S California coast bird, today (2006-04-16) (3 Viewers)

[stuart winter]

Both Sooty and Bridled have similar dark underwing patterns, the darker tones covering the primaries and distal parts of the secondaries. In Bridleds, however, they appear more pealy grey compared to the charcoal tones of Sooty. The tones on this bird edge towards the darker end, so could it be a Sooty? The pictured bird certainly has this pattern but where is the white forehead? Is it absent or is it a trick of the photograph?

 

[greenerisbetter]

saw another tern [edit] just after sunset, so I may have new photos tomorrow. the wing beat was slow and it seemed labored. of course, not necessarily the same species as photos above. wing topside was definitely not dark/black.

 

[HouseCrow]

Hi Greenerisbetter,
good to see this thread getting a bit of life back but if you saw 'another one' the chances of it being actually Bridled Tern are diminished.
Or it is the same bird lingering of course.

 

[greenerisbetter]

forgot to thank everyone for their comments. thanks!

there exisit two human birds in this photo from this evening, taken about 200m from the mystery tern:

 

[chubri777]

here is a Sooty that I blacked out the white on the forehead...too much more black through the eye
Underwing similar though

 

[Jane Turner]

Let's have another go at this - I'm still baffled!

 

[Jane Turner]

I'm thinking it has to be a first summer Forster's Tern. In the right light conditions the underwing can get to look pretty dark.

http://www.johncangphoto.com/images/wcs1014.jpg

 

[greenerisbetter]

sorry for the delay. just the two sightings and one photo. i'm fairly certain the photo'd individual's wing tops were very light colored based on having watched it for a minute or so while it was fishing.