A short note on the White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa in Sri Lanka

Rex I. De Silva

reefcomber@gmx.com

 

A single white-cheeked tern (WCT) was recorded by me at Galle Buck, Colombo on 13th March 1982. The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL)* accepted my sighting as the first record of the species from Sri Lanka and included the WCT in its checklists and field-guides. A second specimen was seen by me in the Negombo Lagoon in 1990. (De Silva, 1992). This sighting was also accepted by FOGSL as a valid record. Nevertheless, as some had expressed doubts regarding the validity of these sightings, It was clear that only an actual specimen could confirm occurrence of the species in Sri Lanka.

     

It took approximately a quarter century after the first sighting, when on 13 December 2008 Chinthaka Kaluthota and the National Bird Ringing team finally captured a WCT in Bundala.

            

                            Plate 1. The first White-cheeked Tern captured in Sri Lanka. Note the prominent carpal bar. Image courtesy Chinthaka Kaluthota

             The bird was examined by Professor S.W. Kotagama, Kaluthota and the writer, and after reference to several identification guides and handbooks, its identity as a WCT was confirmed. This validated my two earlier sightings. The tern, which was in first winter plumage, was photographed, measured and DNA sample obtained after which ring no. AB 867 was attached to its right leg and the bird released. Detailed biometrics are available with FOGSL; however, I include herewith a few essential measurements courtesy of Salindra Dayananda. 

                                                                                      Bill      35.1mm

                                                                                                                                       Tarsus     21.6mm

                                                                                                                                         

            

 

       Plates 2 and 3. The first White-cheeked Tern captured in Sri Lanka. Note the diagnostic grey rump in lower image. Images © Rex I. De Silva.

 

                                                                                                             Plate 4. Showing the legs and feet. Image © Rex I. De Silva

 

 

Acknowledgements

I thank Chinthaka Kaluthota, Salindra Dayananda and Prof. S.W Kotagama for help with this note.

 

References

    De Silva, R. I. 1992. High Tide at Negombo Lagoon. OBC Bulletin 15. pp.15-17.   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349108545_High_Tide_at_Negombo_Lagoon?fbclid=IwAR3YE1tt55F-6v8iM7gN-V6T1ReQyz1-VzgLddFG-3VlHv4XiUKfSdHD3i0