A very large gathering of tern aficionados, including a young birders group, assembled at Cupsogue this morning and enjoyed great looks at a first-summer Arctic Tern. Photo forensics are ongoing to determine whether this bird is or isn't one of several similarly plumaged birds seen there earlier this summer. Also present were five Black Terns (we saw four), an adult Roseate Tern (not present when we arrived), and a Royal Tern at nearby Pikes Beach. There was also a notable influx of Least Terns, with three first-summer and two second-summer types among 50 adults on the flats. The local flock of immature Ring-billed Gulls increased to 35 and was joined by two first-summer Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Shorebird migration was evident throughout the morning, though not at high volume.
The most unusual sight, however, was a first-summer Roseate Tern. I've only knowingly seen this plumage a few times previously on Long Island. This summer I've had many conversations with many readers of this list regarding the details of primary patterns in various tern species--marks that are poorly illustrated in guides but which are very useful in identification. I was very fortunate to capture an image of the portlandica Roseate with wings spread, just moments apart from a Common Tern in a similar posture: https://picasaweb.google.com/tixbirdz/LongIslandSummer2011 Shai Mitra (birding today with Patricia Lindsay and Jeff Bolsinger, as well as many others whom we met on the flats) Bay Shore ________________________________ Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in effect.<http://www.csi.cuny.edu/tobaccofree> Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
