Variety of species was in short supply, with only five species putting in an appearance - Common, Little, Black-naped, White-winged and a lone Greater Crested. This was our first blank trip for Bridled Terns.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjagz7__rd9sgQPdO80qw9viWfMHXJrcVi9rEeP0aQh1z_7W5_C2iyrAOamb2Fyny1RlgP_YnVHVdpb-wT6m4UZW8VZIMZ3m5iXuR4P4VuoNwpiz-4QG-IBx0bEq8Wfqpx3h8p/s400/Terns_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6249.jpg)
Terns on patrol as the net is drawn in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJx9aUZaKabwRPwkqbOZR4J_qG74AKi39QoZN1h365MBKdxHAWIgZxyhC3PHr5puKqQH9TNs0acxAAa0P-D2ALURACykEa_zf-_btHI4ihDCQmdfdWMysrcT8ue9lUDj-F7Uk/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6429.jpg)
Common Terns lived up to their name, being overwhelmingly the most numerous species.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiuUfJcf2QlFHL8-nheUVYfaJvc99ROHzLt3y5UqKJLgBi6J3ChAL3UNvewx3mG0jWC-Ka8eTozS5hO-VIoXgd7kFAvS9XdLhyNVIdTPV6PhfXBfzNg-nZygBsaOTT4HPBWNk/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6345.jpg)
Last year's young are now looking quite worn.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMTKwmdwwfy6ZEVEYoxkZrfPp_A6u4pvPyzPnx_VwkyPiOsNUKlIH9_4Qt9ldA_TUyJhRGwCMTs_L-qkFX7lhlL09qcgbvELZXMpV4atG212-GVCg7gYoxF0kw1uFGl4OK-0t/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6357.jpg)
The clear grey median coverts and scapulars are new, as the bird is beginning its moult into 'first summer' plumage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9W2A0pxTxTtZM-ts6V2ghfj6v0ggxp7V6PKIDqMoMVn6LL7T9WvHYeXkfAU2FMydrThHjZZwDZ1RJ6cXkFqPthqdk8gtmk8aHZAkJ_fY7IhGx5k1z_lsOoBZsM_mNnGQSyx2k/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6174.jpg)
This adult has fresh inner primaries and outer secondaries, while the remainder of both are extremely worn.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnm3DTx65xcr9d2z6bh3szcB157613wq80DDnWQtQz1I52aGb7IS_4zKpSmAaA81HBy-NX9MW7ToFfD1y88tV4a3ny2QAF2M4Anm8xBOjxGbOCpW8_Mm7Mc8T4OscsxlRLu-CS/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6260.jpg)
Birds at this stage of moult, with very worn, blackish secondaries, can show a dark secondary bar on the underwing, a feature which is supposed to be diagnostic of Aleutian Tern, so care is needed!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFZR0oZ8P_YHr1WQCqPjPb0aqatz7bEzwbGpBds2zfqbee5v0g96a3CDm46XAK5Jj9X99qXeVS7Pq5d6GYAVzm0f_9CQkNnPD2RXd3BGftP6gk1xTfNW5yqN90dHgdMkIZ5Up/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6314.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsmZuUlUQuiiCA6_GsfwDFOvMqTSjgpP_wfxxL4E5iiQrLejy3VvnISfKDcvWA0-rc1lwg0NvQzlIEJleji80S_RRvzEb9Vvn2VAKS-GkxRRQ6ZWqt_1yZgKmWGEt_Pk5dTQG/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6334.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6MTuRFRdkkkj44S9OX38S_xWu8XhtrUKKaPbQCI40mmb_xRUG0vw7XHjQmKk7Axfufp8Wgz-3CIxZoFSBv4ykcWIZKqdxZXLdAodnwP9ib8OLMZ7J7KpoNS7eOxJiOR71nrE/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6403.jpg)
This effect is not so prominent in birds which have already replaced most of their secondaries and primaries.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgXRlBg1A5Q3bweEXlwH0hdXiwgQgdqmSIfGGjhoA3RRRi12SOKf91bDdqE2J76GXV7tPCcYCtWij73QqKpXvidOUZgxRqkXs9pOSrqonjjnESA1FK95Re_-aoXURpheHqg2y/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6375.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vKujhe55WMYEi6nkOY1MA6SzBzn2egcLNg1XPSjLEhKAKVi5-gV_x8yenAgSX6n9Fkv_BC0BFd4Oz04Bv9FZuSKsBPyajJ85t8NBc6e4nlzgFKYmI4LEh6ZVbvw1GpyreIP7/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6378.jpg)
