Egypt, Nile Valley help please - No. 3 (1 Viewer)

Mr Patience

Well-known member

• Feb 12, 2010

• #1

Just got back from cruise on the Nile. Lovely place. I'm not so good on terns etc., so I need help with some of the more distant sightings, please.

These may all be the same species of tern. I can be more specific about the location if needed, but all sightings were between Luxor and Abu Simbel.

I'v got quite a few so I'll do them in lots. Many thanks.

 

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P

Parker

Uncomfortably Numb.

• Feb 12, 2010

• #2

1, not made my mind up yet.
2, Whiskered.
3, White Winged Black.

ATB, Neil.

 

Helsinki Birder

Stealth Birder

• Feb 12, 2010

• #3

1 is whiskered

Owen

 

nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

• Feb 12, 2010

• #4

agreed, 1 and 2 whiskered, 3 WWB

 

C

CAU

Well-known member

• Feb 12, 2010

• #5

To me the first bird looks more like a White-winged Black Tern:
-the white protrudes very high up behind the dark spot at the ear coverts
-the back is rather dark, contrasting sharply against the paler rump
-the leading edge of the wing is pretty dark
Compare with the other two photos, which show both species.

 

P

Parker

Uncomfortably Numb.

• Feb 12, 2010

• #6

CAU said:

To me the first bird looks more like a White-winged Black Tern:
-the white protrudes very high up behind the dark spot at the ear coverts
-the back is rather dark, contrasting sharply against the paler rump
-the leading edge of the wing is pretty dark
Compare with the other two photos, which show both species.

Click to expand...

I agree Cau, I was thinking WWB aswell but not sure.

Neil.

 

lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #7

not wishing to be controversial..but more likely wrong, but that rump on number 1 seems to be grey. Some Black Tern can have darker backs and paler grey rumps...just my two-penneth.

Sean

 

C

CAU

Well-known member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #8

AFAIK a Black Tern should have a blacker crown that extends a bit closer to the forehead (don't know about possible variation in winter, though):
http://www.tarsiger.com/images/jukka/chlnig.jpg

 

P

Parker

Uncomfortably Numb.

• Feb 13, 2010

• #9

And wouldn't you be able to see at least part of the black smudge on the side of the chest?

Neil.

 

C

CAU

Well-known member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #10

I was thinking of that too, and the best answer I can come up with is 'probably'.