These pictures from this morning at LCyD - nice to see but feels like it's a bit early to me? As far as id goes, thoughts welcome because I can't decide between the two!! EDIT - juv Black Tern confirmed. Blackcap also very active as was the, surprised to see, Sedge Warbler
Nicely caught Mark...sorry , not a Tern expert!
ReplyDeleteAppears to have black cap, and dark breast-side patches a grey rump and does not have a forked tail.Could this be a juvenile Black Tern? I cannot think of another tern with those conspicuous breast-side patches.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michele - that was my thinking. I don't tend to check pics that much when I'm taking them and had blithely assumed it was a 'Commic', but when got home and checked them on the iMac it was the 2nd pic in particular that made me pay a bit more attention, given the tail shape, dark patches and complete lack of any colour in the bill. Somewhat fancifully I also did wonder briefly whether it was white winged but those obvious breast patches kill that daft idea - so juv Black I think it is
ReplyDeleteEditted the post & title btw so this record isn't lost
ReplyDeleteCracking shots Mark, and I agree that it's a Juv Black Tern. Having excluded White-Winged, the only confusion species would be American Black Tern, but in juvenile plumage that has grey flanks. I don't recall any July/Autumn records of juvenile Black- as you know we get the occasional adults in May. Would love to know where it hatched!
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris - that's pretty much why I didn't even consider a Black Tern - spent most of its time as normal up the top left but occasionally came down within 40 yds or so, so the pics are heavy crops and took a bit of time to get. Any idea whether it's still around this morning? For info there was a Black Tern at Belvide yesterday but flew out east at around 0930 so they're clearly on the move
ReplyDeleteSee from Birdguides bird still there this morning
ReplyDelete