forster's tern

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) 1st yr bird.

Two more trip ticks - some Forster's Terns and an American Coot ... well, three ticks if you count the California Ground Squirrel - and it was off to the airport. Next round I'll start posting my New Orleans shots. Lots of lifers there and the week after that in Texas.

Forsters Tern (Sterna forsteri) Breeding plumage. Sexes similar. Spying its potential lunch. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area. East Bay near Frozen Point.

Forsters Tern (Sterna forsteri) Non-breeding. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area. Shoveler Pond.

I probably should have cropped this shot closer to get rid of that extra twig at the bottom, but let's just say this is a Gothic F ;)

A Forster's Tern. I usually only see these guys during the winter months.

Maybe the fishing is better over that-a-way.

Kind of cheating to list this post under Birds of North America, since the bird is no longer visible. He'll be back up tomorrow (if I stay up late enough to post). And then the trip report continues from San Francisco, CA.

I didn't see him come up with any fish, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

I thought while I had the chance I should practice flight shots on terns. They were a bit distant, but it was still worth a try.

It's time for lunch anyway! Happy ending for all.

Forsters Tern (Sterna forsteri) Coastal Bend Area, Portland, San Patricio County, Texas, USA. Sunset Lake Park, a small peninsula jutting into Nueces and Corpus Christi Bays, sea level.

A medium sized tern of 13 inches that can be seen on sheltered waters almost anywhere in North America during migration.

Forsters Tern (Sterna forsteri) Sexes similar. Photographed cruising Lake Texana east of Edna, Jackson County, Texas, USA. Gulf Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area at ca. 13.7 m (45 ft) elevation.

Earlier I uploaded a Forster's in flight, here's a closer look.

All the different types of terns seem to be showing up this year. I'll post a close up of this tern on the ground a bit later.

Best of friends

This was taken just down the road about 5 miles from Cape Henlopen State Park, at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. They are very much alike with great views from trails and observation towers.

Today I first dealt with a car repair situation (somebody rear-ended me on the freeway 3 weeks back, and the insurance process is finally at the point of repair), then picking up a rental car, then dealing with other insurance issues and a malfunction on my new coolpix. By then it was too late...

Here's another of those terns battling their way into the westerly winds to get out over the Bay to fish. I realized that from the islands way back in the water reclamation pond, where they nest, the terns were flying low over the water to stay out of the wind as much as they could. Then they...

I did get yet another first last Friday - a California Least Tern, or so the helpful folks on the ID forum have confirmed for me |=)| - but that particular photo was very blurry so I won't bore you with it. Instead, I'll show one of the much better photos I got of the more numerous Forster's...