The Flickr Seaswallow Image Generatr

White fronted tern,
kahawai bird,
sea-swallow,
swallowtail,
black-billed tern,
whitefronted tern

Canon FDn 500mm f4.5L

kahawai bird,
sea-swallow,
swallowtail,
black-billed tern,
whitefronted tern

Thank you to all who fave or comment on my photos it is much appreciated.

The white-fronted tern (Sterna striata), also known as tara, sea swallow, black-billed tern, kahawai bird, southern tern, or swallow tail, was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789.

A medium-sized tern with an all-white body including underwing and forked tail, with pale grey hues on the mantle and upper side of the wing. In breeding adults a striking black cap covers the head from forehead to nape, leaving a small white strip above the black bill.

The white-fronted tern is an average-sized tern; its dimensions are 35–43 cm (14–17 in) in length, with a wingspan between 79 and 82 cm (31 and 32 in); the male weighs on average 130 g (4.6 oz). Females are marginally smaller than males, but this is difficult to determine when observing individuals in the wild

This is the most abundant tern in New Zealand. It can be observed feeding on shoaling fish along the entire coastline and many of the smaller outlying islands.

Breeding occurs from October to January on rocky cliffs, offshore islands and along the coast where pairs will nest on shingle, sand, shell or rock. Flocks may contain hundreds of breeding pairs that will nest in close proximity to one another.

Large numbers of juveniles and some adults migrate to the south-east coast of Australia and parts of Tasmania in the autumn, with small numbers establishing breeding colonies on Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Bass Strait.

Due to mammalian predators introduced to New Zealand, such as ferrets and stoats, the white-fronted tern has recently been given the New Zealand national conservation status of at risk/in decline.

This image was taken at Waitangi, near Pahia in the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand

Thank you to all who comment and/or fave my images, it is much appreciated.

Thanks to Steve for recommending the visit, thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Juvenile white fronted tern

kahawai bird, sea-swallow, swallowtail, black-billed tern, white fronted tern

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo. 22 November 2024. Walvis Bay, Namibia, Africa.

Multiple exposure of an individual bird.

Please contact me to arrange the use of any of my images. They are copyright, all rights reserved.

Thank you to all who either comment on or fave my photographs, it is much appreciated.

Thank you to those that fave and/or comment on my photos it is much appreciated.

Mid July 2024 and a day trip to South Stack and Cemlyn Bay on Anglesey while on holiday in North Wales. After a few days of constant rain we had a sunny day.

I then relocated to Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey for the afternoon.

Cemlyn Bay is home to 3 species of Terns. The Common, Arctic and Sandwich.

An Arctic Tern heading inland with a fish.

With its long tail streamers and general shape the Arctic Tern deserves the local name of 'Sea Swallow'. Appearing white with a black cap and blood red beak, it is largely a coastal bird although it can be seen inland on migration.

Arctic terns are the ultimate long distance migrants - summer visitors to the UK and winter visitors to the Antarctic.

Arctic Tern - Inner Farne 25-06-2016 5D2A0038

Arctic Tern - Inner Farne 25-06-2016 5D2A0198

Arctic Tern - Inner Farne 25-06-2016 5D2A0074

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Contact me on jono_dashper@hotmail.com for use of this image.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Contact me on jono_dashper@hotmail.com for use of this image.

Inner Farne, Northumberland

Also known as the Sea Swallow it was raining in this shot removed the drops will post one with rain later. Cropped.
Thanks for stopping by.

Sterna paradisaea preening

Inner Farne, Northumberland

Arctic Terns, also known as sea swallows, migrate to the their breeding grounds on the Farne Islands, flying between the UK and the Antarctic every summer.

Sterna paradisaea

Inner Farne, Northumberland

Arctic Terns are the ultimate distance migrants, flying between the UK and the Antarctic every year!

Arriving later than normal, the Artic terns had only in the last few days arrived on the island to mate, build their nests and lay eggs. So fortunately for our visit they had nothing to defend, so unlike in the past when we have been visitors were not tern-pecked, avoiding the need to wear a hat when passing close to the nesting sites.

Sterna paradisaea

Inner Farne, Northumberland

Arctic Terns are the ultimate distance migrants, flying between the UK and the Antarctic every year!

Arriving later than normal, the Artic terns had only in the last few days arrived on the island to mate, build their nests and lay eggs. So fortunately for our visit they had nothing to defend, so unlike in the past when we have been visitors were not tern-pecked, avoiding the need to wear a hat when passing close to the nesting sites.