Hong Kong’s Tern migration period is peaking, and eight tern species were seen on yesterday’s boat trip. In no particular order, they were: -
Hong Kong breeders (and passage birds)
Roseate
Black-naped
Bridled
and “strictly passing through”
Aleutian
Great Crested
White-winged
Little
Eastern Common
Throw in a couple of hundred Red-necked Phalarope and one close Short-tailed Shearwater, then one has all the ingredients of a memorable day out.
Like this
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
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| Short-tailed Shearwater - Ardenna tenuirostris |
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| Short-tailed Shearwater - Ardenna tenuirostris |
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| Short-tailed Shearwater - Ardenna tenuirostris |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Bridled Terns - Onychoprion anaethetus |
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| Aleutian Tern - Onychoprion aleuticus |
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| Aleutian Tern - Onychoprion aleuticus |
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| Common Tern - Sterna hirundo |
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Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
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White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus (mostly) - note Tuna |
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White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus (mostly)
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| Little Tern - Sternula albifrons |
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| Greater Crested Tern - Thalasseus bergi |
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Greater Crested Tern - Thalasseus bergi
Later on, the weather cleared up, but the terns continued to pass us.... |
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus (mostly) |
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Common Tern - Sterna hirundo (mostly)
And home in time for tea ! |
