MEGA - multiple Gull-billed Terns at Manawatu Estuary

[sav]

I couldnt find it this afternoon, but there were at least 3 Black-fronted Terns present.

[Clinton9]

Is this adult GB tern in fresh breeding plumage ???

Remember the pale grey booms wear off the primary feathers, cause the primaries to turn from pale grey, to blackish grey through wearing of feathers.

Black-fronted terns shed the winter head feathers with shedding of P. 10th (outermost frimary flight feathers) and breeding head feathers were fully grown, with P. 10th fully grown.

If GB terns"s primaries 10th and breeding head feathers are fully grown at same time, after 5 months moult, this adult GB tern may had finished moulting last month ago or just finishing its prebreeding moult (growing head feathers).

[sav]

A single adult GBT was present today around high tide, on the sandspit. In plumage it was very like the bird that Duncan saw in early May.
So at least one bird has been present at this location (on and off a bit) for a whole year.

[Peter Frost]

Two GBTs were present this morning between 10:40 and 11:10, right on high tide. One adult had a complete black cap, the other had a partial black cap but with a speckled forecrown and forehead. The birds were feeding in the waters around the sandspit, cruised back and forth about 20 m up, periodically diving down into the water to catch up something (possibly small fish, but very small). There were also up to 6 Caspian Terns feeding in the same manner and place, but they tended cruise slightly higher for much of the time, 20-30 m up. No interaction seen between these two species.

The complete list of waterbirds and waders birds seen is:
Mallard 12
Australasian shoveller 2
Black Shag 1
White-faced heron 1
Royal spoonbill 9
Masked Lapwing 10
Pied Oystercatcher 1
Pied Stilt 129
Bartailed Godwit 2 (one was colour banded, M/YB - R/YW - the bands before the /s are on the tibia)
Black-backed gull 58
Red-billed gull 1
Gull-billed tern 2
Caspian tern 7
White-fronted tern 2 (much smaller and slimmer than GBT, and with long outer tail feathers)

Peter

[ledzep]

Sorry I missed you Peter, I was at Foxton Beach about half an hour later, through to 1 pm. I initially found one GBT up on the spit, then on return there were 3 GBT with Caspian Terns near the wooden fence. They were definitely interacting with the larger Caspian Tern, and not concerned about their smaller size. There may have been a fourth bird with full black cap as I saw one flying initially and it appeared to have a blacker cap than the one in the photo above.
Also 27 Wrybill feeding near the fence, and 2 Banded Dotterel, and 2 Grey Teal flying. One lone Goldfinch on the spit.

(47.47 KiB) Viewed 5364 times

(63.04 KiB) Viewed 5364 times

[Clinton9]

Beauty ! The adult GBT on left in bottom photo, is in pre-breeding moult (won't be completed until September. Note the fresh new silver-coloured primary feathers of this bird. This bird started pre-breeding moult on May this year.
This right bird properly a 1-year-old (second winter) that started prebreeding moult on June this year.

Hope these birds will breed here by Christmas season.

[sav]

Just one bird (the salt'n'pepper capped one) showing around high tide today.

[ledzep]

4 GBT present on Sat 11th Aug, on the sand beside the fence, and later on the spit. Seem to be resting on the beach as two pairs - perhaps breeding may be on the cards?

(46.87 KiB) Viewed 5253 times

[philbattley]

Three present today, sometimes on the ground by Caspians by the bollards. Made some very nice fly-bys!

Godwits up to 53 now - mainly immatures but 3 banded birds, one of which stayed the winter, and two of which returned early (earlier in Aug) and at least one adult seemingly newly in.

Phil

[Clinton9]

Very beautiful...the new primary will be fully grown before 15th November.

Primary moult patten today ...N4,11,N3,21,O1
1 month later (31/9/12) N4,41,N3,41,21
2 month later (31/10/12) N9,41

On 31/9/12 the black cap will be black, but with some growing black feathers, finishes on late October.

This means the breeding season start on December, with pairing & courting on late November.

Breeding Dec-Jan? Feb?
Eggs @ xmas season ?
Chicks & Juvenile-@Jan-Feb ?

adult Gull-bill natrually replaces primariy feathers 2-3 times a year, with this bird have breeding P1st to P9th, with nonbreeding P10.

This bird is a skillful surivior and will start to breed near end of this year, it had surivied last year winter and this winter.
It is looking forward to this springtime and its body is becoming well fed and healthy, as insects are becoming available to Gull-billed terns.