Should I count this as a Forster's Tern? Lake Conroe, Texas, USA, January 19, 2025. (1 Viewer)

[littlemarshmallow]

I saw a tern diving over Lake Conroe while in a car and birdwatching. Due to my distance from the tern and its location, I was unable to identify it or take a photo. My question: Should I count this as a Forster's Tern since they are the ONLY terns that have ever be seen at this time of year within 50 miles of this area?

 

[littlemarshmallow]

I saw a tern diving over Lake Conroe while in a car and birdwatching. Due to my distance from the tern and its location, I was unable to identify it or take a photo. My question: Should I count this as a Forster's Tern since they are the ONLY terns that have ever be seen at this time of year within 50 miles of this area?

Oh and also I have ruled out Caspian's tern. It could not have been that due to wingspan

 

[THE_FERN]

Tb sure, no. I'd only include it as that if I was sure that's what it was. Other species may be extremely unlikely but climate change and weather patterns (snow in s us iirc) mean you can't rule out something strange (spectacled eider in Holland being a good example)

 

[Montereyman]

Four types of terns are found in my area throughout the year and I have found the Merlin Bird ID to be effective in identifying them through their calls. Easiest way to confirm what you are seeing.

 

[rkj]

For your own purposes, you can do what you like with the observation. I would discourage you from recording it as a Forster's Tern on any public data base, however. If people always assume that a bird is the expected species we get a distorted view of how abundant that species is and may miss species that are rare.