Little Tern?? Pera Marsh Algarve Portugal (1 Viewer)

[Stranger]

Confirmation (or not) please, Little Tern?, taken at Pera Marsh Algarve Portugal 10/10/2012

 

[mäkpe]

Not a Little. Maybe a 1cy Arctic with short bill and legs.

 

[rosbifs]

short legs says arctic...

 

[James Thomas]

Please sign the petition to save the marshes.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Sa...nized_birding_sanctuary_from_being_destroyed/

 

[Simon Wates]

I think there are only one or two records for Arctic Tern at the site - please send photo to raridades(at)spea.pt

Sorry - meant to say send to noticiario (at) spea.pt. Arctic Tern is not a rarity in Portugal - but it is rare!

 

[Stranger]

Please sign the petition to save the marshes.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Sa...nized_birding_sanctuary_from_being_destroyed/

Signed

 

[Stranger]

Hi Simon
Couple of photos and some info sent.

Mike

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Everyone is sure this is a juv arctic just with that photo? Not easy for me. Short bill is typical of young juvenile (bill not yet fully grown). Do you have any other feature to exclude a Common Tern?

 

[Stranger]

Everyone is sure this is a juv arctic just with that photo? Not easy for me. Short bill is typical of young juvenile (bill not yet fully grown). Do you have any other feature to exclude a Common Tern?

Valery.
3 more Photos may help

 

[Simon Wates]

Actually Valéry I was not so sure myself! I was taking for granted that others were sure - to be honest I have never seen a sure-fire Arctic in Portugal - most are well offshore on passage. The last I saw well were in the UK when I was a teenager.

The first photo is complicated.

The new photo (just seen!) in flight shows clear features of an Arctic however so in the end.....

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Thanks!

 

[Brian J Small]

In the OP photo a clear difference between Common and Arctic is visible. In Arctic the lower eye crescent is dark, creating a more complete 'mask' effect; on Common it is white. Compare it with this - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZUTSrCHJJqA/TFa3c0UoHgI/AAAAAAAAeWg/IDF__ey-wdM/s1600/_MG_3236.JPG

Brian S

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Thank you for explaining Brian, much appreciated.

 

[pianoman]

In the OP photo a clear difference between Common and Arctic is visible. In Arctic the lower eye crescent is dark, creating a more complete 'mask' effect; on Common it is white. Compare it with this - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZUTSrCHJJqA/TFa3c0UoHgI/AAAAAAAAeWg/IDF__ey-wdM/s1600/_MG_3236.JPG

Brian S

That's a very good diagnostic feature Brian

 

[njlarsen]

Is this something that can be used at all ages and times of year?

thanks
Niels

 

[Simon Wates]

By the way, on the OP the long tail steamers reach well beyond the tail too.

One more comment I had meant to make...the bird is perched on the wooden rail of the main boardwalk at Lagoa dos Salgados - now, I have never seen a tern of any kind on there, never mind an Arctic. This location made me think that the bird was not well - or maybe that Arctics are more bold?

Oh and for God's sake sign the petition if you can....its at 17,000 signatures - 3,000 more and the Portuguese Government are obliged to take proper notice! http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Salgados_a_unique_internationally_recognized_birding_sanctuary_from_being_destroyed/

 

[Stranger]

Simon
The bird was diving and flying very well for a good spell before perching on the rail.
It did not appear to have any injuries at all and was very confiding,perching within a few feet of me.It did not seem to mind people passing by at all and when the breeze blew my `scope over it flinched but did`nt appear unduly concerned.
It continued flying and diving untill I left,but I did not see it catch anything.
It was not there when I revisited two days later.

 

[Simon Wates]

So probably, as a first year bird its not yet developed much fear of man...because it started out somewhere far from people.