Roseate Tern ? West London, United Kingdom (1 Viewer)

[Hawkeye1i1]

Seeking second opinions on id, as an unusual sighting in this neck of the woods. Was in close proximity to Common Tern and therefore distinctly different. Dark bill. Yellow ring on left leg, silver ring on right leg.

 

[Bewick]

Darker red legs, pale grey underparts, wings + mantle greyish (not exceptionally pale)- all incorrect for a Roseate tern. Imo it is a Common tern with an unusual amount of black.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

That is a curious bird!
Definitely not a Roseate Tern. Possibly a ‘longipennis’ Common Tern, with that black bill and seemingly darker (than Common Tern) mantle.
I wonder where such a creature picked up the colour ring? Was the code readable in the field?

 

[Hawkeye1i1]

That is a curious bird!
Definitely not a Roseate Tern. Possibly a ‘longipennis’ Common Tern, with that black bill and seemingly darker (than Common Tern) mantle.
I wonder where such a creature picked up the colour ring? Was the code readable in the field?

Glad it’s not just me who thought it curious ! Wasn’t convinced it was a Roseate but was baffled by it, and the ringing seemed unusual for a Common Tern. A bit of research this afternoon and I have found a small Common Tern ringing programme in the south of England, and they use yellow rings apparently. So potentially one of theirs. Unfortunately it was too far away to read the code (photos were through the scope on full mag), but I’ll send them the photos and see if they have a known bird with a black bill.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Glad it’s not just me who thought it curious ! Wasn’t convinced it was a Roseate but was baffled by it, and the ringing seemed unusual for a Common Tern. A bit of research this afternoon and I have found a small Common Tern ringing programme in the south of England, and they use yellow rings apparently. So potentially one of theirs. Unfortunately it was too far away to read the code (photos were through the scope on full mag), but I’ll send them the photos and see if they have a known bird with a black bill.

They say they ring pulli, so maybe bill colour is not developed at that age.

There have been quite a few potential ‘longipennis’ Common Terns recorded in the U.K. over the last 20 years.

None have been accepted, and maybe for good reason, if regular Common Tern can look like this.

 

[wheatearlp]

Glad it’s not just me who thought it curious ! Wasn’t convinced it was a Roseate but was baffled by it, and the ringing seemed unusual for a Common Tern. A bit of research this afternoon and I have found a small Common Tern ringing programme in the south of England, and they use yellow rings apparently. So potentially one of theirs. Unfortunately it was too far away to read the code (photos were through the scope on full mag), but I’ll send them the photos and see if they have a known bird with a black bill.

There are two or three ringing schemes using yellow darvics in Britain and at least one in Ireland. There are also such schemes in a few other European countries. All put the darvic ring on the left tarsus or, in the case of Poland, don't specify which leg.