Crested Tern
North of Ellis Beach, 27th October 2021.
The shaggy crest of this bird is the distinguishing characteristic. The bill is a light yellow and the legs are black. When breeding the crown does not recede and is blacker with the white streaks faded.
North of Ellis Beach, 27th October 2021.
The upper body parts are a mid grey colour.
The under body parts are white.
These appear to me to be non breeding as the overall colours are a bit duller.
They fly powerfully and have a paired mating display in flight.
Immature bird, North of Ellis Beach, 27th October 2021.
Immature birds have a mottled crown and an duller upper body grey appearance. The bill also has a greenish tinge to it.
North of Ellis Beach, 27th October 2021.
They have a wingspan of about 1 metre. Their smaller relative the Lesser Crested Tern has a wingspan of .9 metres.
They often roost on jetties and like inshore waters and estuaries
North of Ellis Beach, 27th October 2021.
The rock above is the place that I go to watch these birds. They use it as a base to rest between feeding.
They fly out a bit further from the shore and plunge down from 10 to 15 metres to catch fish. They then fly back to the rock, do some pooh, rest and repeat.