ML618873595
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult Male - 1
- Behaviors
- Flying
- Tags
- Habitat
Media notes
Low-quality videograb record shot
Observation details
Relocated bird, seen on Achill Island on 30th April-1st May. First seen dropping onto rocks, and briefly taken to be a Sandwich Tern with something in it's bill... until it launched into a head-tossing display! Aggressively chasing Sandwich Terns, often diving into loafing flocks or pursuing birds in flight like a skua; when landing amongst them, displayed a few times. Always very distant (c1km range), but long, droopy bill generally obvious, especially against non-sea backgrounds; coloration appeared evenly yellow-orange rather then wih a more saturated distal portion, identifying it as the same individual on Achill and in previous summers in Ireland and Lancashire. Very pale above, as in Sandwich, whitish-grey over rump and tail, and in slightly more overcast conditions had the hint of a pinkish flush below; still with a full black cap. In flight always looked a touch larger than Sandwich, broader in the wing base, and distinctly front heavy. Two County Mayo ticks in one afternoon!
Additional species
Technical information
- Dimensions
- 1080 pixels x 923 pixels
- Original file size
- 93.25 KB