White‑winged Tern at Herdla

A White‑winged Tern visited Herdla on Askøy yesterday evening. The bird was discovered by local birder Dag Gjerde at about 18:00, and a dozen local birders managed to see the tern before rain and darkness closed in. This record marks the first ever for Vestland county. Up to and including 2025, Norway has 93 accepted records of the species. In Norway the species is most often recorded during late spring and in late summer. A full overview of Norwegian sightings can be found here.

The Herdla bird was an adult (or second summer) in the early phase of moult from breeding to winter plumage. During its stay it occasionally rested along the shoreline, but was mostly seen hunting insects over the fields together with Barn Swallows. It gave excellent views during the rainy evening.

White‑winged Terns breed from Eastern Europe, through Asia, to southeastern Russia. They favour wetlands, floodplains and lakes rich in insect life. After the breeding season birds from the western populations migrate to sub‑Saharan Africa, where they spend the winter.

The bird gave great views when feeding. Note the black underwing coverts, a clue identification feature separating it from the rather similar Black Tern.

Only a dozen birders managed to see the birds. This is the first batch. The star of the show rested at times on the shore to the right, while using most of its time feeding above the fields to the left.

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