Tern ID please

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imogen
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Tern ID please

Postby imogen » Wed Nov 01, 2017 4:38 pm

Can anyone confirm for me that these are common terns? Taken 31/10 on Foxton Beach. There are 3 pictures but just 2 different birds. Both were with the WFT but distinctly smaller and not associating with them. Cheers

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Clinton9
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby Clinton9 » Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:40 pm

Asian Common tern ??? Asian Little tern ???
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imogen
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby imogen » Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:58 pm

Neither looked like the little terns I've seen at Foxton or Waikanae and they were bigger than I would expect for a little.
Alan Tennyson
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby Alan Tennyson » Thu Nov 02, 2017 12:12 am

This is an eastern common tern (& all 3 photos seem to show the same individual). Nice pics.
cheers
Alan
Clinton9
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby Clinton9 » Thu Nov 02, 2017 8:30 am

Do this means Asian Common tern ???


Alan Tennyson wrote:This is an eastern common tern (& all 3 photos seem to show the same individual). Nice pics.
cheers
Alan
Alan Tennyson
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby Alan Tennyson » Thu Nov 02, 2017 9:12 am

Yes the same thing - Birds NZ calls it the eastern common tern.
cheers
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RussCannings
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby RussCannings » Sat Nov 04, 2017 1:12 pm

Great stuff Imogen, I photographed the same bird on Tuesday evening but as it was the last thing I did before hopping in my car to drive to Hamilton I completely forgot to record it in my notes. Seems to be a fairly good spot for them in summer. I thought there might have been an Arctic present as well but a harrier put them up as I was trying to sneak closer across the mudflats then I lost the bird in the sun as they flew toward the mouth.

Only 1 PGP present with the usuals.

Russ C
Cambridge, NZ
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Tim Barnard
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby Tim Barnard » Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:33 pm

Fantastic photos Imogen ... some of the best I've seen of Common Tern. Great ID resource ...
Thanks
Tim
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imogen
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby imogen » Sun Nov 05, 2017 9:12 am

Thanks all. I didn't see anything that looked like a arctic tern but will keep an eye out. Images are now up on nz birds online for ID purposes and UBR submitted.
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sav
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Re: Tern ID please

Postby sav » Thu Jan 25, 2018 9:20 pm

Hi all,

A Common Tern was at Foxton yesterday (24 Jan). There don't seem to be any reports since November and some detail in the head markings make me suspect that it is a different individual.

Nothing else of any note at the estuary, but 25 super-confiding Wrybills were nice.

cheers
Sav Saville
Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
Great Birds, Real Birders

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