Georgia Birding and Nature

Arctic Tern (Inland)
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This Arctic Tern was found by Michael Beohm at Rum Creek WMA in September 2004 (after a hurricane).  Michael found the bird on Sept 10 and Sept 19.  I believe these photos were taken on Sept 19.  He has more photos.  These were cropped, so the originals will be of better quality.  Also, I assume they could be enhanced through adjustments.
 
Michael saw all necessary field marks for identification, such as small, short bill; dark all red (not orange-red) bill; small, round head; very short legs; deep wingbeats, and white secondaries and details of the  primaries. 
 
Michael, also had Common Tern and Forster's Tern to compare it with.  The Arctic Tern was not far off from him.  He used my spotting scope and his 3 MP canon digital camera to get these shots.  The bird was reported, but I guess the word never really got out.  That happens sometimes.
 
This was not the only good bird there (some of which were obviously storm-related).  He also found:
 
Sooty Terns
Black Skimmers
Laughing Gulls
Common Terns
Caspian Terns
Forster's Terns
Black Terns
Black-necked Stilts
Sanderlings
Red-necked Phalaropes
Willow Flycatcher
Tricolored Heron
Eared Grebes
Bachman Sparrows
 
Thanks Michael again, to going to great lengths to document this absolutely amazing sighting! 
 
 
 
 

arcticternarc1.jpg
Short dark red bill. Round head. Extensive black cap. And proportions separate it from Common.

tern7.jpg
Very short legs shown in each photo.

arctic_tern_8.jpg
Uniform pale gray primaries shown in each photo.

tern5.jpg
Characteristic white secondaries. Uniform gray above. Thin black edge on on tips of primaries.

tern1.jpg