Bird Notes – sighting of whiskered black tern

Sep 30 2010 by Andrew Forgrave, Daily Post

There are three species of marsh tern in Europe, including white-winged, black and whiskered.

None breed in the UK however. Black terns are by far the more numerous, especially on their south-westerly autumn passage.

In juvenile plumage all three species are very similar. But close scrutiny of some images taken of a bird thought to be a black tern at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB, Wirral, actually revealed a young whiskered tern.

A great record for the area!

A common quail was also seen at the same site, giving a very rare opportunity to see a species almost always “heard only”, due to its habit of preferring vast crop fields and scurrying away if disturbed, rather than flying.

A blast of northerly air brought in a grey phalarope (Llydandroed Llwyd) to Conwy RSPB.

This remained until September 27 at least, feeding around the margins of the southern lagoon.

This is only the third record for the reserve.ŠThe adult bird has probably flown in from Iceland or the high Arctic and will be heading to winter on the seas off West Africa.

It is bizarre to think that such a small dainty wader can spend the whole winter out on the ocean, then return north in the spring to breed again.

Up to seven Lapland buntings were seen on the Great Orme last week and over 50 were at Hen Borth west of Cemlyn.

Nationally, this has been one of the best autumns for the species.

Elsewhere, two absolute “megas” turned up this week in the form of an alder flycatcher on Blakeney Point, Norfolk, and a superb northern parula found on Tiree, Argyll.

Both are cracking American vagrants.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/farming-north-wales/farming-news/2010/09/30/bird-notes-sighting-of-whiskered-black-tern-55578-27369541/