2 White-winged Balck Terns on Lower Waimakariri River, CHCH

[andrewcrossland]

Hi folks,

There were 2 White-winged Black Terns amongst W/F and B/F terns on the lower Waimakariri River (north of CHCH) today. They were hawking over the upper tidal reaches of the river, c.250m downstream of the Marshlands Rd Bridge. No doubt they're roosting at times with the terns and gulls on the shingle banks/islands there.

They're in residual Breeding plumage, with black on the under-wing. The one in the pic below has the most black.

cheers

[andrewcrossland]

Niall Mugan has advised me that 1 WW Bl Tern was seen by him some distance upstream on braided habitat a few days ago. It was almost certainly 1 of the birds I saw as the plumage stage matched the bird in my photo.