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!
