9 Aleutian Terns, NSW, Australia

[Michael Szabo]

Liam Murphy reports via the Australian Twitchers FB page that there are 9 Aleutian Terns at Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, today.
New Zealand birders should keep an eye out for this species. If they can reach Australia then they could also reach NZ.

LInk to photo: https://scontent.fpmr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5AC4D7F5

[andrewcrossland]

It's a pretty long shot as they winter on SE Asia NW of Australia not so much in the SW Pacific where they'd be in striking range of NZ............
Some years ago Aleutian terns were unexpectedly discovered in the straits of malacca between singapore /malaysia and Sumatra and further observations indicated that this is the long sought after primary wintering ground (the whereabouts of which was hitherto unknown).After Malaysia-based observers found them reasonably common out from Penang I went looking for them on the Sumatran side of the straits and found them at several sites which were the first records for north sumatra province. They probably fly southwards past the west side of borneo and then funnel notth-westwards through the straits of malacca, congregating at its western end where it meets the Indian Ocean and andaman sea. It's super rare for them to travel south of the equator so a very lucky sighting for NSW.

[sav]

Phil Gregory had 13 birds there yesterday.........

cheers

[Grahame]

Just in case, here is a link to a British site when one rather unexpectedly turned up there. Only Black and White in those days, but it gives an idea of what to look out for.
https://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-conte ... 6_A111.pdf

Grahame

[sav]

Hey Grahame,

Thanks for that, but in fact that isn't quite what these birds look like since they are in their non-breeding plumage. Anyone interested should look at https://www.facebook.com/groups/718576241555767/

Apparently 15 birds there today!! It isn't that far away.........

[sav]

Only 3 birds seen this morning at high tide. My guess (hope!!) is that the rest are either here already or on their way!! They are pretty distinctive beasts - quite unlike White-fronted Tern, and only vaguely like anything else that might occur here - exept Grey-backed Tern.

cheers