Posted by Michelle Davis on March 27, 2001 at 12:40:22:
In Reply to: Possible Roseate Tern at Snake Bight 3/17/01 posted by Sandy Jacobson on March 26, 2001 at 23:47:46:
Sandy,
I think it is possible you saw a Roseate tern; some breed in the Keys, I think, and others should be passing through on their way north. In the last couple of weeks I have noticed Sandwich and Common terns all moving through, also in breeding plumage, and I am keeping my eye out for a Roseate.(all the pale dark-billed terns I've seen so far have been Sandwich, and some of those have actually had rosy plumage....good for a double-take!) I have seen Roseate terns only once, on a visit to Maine where they breed, and I was impressed by how their flight style is much more similar to a Least tern than to Common or Forster's.
Can you remember anything at all about the flight style? I would probably use that to cinch the ID for a bird far out on a mud flat.
I hope this helps!
Happy birding!
Michelle