I was driving towards Cue, Western Australia. Its 700 kms ne of Pertha nd a couple hundred kms inland. The highway crosses a body of water 20 kms out of Cue and these tern fly overhead. I mangae a coupe of quick distance photographs and think they are Gull-billed terns. The next day, late in the afternoon, I take a different road out to look at the water. Groups of terns fly past, get some closer shots. But they have grey on the body. My question, are these the same types of terns, and are they all Gull-billed terns? Photo 1 and 2 on highway, rest are beside water. Thanks
Yes they are Gull-billed Terns and it is normal for them to be inland.
The first 2 are Gull-billed Terns, & the others are Whiskered Terns
Agreed
Thank you for your responses I was initially surprised to see them out in this area but when I lloked up the books I saw this was their normal range and talking to local they weren't surprised at all and said here were a lot of sea-birds around at present because of the rain and the fact there is water every where. I did think the first were Gull-billed but seemed to think the others were different, so your explabnations fit, thank you. Robert