Today I was at the North end of North Beach and saw a flock of terns.  I expected Forster's and/or Common, but they just didn't seem right to me. They seemed smaller and looked like Least Terns, which I have seen before.  But there were a lot - 15 - 20 birds - and I think Least Terns are out of place here!

The wind was very brisk and it was really hard to get a very good look.  To me these birds looked much more delicate than either Common or Forester.  They had black leading edges to their distal wings (ie, outer primaries either dark or black).  Otherwise the birds were white, but the top of the wings of some were grayish, not pristine white.  The wingtips also appeared darkish, but not black-tipped, just dark.  

They had yellow bills with a black tip.  I can say with confidence that the bills were NOT bright orange.  They were not BRIGHT yellow, either.  They were pale with a black tip, and just did not look any sort of orange to me.  

The tails were shallowly scooped, no deep scoop at all (less than I am used to seeing on Common/Foresters).  The heads were black, at first similar to either Forester or Common.  HOWEVER, the birds were facing north into the wind almost exclusively and most of the time I was at their south end - getting a better look at wing and tail than head.  Suddenly one turned his head towards me and I swore it had the clean white forehead of a Least Tern.  

Finally I got out of the car and braved the cool wind, and was able to take a closer look at some coming towards me - I really believe these birds had a white triangle above the bill.  I caught a good glimpse at the side of the head of one, and it looked distinctly "bridled" - in other words, there was a clean black line from the cheek to the bill, with white above and below the line.  The black extended to the bill and was clear and distinct, not fuzzy.  

I really think this was a flock of Least Terns.  However, I'm trying very hard to make them more common terns. I'd be MUCH more comfortable with Foresters - but they just didn't seem right at all - no orange, wrong tail, and what's with the white forehead?  

I wish I could have clearly gotten a size - that would have clinched it.  All I know for sure is that the birds were a uniform size.  I also know they were not big terns.  They were small to medium - I just did not have any other birds in the same range to judge the size against.  My impression is that they were smaller than the Forester's that I see so often in summer at a similiar distance - but with no other birds around, I couldn't swear if they were 9 inches or 14.  

So, although I'm pretty sure these were Leasts, I'm asking for comment and keeping my mind open (er, confused).  I'm hoping someone saw a flock of Terns at the northernmost part of the road paralleling the boardwalk at North Beach, and would share their ID, I would be soooo grateful!  Mind you, this is not the north end of the boardwalk - but where the road dead ends into someone's home.  Short of that, any comments on Tern ID would be appreciated! 

Thanks,

Joanne


Joanne Howl, DVM
West River, MD







-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Barnard <>
To: 
Sent: Sun, May 9, 2010 6:33 pm
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Lincoln's Sparrow at Seneca Creek Wetlands


I stopped by the Seneca Creek wetlands looking for the Virginia Rail with no
uck. As I was leaving, I was preparing to photograph a Common Yellowthroat
hich was singing in a tangle of vines just to the left of where the trail
round the wetlands begins. A sparrow flushed up for a second, I got a photo
nd it turns out its a Lincoln's. Other birds includes Baltimore and Orchard
rioles, Indigo Bunting, Blackpoll, Parula and BG Gnatcatcher and lots of RW
lackbirds
 
Chris Barnard
Rockville MD