ID this Tern please guy's (2 Viewers)

[chigman]

Hi all. Just see this bird over the Easter weekend, but having never seen one before I am not entirely sure what it is. A formal ID would be great :t:

I was wondering whether it is a Black Tern?

 

[mark clements]

Hi
Where was it when you saw it, please?
H

 

[chigman]

It was at Lackford Lakes Suffolk.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Black Tern

 

[chigman]

Another pic.....

 

[chigman]

Black Tern

So looks like my hunch was right. Looked in books but nothing matched exact, but shape and size fitted well. Thanks for that. :t:

 

[mark clements]

Looks right to me,
H

 

[chigman]

Looks right to me,
H

Thank you my friend. :t:

Very happy with that as it's a lifer for me. B

 

[KenM]

The last image looks like a Little Gull, and the Tern....with that underwing why not a White-winged Tern?

Cheers

 

[chigman]

The last image looks like a Little Gull, and the Tern....with that underwing why not a White-winged Tern?

Cheers

On no, a spanner in the works, just after i thought we'd worked it all out as well. :-C

Thanks for your views. :t:

 

[PYRTLE]

Black Tern for me. Adult Little Gull would show pink flush to breast and rounded wing tips.

 

[RafaelMatias]

....with that underwing why not a White-winged Tern?

Cheers

Exactly because of that underwing. WWT have black underwing coverts that are highly contrasting with pale flight-feather bases. The OP bird shows a typical Black Tern underwing pattern.

 

[THE_FERN]

The last image looks like a Little Gull, and the Tern....with that underwing why not a White-winged Tern?

Cheers

Not a white-winged tern as that would have strong contrast between the pale flight feathers and the otherwise black underwing. This is uniform greyish = black tern.

 

[KenM]

Exactly because of that underwing. WWT have black underwing coverts that are highly contrasting with pale flight-feather bases. The OP bird shows a typical Black Tern underwing pattern.

Am totally aware of what a full adult WWT would look like regarding black underwing coverts, it’s the contrasting dark contrasting leading edge to the primaries that looked a bit odd, thus leading me to wonder if the bird’s black underwing coverts are yet to emerge, I don’t know the moult strategy of Marsh Terns?

 

[RafaelMatias]

Am totally aware of what a full adult WWT would look like regarding black underwing coverts,

That's an adult there, with an adult plumage. First summers (WWT and BT) stay in Africa, if that's what you mean re moult strategies...

EDIT: on the moult question: WWT go from white (winter plumage) straight to black underwing coverts (summer), with never going through grey, if that's what you were asking.

 

[KenM]

That's an adult there, with an adult plumage. First summers (WWT and BT) stay in Africa, if that's what you mean re moult strategies...

EDIT: on the moult question: WWT go from white (winter plumage) straight to black underwing coverts (summer), with never going through grey, if that's what you were asking.

That’s useful to know.👍

 

[lou salomon]

...and the last pic (#5) is the black tern again and not a little gull.

 

[chigman]

Wow, thanks again guy's, some interesting views there. I have been educated. :-O