Banded Caspian Tern on the Whanganui River Estuary

[Paul Gibson]

A banded Caspian tern has been on the river the last while (first seen by local Jim Norris), but it has been impossible to read the lettering due to the band always being the wrong way round. However, today in flight, I managed a picture that shows A98, and I understand it may have been banded at Waimea, Nelson, by Willie Cook. Caspian tern are common birds here, so interesting to know where they might come from and breed. This bird also has a juvenile in tow.

http://www.upics.co.nz

(44.47 KiB) Viewed 3875 times

[David Melville]

Willie Cook advises that this bird was banded as a chick at the Waimea Inlet colony on 21 January 2013 - this is the first time it has been reported since banding.
David

[Paul Gibson]

Thanks David, very interesting that it is the first time it has been sighted since banding in January 2013. The picture below shows why the band is hard to read. The lettering is okay, in fact very clear for seven years old, however, the band seems to have reversed in the overlap area, putting some of the lettering inside, and out of sight.

(95.24 KiB) Viewed 3773 times

[David Melville]

Thanks Paul - good to see this photo - obviously a problem when the band was put on. A reminder to double check prior to release - the engraving should have been on the outside.

[jimmifinn]

(245.95 KiB) Viewed 3119 times

This afternoon on the Whanganui River Estuary, a group of seven Caspian Terns included one that was banded. It had a metal band on the left leg and a tag, A40 on the right leg. There were eight Caspian Terns in total on the estuary which is quite a high number for Wanganui.

Jim Norris

[David Melville]

This bird was banded as a chick by Willie Cook on 13 December 2010 at the colony in Waimea Inlet, Tasman. It was re-sighted at Foxton on 29 March 2021. Please report any further re-sights. David

[Dave H]

I had 2 Caspian terns at Foxton on the 4th of May, one of which was banded. I didn't get the band numbers but both bands were metal and looked similar to Paul's photos.

[jimmifinn]

Tagged Caspian Tern at Foxton Beach, 4 May 2021

(133.2 KiB) Viewed 3017 times

Thanks David and Dave. I see this bird A40, was earlier sighted at Kuku Beach Himitangi, in March 2015.

The image above, of the bird we saw on Foxton Beach on 4 May, appears to show a different tagged Caspian Tern. The black cap is quite different with only one month between when these two photos were taken.

Jim N

[jimmifinn]

The Caspian Tern banded A40 was again at the Wanganui Estuary this afternoon, 30 June 2021, at high tide, 2.04pm. It was in a group of five Caspian Terns (including A40). Another two Caspian Terns were with a large group of Gulls further down the estuary.