Saunders tern in Qatar (1 Viewer)

[mjgrunwell]

This is my fourth winter in the Gulf and I am with great trepidation trying to separate little from Saunders in winter plumage.

In summer, in the field, the extra black in the primaries of Saunders is very striking however I have not managed to get close enough to get a picture in which I can clearly count the dark primaries.

Last week during strong wings a few terns were fishing close to the quay at Al Khor harbour and I got some decent shots.

You can clearly count three black primaries, however the white seems to go a long way back over the eye.

One feature not mentioned in the guides is bill shape, I note that the lower mandible looks slightly stepped giving an overall slightly extended and triangular feel, a bit like the Burj Dubai tower.

I am completely open to any comments if you feel I have got these wrong and they are little terns please say. Small terns and large gulls are just a nightmare here.

Michael

 

[halftwo]

Greyish rump and extent of dark primaries suggest Saunder's to me.

 

[nigelgharris]

Earlier this week I was also in Al Khobar, and had reasonable views of what I'm fairly sure was Saunders' Tern on a post by the Marina Fish Market Restaurant at the North end of the Corniche (I recommend the bay 500m to the North of that). I agree that separation is really hard, but for me Saunders' Tern has dark legs and an overall darker look than Little Tern. Does that help?