Black naped Terns are the commonest around the island and I often see these flying along the beach from the table where I sit to work from just outside the bungalow.
Great crested Terns are rare around the island at present with just a single bird seen resting up on a floating a piece of wood but are regular at the high tide roost in Mersing where they can be seen on one of the sand-bars.
Bridled Terns are in the surrounding waters of the Island with just a single bird seen from the Island itself at present. A feeding frenzy of Terns at a bait-ball which included small fry seen jumping though the surface of the water being chased by Tuna with the Terns feeding above. There was around 140+ Black naped, 18+ Bridled, 3 Sooty and a single White winged Tern present with also a single Pomarine Skua. During the boat trip to Tioman Island a feeding frenzy of between 700-800 “Onychoprion” Terns seen just 10 minutes before arrival at Tioman was some spectacle. Other species seen on the open water trips include 1 Brown Booby & 5 Lesser Frigatebirds
