ML617767150

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

After arriving and looking around the gushipo beach and mudflats right north to the gushipo beach (where chinese crested terns are usually observed), we weren't able to find any chinese crested terns, so I suggested to check the southern bay, and there they were!!! We didn't really expect to find chinese crested terns there, but right after we stepped out of the car, we were able to find one very pale and slender gull flying around, then sitting on a wooden pole. Right next to it were 2 more chinese crested terns also sat on different wooden poles. We managed to take some shots and have a good look at them(although I forgot to change my f number from 33!!! photos attached are from a non ebirder friend) after some minutes of preening and resting, one bird took off and circled around the area, hovered over the water, then dove into the water, then flew away eastwards(?!! which is inland??). While we were looking at this one bird flying around the other terns were also gone. We slowly moved eastward inside the bay and back to gushipo beach in hopes of finding these birds again, but couldn't find them. All 3 chinese crested terns were in breeding plumage and had no leg bands, and because they were all quite far from us and from any road, it was impossible to distinguish individual traits(beak pattern). All 3 birds had plain grey primaries without any barring. One bird seen in flight showed dark grey tips on the underside of the primaries.

Technical information

Model

ILCE-7RM4A

Lens

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

ISO

200

Focal length

600 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

2048 pixels x 1365 pixels

Original file size

344.18 KB