FAIRY TERN

Photographed at Werribee Treatment Plant, February 2015

505           FAIRY TERN             Sterna nereis

Australia         (346)

21-25 cm, wingspan c. 50 cm. Found in coastal waters, bays, inlets, saline or bracken lakes, salt fields, sewerage ponds near coast. Predominantly an Australian species; ranges around coast of WA, SA, Vic and Tasmania, and pocket in Queensland on Tropic.

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN

Photographed at Werribee Treatment Plant, February 2015, in non-breeding plumage, when breeding turn black with white wings.

504         WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN               Chlidonias leucopterus

Australia          (345)

22-24 cm, wingspan 66 cm. Found in large wetlands, coastal and inland, salt fields, sewerage ponds, estuaries, coastal waters. Breeds in Eurasia, migrates to Africa, s. and e. Asia, Indonesia, PNG, NZ; non-breeding migrant to to se. Australia, at times well inland on extensive freshwater wetlands. ranges from Perth north across top, down east coast and across to Adelaide, often inland, hence s.NSW and all Victoria, n. and e. coast Tasmania.

COMMON TERN

Photographed at Werribee Wetlands, February 2015.

503          COMMON TERN            Sterna hirundo

Australia         (344)

Despite its name it it not widely 'common' in Australia; Ranges around the coast of the mainland from Broome, across the north and down east coast to Adelaide; breeds across the northern hemisphere and migrates to Australia for the summer. Found in offshore waters, beaches, reefs, bays, estuaries, sandblast, salt fields, sewerage ponds and freshwater wetlands. 32-38 cm, wingspan 80 cm.