Singapore Strait 20Aug11

From Colin

The NParks supported monthly Singapore Straits pelagic survey went out again on Saturday and this time we made it all the way to Horsburgh Lighthouse. Highlights were large numbers of Bridled Terns, an adult Long-tailed Jaeger, two different Lesser Frigatebirds and at least one 1st summer Aleutian Tern (which may be a previously undocumented plumage). Thanks as ever to Con Foley for his photos of all the best birds:

Long-tailed Jaeger:
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/137396269
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/137396272

Lesser Frigatebirds:
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/frigatebird_my
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/frigatebird_sg

Aleutian Tern:
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/137420001
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/137420002

Our route and the localities of the above are posted on this map link.

In terms of the Bridled Terns there were 80-100 on and around the rocks and buildings of Horsburgh Lighthouse including many birds of the year indicating evidence of successful breeding. There was then a separate feeding flock of about 40 birds comprising largely of young individuals foraging on flotsam along with the Aleutian and 2-3 Common Terns about 18 km west of Horsburgh. In addition throughout the day there were large numbers of predominantly adult birds passing east through the Straits with a final count of 148 birds involved in this movement. We had a day total of six tern species, and that didn't include Lesser Crested!

From Con

http://confoley.com/pelagic-outing-august-2011

From JS

1st Lesser Frigatebird

2nd Lesser Frigatebird

Breeding Common Tern

Immature Bridled Tern

1st Aleutian Tern

2nd Aleutian Tern

From KH

Bridled Tern

Long-tailed Skua