Black tern? SE Romania, august 2013 (1 Viewer)

[mi-d]

I am searching for pictures in my archive and found this. I was sure it was an Little Gull, but now I am not that sure anymore Could it be an Black tern?

 

[Prestdj]

common tern

great photo

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
excellent shot. Tfs!

Your bird is a juvenile/1cy Whiskered Tern. Please note:

• although difficult to judge=wishful thinking at its best, head pattern with an extensive patch centered at the seems to fit Whiskered Tern best. Anyway I agree with you, the bird has a "Marsh Tern" head-pattern.
• I think I can just make out the characteristic pattern on the tertials: yellowish-buff with a romboid black pattern

At least I need more pictures for confident ID, and I hope you can provide them (maybe in a larger format?)

But ID is not important here imo. What a stunning shot!

 

[mi-d]

Hello,
excellent shot. Tfs!

Your bird is a juvenile/1cy Whiskered Tern. Please note:

• although difficult to judge=wishful thinking at its best, head pattern with an extensive patch centered at the seems to fit Whiskered Tern best. Anyway I agree with you, the bird has a "Marsh Tern" head-pattern.
• I think I can just make out the characteristic pattern on the tertials: yellowish-buff with a romboid black pattern

At least I need more pictures for confident ID, and I hope you can provide them (maybe in a larger format?)

But ID is not important here imo. What a stunning shot!

Thank you for your answer and appreciation! I will look tommorow for some other pictures

 

[mi-d]

Hello,
excellent shot. Tfs!

Your bird is a juvenile/1cy Whiskered Tern. Please note:

• although difficult to judge=wishful thinking at its best, head pattern with an extensive patch centered at the seems to fit Whiskered Tern best. Anyway I agree with you, the bird has a "Marsh Tern" head-pattern.
• I think I can just make out the characteristic pattern on the tertials: yellowish-buff with a romboid black pattern

At least I need more pictures for confident ID, and I hope you can provide them (maybe in a larger format?)

But ID is not important here imo. What a stunning shot!

Ok, so I found a picture taken just before the dive for that fish... it seems like an white-winged tern to me...

 

[Butty]

it seems like an white-winged tern to me

Why?
And... after 9½ years, are you certain this is the same bird given that it's photographed from a very different angle? Was there only one such bird present?

 

[mi-d]

Why?
And... after 9½ years, are you certain this is the same bird given that it's photographed from a very different angle? Was there only one such bird present?

The picture data shows that there are only 2 seconds between the pictures. I am sure that the last picture uploaded is taken just before the dive for the fish

 

[THE_FERN]

Ok, so I found a picture taken just before the dive for that fish... it seems like an white-winged tern to me...

The broad wings point towards whiskered I think

 

[lou salomon]

definitely a young whiskered tern. look at the tertials.

 

[mi-d]

Thank you all! It sure was a dilema for me

 

[rollingthunder]

2 stunning shots - the fanned tail and pulled in legs of the 2nd is excellent.

Laurie -