ML64037211
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
2 birds approached boat early in day considered very good contenders for Antarctic Tern. 1 in breeding the other in non-breeding plumage. Record presently being assessed by BARC but likely to succeed. Many features including large bill and diffuse greyish trailing edge to wing consistant with Antarctic Tern. Would be 3rd or 4th Vic record. Below is summary from BARC. Record has been accepted. Submission No 939: Antarctic Tern Sterna vittata at sea off Port Fairy, VIC 9th July 2016. Submitted by: Scott Baker. Verdict: Accepted This submission relates to the sighting of two Antarctic Terns off Port Fairy, VIC on the 9th July 2016. The birds were seen and photographed at close range. One was considered to be an adult in basic plumage and the other in alternate plumage. Interestingly another group of 3 ‘Commic’ terns were encountered later on the same day that may too have been Antarctic Terns. The bird in alternate (breeding) plumage was described as quite striking with a bulky body and a relatively large head. The upperwing and body was grey with a white rump and tail. The head had a solid black cap with a contrasting white cheek stripe below that extended to the nape. The bill and feet were bright red. The broad greyish trailing edge to the primaries was visible from P4 to P10. The bird in basic (non-breeding) plumage had the diagnostic combination of a white forehead and crown, somewhat smudgy grey underbody with a dark reddish tone to the bill, legs and feet. The primaries and secondaries were semi-translucent and as with the alternate bird it had broad greyish trailing edges to the primaries from P4 to P10. In combination these features (particularly the ill-defined trailing edge to the primaries) rule out White-fronted Tern S. striata, Common Tern S. Hirundo, Arctic Tern S. paradisaea and Kerguelen Tern S. virgata with members voting unanimously in favour of acceptance of both birds. This is the 6th record of this species to be accepted by BARC and the 2nd to be confirmed for Victoria. The first was from the same locality on the 3rd July 2005 (BARC Case No. 934).
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 7D
- Lens
- EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- ISO
- 800
- Focal length
- 248 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/5.6
- Shutter speed
- 1/8000 sec
- Dimensions
- 2404 pixels x 1870 pixels
- Original file size
- 777.6 KB