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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Bird Identification 鳥類辨識 >>  Tern in Mai Po
        
(Message started by: Allen on Jun 1^st, 2006, 11:33pm)

Title: Tern in Mai Po
Post by Allen on Jun 1^st, 2006, 11:33pm

28.5.2006
Mai Po

The 1st Tern from right may be Gull-billed Tern.
What are the 1st from left and the 2nd from right?
Please help to identify.
Thanks.

Allen

http://images4.fotop.net/albums3/summerday/H_Web_Post/CIMG0262_7.jpg

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by miket on Jun 2^nd, 2006, 2:20pm

Allen,
The two smaller terns are Whiskered Terns and all the larger ones including the white-headed one are Gull-billed.

The overall dusky plumage combined with white cheeks and Sterna tern type caps are diagnostic of Whiskered Tern, in our region at least.

The white-headed Gull-billed is in (first?) winter plumage.

Mike Turnbull.

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by 深藍 Owen on Jun 2^nd, 2006, 6:44pm

All,

please help to id my version , are those two with yellow arrow whiskered tern also? Thanks

Mai Po
30/05/2006

http://www.pbase.com/bluetitan/image/61178517.jpg

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by HF_Cheung on Jun 2^nd, 2006, 9:32pm

I think they are Whiskered Tern.

HF Cheung

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by Allen on Jun 2^nd, 2006, 9:46pm

on 06/02/06 at 14:20:51, miket wrote:

Thanks a lot, Mike.

Allen

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by 深藍 Owen on Jun 2^nd, 2006, 9:55pm

Thanks HF !

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by David_Diskin on Jun 3^rd, 2006, 8:27pm

The two smaller terns in Allen's photograph are - as Mike points out - clearly Whiskered Terns.

I'm not so sure about the terns in Owen's photograph. I think that Common Tern needs to be ruled out........

dave diskin

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by 深藍 Owen on Jun 3^rd, 2006, 8:58pm

Will a bigger version help? I ID it as common tern at the begining but after reading Allen post I start query as the date of photo is so close but we got both wiskered tern and common tern report in Mai Po pond 16/7 that few days.

http://www.pbase.com/bluetitan/image/61129522.jpg

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by David_Diskin on Jun 3^rd, 2006, 9:20pm

Owen -

To me these are Common Terns.

If you compare Allen's photos and yours, the birds look distinctly different.

At this time of year, particularly with changeable weather conditions, there is a fast turnover of birds. So two terns on the Scrape on the 28th will not necessarily be the same two terns on the Scrape on the 30th!!

dave diskin

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by 深藍 Owen on Jun 3^rd, 2006, 9:31pm

Thanks Dave.

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by miket on Jun 4^th, 2006, 8:02pm

Agree with Dave.

These birds are clearly too pale below for Whiskered and are clearly Sterna terns, not Chlidonias - the bills are too long, as are the wings and tail, and the cap becomes narrower as it goes across the nape. Also they are too pale below for Whiskered.

Mike Turnbull

Title: Re: Tern in Mai Po
Post by Mike Kilburn on Jun 4^th, 2006, 10:34pm

This is a good record - Common Tern is rare at Mai Po. However according to the Avifauna of Hong Kong (p279) late spring is a good time to see them there.

Cheers
Mike K