Rump colour seems very variable in these birds, from white, to white with a grey centre, to entirely concolorous with the back on the darkest birds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOldq7BuQ_P3KOpeC_An-bA6RnUysjtPVCuB8cK2D7wVwKM8xf7gqP5nA6mrB6HOj3jzcxQ-t2yCj_lOwTkfqEIC-dDhLoBeTF5PrX8vwFNAujkOuK40ILdRolM1wgi8_Dn_1/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6381.jpg)
Grey rumps were seen on both worn and fresh-plumaged birds. Grey rump is often cited as a way of distinguishing White-cheeked Tern from Common. It seems that this isn't a reliable fieldmark in the case of these eastern races.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ItsB9O4sIOI4MrJ2WZyfzm_iw4dU0bSXHN-LdhvjFff9JvgPfzTfDL6K_tiXAQddN80GJSD1h6fcQomO6e3xifVqgGgjjL3GQZ3G2wTPzF16RiKda5B3TGtmiBlK26KKu37d/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6415.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_WHOp_bhBz_jTs0B_p9yumJMiPvcZogKAc4F0pYnCURjjAhyXE_6LyLJFiYOHRJnRLlACbcnb4dVjTwaP3TeARQBHFrqkjbHT1b45mqOX8eB1PJnXSaQvxJu6VQ6mD3FGVaE/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6416.jpg)
Incidentally, check out the bill on this same grey-rumped bird! It looks orange! However, the bill is clearly also deformed (the tips of the mandibles don't meet) and I've seen quite a few of these Common Terns with misshapen bills which are generally also discoloured orange or yellow. I've commented in previous posts that this seems to be rather a common deformity in Common Terns here. So - just a Common, but could easily have passed for something rarer on brief fly-by views!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTukhWXPsCb3VMUtKW5zq1hEv2wdsCQAi8A0jedobiJYmAJ62bBSUVHiIFk1E2JApKWcB2JpQ1yvqK3qaSSWEtdaVCBGiWBn56um-5f__kJLFJBrukIT3y4nihyyx5eaNFBYd/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6464.jpg)
Another common bill pattern variant - this time mimicking the pattern of Sandwich Tern!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K-BvouP-8y_maDVkwcySbfqJuwdY852sUO_EQGyJZiCMLXTvrSfMFPTefkhtfp25nUVTMXa4SaHV8NtKc_AmoADDAD9lPdKAmnpRWnwByafr5RVJnlPbQg1WtEc6NAujS5Fo/s400/Common+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6440.jpg)
Having a mid-air preen!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtI2fSX5XsCS8rQSmttRNBntGW7cs45zXbfdUok38lUtJBACDHEIPKqQppEkcN5GXj_NGP-fmzINJLJ6-P3EGEUWcT1K_Ymug2S59CSg45_T71e6qdhTATlyAu1qfjcFooZ23/s400/Little+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6296.jpg)
There were a few Little Terns about.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiku6pEb2Cj7KroqLUMrMg0ZewDfzTb_JvYyKDckGf23xbrsfPhK_qeiOO75MK6xG8V_tqQ0LwDK2XmKtW69mNjd3amhBNU-va-eZgQY1pL-r-dQjdoqL7uopwYnYEE1q-aIV/s400/Little+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6374.jpg)
