Having some trouble with the terns again so hope someone can help me please. These were taken mid-October this year from the new bird hide at the Broome Waste Water ponds. Sorry but these pictures are the best I could do although I have others if needed. It could all be one mystery bird but I have separated them into groups as taken at different times. Any help appreciated, thanks
Sue
First photo is of a group L to R: Whiskered Tern maybe, Whiskered Tern (breeding) and a mystery.
I call the next tern 1 but think it is the same mystery bird as above. In the water and flying out of it.
Another Tern (called tern 3) second from left in next two photos. Could be same mystery as there seems to be that white round the eye.
Tern 4 is the 5th tern from the left. No idea if it is still my mystery but it looks quite different from all the other terns.
I think they are all Whiskered Terns of various plumages & ages, adult breeding & non breeding, immature & juvenile. In the the last photo, the 5th Tern from the left is a juvenile Whiskered. In the first 3 photos, the mystery Tern could be a White-winged Black Tern but I favour juvenile Whiskered Tern for that one too.
Thanks Steven,
No wonder I was confused... ages, breeding and non-breeding plumage and numerous terns flying about made it quite challenging. I take the pictures as homework to hone my skills but need more practice and better pictures! There was at least one White-winged Black Tern there at the time but my pictures from Coral Bay were more definitve.
Thanks again for the help
Sue