Now is a good time to see Arctic Terns on the reserve, so to assist anyone not too sure Gert's photo shows a common tern feature that needs eliminating before thinking of claiming Arctic. Not meant to be patronising :t:
I know most of us know this..but I still hear birders saying 'I can't see the all red bill'.
The dark wedge on the inner primaries of common terns is a feature that can be seen from a good distance, when the birds are 'banking' . This feature becomes even more pronounced as the summer progresses. However at this time of year some commons have a very faint version of it. The obvious slow relaxed flight of the Arctic's accompanied by long tail streamers is a good feature. But short tailed Arctic's do occur.
B
john