This is another species where rump colour is often quoted as an important way to distinguish it from a similar species. In this case, Little Tern supposedly has a white rump, and Saunder's has a grey rump. However, once again, careful looks are needed before jumping to conclusions! All Little Terns I've seen well enough to check here have grey rumps.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T4JUnoBgUPI1t6CZq3G9JaPKQAhJ12xiEIJtJfyPh5BfkG_Egx4HlaoN57khPCU_sHQtaLmJobLgm7INvjEbD4taNpFjYX57YeLYNuh2LuBs8DZGjhc8h4oZRq9rfhKUdKRU/s400/White-winged+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6178.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPhyphenhyphenmLD8BLyW-ibDd0DabCci3DPQmClgrW26BtYessGUHVvRTJAM8Z5d8GaRDaYtV18r0kr09nk2Kq2BUomoITQF4xqwHcg6T0s1vu0r2x6cFWBvEUcmzr3NHlQF5hT21u3fO/s400/White-winged+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6183.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiy93obmINgeg4N1Cqv1gkFUhdZAweA7l3e-Etil5mtYy_-_RCyrxBcVjkThPxrkgPMIUSQ_iAUawzla4TTZUlxw7GPjMlNbDDYTuYV472w__H35NsWyQQwolD3IllB3YXzRT/s400/White-winged+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6184.jpg)
There were a couple of hundred White-winged Terns, looking very dumpy compared to the 'Sterna' terns.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WPqyKbLMUg73At6c37xH-ox7gCCapkHgB5QQqMokWPBk4fbH0zH4FVdQDzefIWmFXNJzNnVUklHwKeI2_NnkPOI2ZoofNIs9UOKFXHH2dQGpcYNswTaNUoTdnEAGG1X0Wbtr/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6192.jpg)
Black-naped Terns are the epitome of grace and beauty! Against a dark grey sea and colourless sky, it was quite difficult to get well-exposed shots though.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2ASM6Y5pvDOyjm6HLbIpxYW_knIGm9c-Td2cvcWf_jdRa9U8Z6ItuT6_jP6DuMoiqM-ibEscfe_2NHCFqUyRjJQjtOjktb9_4QVnV3wibL98fw25FezI40Y32TDjBTB1a-F0/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6200.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa6ozbArtAZJ1qMNLt18VRpAj7L0q0xC64j4s19vaXfRBzvQJRjs3PJ5IpQ-K7mI0qrq1yZrIBPOiYc7nxnJpXMfrB2JpqqGDdjvMkDepOlZinVAyvcXPXE4YiBjJCgovaAGD/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6217.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYK1coFaxK_vxRN9dUX7CqKOk9rENVWehM78ypcL0cc1XSm_3ICtrRDDAzNuwNQm0OOm67zJMkqpHlkqfYUiZUHuQuW9tQxH2oUG5xTBkI6yOdWyXJAtJ9vKqWhpWXUfs3oq2/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6443.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aw0GT21hLbH1r1YgTOJnsN7updZVhm79BglfmoQM2oM5xMutxMGmF_38Ge89INMy5Ty54kp_HJ4UwQygIjioXvrUHTaqIfBbwhh7KFQbh7dds9TAMgqmTQ3Zx1uioor9573B/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6448.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w1atJ1xYnD2VbihHzhKJlLfkfsPk7ANSLgT_8Sk4vUCbladZzGe-rRREbn3GpoHPO31pcS22rTqxzt2fuRuev7pbmem5YS2EB6HK-SsrQxyWHF0wEkS6YJBA7pauflq-Zuwh/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6459.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJHZYh2O4mSBVv1htqS-5T4zsXbTKA9UkoPtDt0sd-z2DX7ObKwcP6l1hn0UEKvSzvr7iOh53io9nDX3a59oCIpq7YZLgruj9oPG1MId2faRfZdOlV9y_xhW4KJ-H6Fw-2Cum/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6472.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V9D-cmTNhUVbtIk9RSY6YWvYXrWvc9m2T8S2PQUx_XrTPjmkouyc999C10rzSKCnZ0Hz9GIPG0avrxvovzec34Qz9Ctk6gWnmeVDo-kTzMM1XlbyWCf70BYiCrE2yAQq0PcG/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6480.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8btlwAYg7c8Mi5CMtVZrcNP6kKKFcDT4RALt3Ix5dRNtdxdFnOScuKG3Ve4F7k-k_YbZSOrX4WelRdaer4BjqOHa6gvunc6lpGGXWFV7ACoJqSGP6eNFmI_OCC2VD_Rq1ybs/s400/Black-naped+Tern_Tanjung+Dawai_030111_IMG_6484.jpg)
Some of my efforts!
See here for Mun's account of the day.
1 comment:
The light direction may be highly variable, but the exposures can be fairly consistent with manual exposure ?
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