![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0buGf6kueoXJf8V8udJxMwpHe1Cu1T4kDpw4tFt9GFWWF4FCLXW6_wATv_3TE5XYezMAAfNpLUXmzRDSBcWesFgz4i42Tdqzf7HernPv2GgSXpNSgSCEA82tV37MVRbrlQaNByBqze0/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1828-01.jpg) |
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
“Chlidonias…” Marsh Terns migrate through Hong Kong in spring and autumn. In spring they are much easier to identify at a distance, because they are in breeding plumage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHx1WMld6pTWJZM_zQKSLkEoK39fNfP3LhTECSLazeDtniwlj6SOwbiHS1EjAzznOcIxxWM5yuNczYXls7u6JLzJszUZODixznylpA2bh5H1ldPgCAgpHmHQi1u9hNZ76jYnLlxzmCSA/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1893-01.jpg) |
Hong Kong birding - NOT a “Wilderness Experience” ! |
At the end of April I saw a couple of dozen marsh terns circling over a particular partially-refilled fishpond in Tai Sang Wai. They seemed to be feeding on prawns.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t_xwg3qAJ0db0BKKt9pbzYkg8_MpCLXt-7upApH5mKV6ydhNB8NAUbpn5pyyyPlYh4iAirc2mkURChGkXNJLtuCJa69oFvuqf8uAHGoKf5LV_T1BNHZ2d0Y7oKzM4aWVQJ9HXWXqPvw/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1787-01.jpg) |
Chlidonias Terns on passage, Hong Kong |
Exactly two weeks later, blustery conditions led me to go and check the same pond again in the late afternoon.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0-r6WCaQJpMBmVt5GXVW46BlUVugMN7FqZA52hTsL_EqFulrDatC1EtYQm_eGiWtMnzqj77crPfjkhEXLCvKXL-jmPTp6lg5xqppXvz_0LQrTz_B0V-XN0vCyzlWbzNRN9kiAE5DTJ4/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1452-01.jpg) |
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkBgWnmD-QIi2HHEnpY5RovYQDybVm73g0XMKYnqlWz2i7vsS7jAi5KsdII4zzWT46CRJPK-1VwpziZjEoHk2Ykjbj9_PWlVbwVsuwpGDO_EvnQx2RMuiu2aXcARC6A6RpLyrSc_6eOM/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1619-01.jpg) |
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mBqT0SmoNH4ySiXXyJ0h0AJhNCIRFxS2_U3WA9MP__lHa0d46iecbHUnMfJxW-nBJs-mTfmwtPnZa_wVj2cjX8aEs0KDNMe8xWp2tqu-ApK2lKje75cr98CNlFoslKpXNVXcS5oWFQ0/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1209-01.jpg) |
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFPTIJe2Oupz1Y2ppU6j27IjChalKH0TNM54RP953Y9YybsFiuLHfJSMp1KCmLBynyAsa9Hx8a3m3J1-1SjAn20B1P2Y4X72HV9nLsxfAZpTBnjTWWCBaeuxJjMhPIMGY_rx0kse3YM8/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1724-01.jpg) |
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
Kai Kung Shan ("Cock’s Comb Mountain") * is to the east of Tai Sang Wai. With the terns circling more or less at eye height the hill can make a good background for these black-and-white birds, especially as the sun gets lower.
* a hill called “Nameless” by the British Army, pre-handover !
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRPBc9bwWzb5DtGO-kwxGmULqvgBhQJ9J6EHjDbwQvVy_5Gx62tediBiWfjeimajfnaNH2Dw1yA2Wnt6vhsysenM-Ndnq8wRY0ytW6eTETGOX_W1DS03wIFCDf10c5nipkbOEjZdbCMU/s640/WWTern_JGH_CCC1550-01.jpg) |
White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkbgN_BfI6-jD6_9MzeN-49TbIfU0hWkEhBbiVHNnaOt0G_JfN_5fmDSulBvC2PsXsugPbutJaq8WME-5aGPr894H-Y-Vbwga2x2IpkOxdPSnEHc4zg6Bd9VU_cjznyiqTs1qeHSc0oI/s640/WhiskTern_JGH_CCC1380-01.jpg) |
Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTeyFIU4xQqmyvAc1ETb91rkGgoT5NKtPH7qAP8977FcehEQZv1sFAwyssbr_ql17WLHvjd0RahW6fl18YkLxvhByuKWJ31WgISuLhgaw0kMemnM5m8FscQNoxUVUt4pMZfT65rJ8pTY/s640/WhiskTern_JGH_CCC1410-01.jpg) |
Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtZBr-QNohu-VSEkXzRvdBbRK4qjLeoK7StZhMIePTKUA_Z62bghaSzjrWPiDrHQ5Zn7BotGH8i7eaif2mr8i21HewAyPQIL1cVfuKKVKsptCMfwmj4oB1XTE7VnUTtWppPlwUcmAqak/s640/WhiskTern_JGH_CCC1492-01.jpg) |
Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lL16-sM75YjO6cjumqjVrDrSv3pZZTEiuBIPfWUPCpzBDdSIUxdA4xLW8Fyc8zgO_Yg-wujIQ06GlprDI4_2wZNBWMaLcVPrbW_CCt4d8iK6AdOXsAdn5ebS09XQcg-yJzbTUip8DAs/s640/WhiskTern_JGH_CCC1493-01.jpg) |
Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida |
And there were Whiskered Terns in close-up, too.
Great shots of very handsome birds, John.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David ! (My ability to reply to comments on my own blog has mysteriously re-appeared.... I blame the CIA, or the CCP...whichever)
DeleteWow, quite superb WWBT photos. Only ever seen 1 and that was a juvenile in late summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stu - get them in both directions, spring and autumn, but they’re harder to identify in autumn
Delete