When I got back, we took Emma back to Sowerby Bridge and I was whisked off to Airetime Trampoline Playgym at Club Lane, Holmfield where Abi had a great time.
Leeshaw:
A strong gale and heavy blustery showers greeted me on arrival at Leeshaw.
I sat in the car watching the reservoir for a good while.
A drier interlude coincided with the arrival of BV.
He mentioned sightings of Artic Tern at Bardon so we sat in individual cars and kept watch.
A Tern dropped in within 5 minutes of BV arrival and stayed 15 mins or so before leaving East, we thought.
Getting any decent photos was a real problem with the birds distance and the strong gale making camera shake a problem.
The bird looked pure white underneath through bins / scope.
Pointing towards an Artic Tern.
The pictures seem to indicate a black tip to the bill which points to a Common Tern.
The bird had extremely long streamers, again Arctic Tern trait.
So although I though Artic Tern at the time I'm beginning to favour Common Tern - but what do I know about Terns - in the words of Eric Morecambe "not a lot!" what do you think?
One thing is for sure - photos are a powerful aid to ID!!!!
I had a very enjoyable chat with Brian V. as we watched the Tern battle the elements and tried to hold our cameras steady in the gale, the Tern actually landed on the water for a very short time.
Artic or Common it was still a great reward for venturing out on such a rough day.
Other Birds:
M. Goosander, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Greylag Goose with Goslings, Canada Goose.
Lapwings lapping up the gale - no problem for these magnificent fliers.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull.
Possibly Great Black-backed Gull.
and a few other sp.
A few of the many Tern pics:-
21:54 update.
The fine black line on the underwing points to Artic Tern - so is the black on the bill from feeding??
2cy Great Black-backed Gull?
Common
ReplyDeleteTa Andy - so am I!
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