Unidentified terns on the east coast of Rakiura 21 January 2024

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kiwi mukiwa
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:26 pm

Unidentified terns on the east coast of Rakiura 21 January 2024

Postby kiwi mukiwa » Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:42 am

Photographs of terns from the east coast of Rakiura (approx 47 04 S; 168 12 E) taken at some distance, during a pelagic out of Bluff on 21st January.

We went into this bay because we saw terns sitting on some rocks and were hopeful that there might be something interesting there. All apparently White-fronted Terns and confirmed by photographs taken at the time. A feeding flock assembled and there was an obviously greyer tern amongst them and I concentrated on taking photographs of it. It was at some distance and the photographs have all been enlarged to provide some detail. First photograph is of the obviously greyer individual.

Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 6.13.57 AM.png
Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 6.13.57 AM.png (1.16 MiB) Viewed 376 times


Next photographs are of a tern that was also in the feeding flock and would appreciate some comments about its possible identity please. It was not obviously larger or smaller than the other terns in the flock.

Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 5.48.55 AM.png
Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 5.48.55 AM.png (821.01 KiB) Viewed 376 times

Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 5.47.17 AM.png
Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 5.47.17 AM.png (1.2 MiB) Viewed 376 times
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benackerley
Posts: 78
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2023 7:31 pm
Location: Otautahi (Christchurch)

Re: Unidentified terns on the east coast of Rakiura 21 January 2024

Postby benackerley » Thu Feb 15, 2024 11:27 am

White-fronted terns. Solid black cap withe small white gap at front. black tips on primaries
Cheers, Ben

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