tomatofamily

My wife and I thought that we could not go today; but turned out to be really sunny and hot.  It was not that interesting though.  We managed to see  three or four black drones, a couple of shrikes, some mynas.  The most interesting bird we saw today of course the white-throated kingfisher.  On the way to the Po Toi island, we saw a big fork of terns taking flight over the small island.  There were about four boats carrying a number of people doing fishing quite close around the island.  That could be the reason that the terns took flight.  Can someone help to identify those terns? Thanks in advance.

wgeoff

The terns currently around the Po Toi Rock are three species, Bridled, Black-naped and Roseate.
Most of the terns in your photo are Bridled (the dark ones), the white ones are probably mostly Black-naped but with some Roseate.
See my report on Po Toi this week here

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/view ... 1557&highlight=

I don't think the fishing boats off-shore disturb the terns - they are often in a wheeling mass at this time, nesting has mostly finished.

tomatofamily

Thanks, Geoff.  So, are these terns migrated or residents?  Wheeling is one of the behaviour of the birds, that I learnt.  Thanks for that, sorry for blaming those fished.

Best.

Eric

wgeoff

Hi Eric

It's a mixture. Some are adults which have bred on the island, some are juveniles from this year and a few may be just passing through migrants.
But they will all leave by the end of September, going south to the islands of Indonesia and northern Australia where they will spend the winter, returning here next April.

irsychan

Thank you Eric and Geoff for the information.  By the way, I may visit Po Toi Island next Tuesday.  Does any restaurant open on Tuesday at Po Toi Island or I have to bring my own meal?

[ Last edited by irsychan at 24/08/2014 11:29 ]

wgeoff

The restaurant is usually open for lunch during the week.
But it is quite expensive.

irsychan

Dear Geoff, thank you for your valuable information.

[ Last edited by irsychan at 25/08/2014 08:57 ]