Two terns in Huntington Beach, California (1 Viewer)

[vbnut]

I took the photos of these two terns shortly after noon on 2019-05-02 at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, California. I'm out of practice identifying terns, but I don't see any black on the tip of bills, so I think that rules out Forster's and Least, so I'm guessing Royal or Caspian, but I'm not sure.

Any help identifying these would be appreciated.

 

[rkj]

With those long, thin bills these look like Elegant Terns.

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

I’d be ticking them as Elegant if I saw them at Cemlyn! 😉

 

[Microtus]

Those are Elegant Terns

 

[Butty]

Weird, thin, downcurved bill 👍🏻

 

[KC Foggin]

Two great images of these Elegant Terns!

 

[THE_FERN]

Random comment of the day:

"Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is one of only four known Elegant Tern nesting sites in existence. The other three are located on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California, San Diego Bay, and Los Angeles Harbor."

 

[vbnut]

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[vbnut]

Random comment of the day:

"Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is one of only four known Elegant Tern nesting sites in existence. The other three are located on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California, San Diego Bay, and Los Angeles Harbor."

Yeah, Terns are so numerous at Bolsa Chica, that I think of it as Tern heaven (in addition to all the other birds and other wildlife I enjoy there). Bolsa Chica Conservancy | lists 5 Tern species as abundant, including the endangered (but improved) Least Tern that also nests there.