Roseate Tern - Gabriel Jamie
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Marine Drive, Birkenhead ZA-WC -34.62601, 19.34057
Western Cape, South Africa
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: -34.626011, 19.340566
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

At least three birds in breeding plumage feeding offshore with mixed tern flock (also including GCTern and Sandwich. Roseates doing aggressive dives into water. Roseates moved mostly in pair - often close to one another but occasionally separating. Relatively shallow and fast wing beats for a tern of its size. Strikingly pale underparts with subtle rose wash from some angles when close. Long dark bill. Underwing primaries largely pale. Some dark unmoulted outer primaries forming wedge on upper wing. Tail streamers long. In flight wings feel further up the body than half way due to long tail. Sense of an urgent powered flight. Not floppy and buoyant like some other terns. Twice heard to give distinct disyllabic call reminiscent of Damara Tern call but thinner.

Technical information

Model
NIKON D80
ISO
500
Focal length
280 mm
Flash
Flash did not fire
f-stop
f/7.1
Shutter speed
1/3200 sec
Dimensions
538 pixels x 408 pixels
Original file size
59.24 KB