fairy.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> [I suspect there aren't too many individual sites around the world where one
>>> can see 7 tern species in a day.]
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Other good birds today included Great Knot, Pacific Golden Plover, Lewin's
>>> Rail, Banded Stilt, Banded Lapwing, White-necked Heron and that remarkable
>>> number of Freckled Duck at Walsh's Lagoon (estimated, on the wing, at well
>>> over 50).
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Richard Nowotny
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Port Melbourne, Victoria
>>> 
>>> M: 0438 224 456
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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