Posted by Sandy Jacobson on March 27, 2001 at 22:54:34:
In Reply to: Re: Possible Roseate Tern at Snake Bight 3/17/01 posted by Michelle Davis on March 27, 2001 at 12:40:22:
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I did not notice anything about the flight that would key me into species. It was much more bouyant than the Gull-billed Terns around, obviously. There were no other terns that I saw at Snake Bight that day, although earlier in the week we saw several Sandwich Terns and uncountable Royals, and a few mid-sized un-id's from the bridges along the Keys where we couldn't stop. I live in Idaho and am familiar with Forster's, but we don't see Commons much or Leasts at all here. Do you or anyone know if the northeastern nesting Roseates migrate in breeding plumage, or if any other clue to breeding plumage phenology may help? I am tending towards thinking this was a Roseate, by the way, but if somebody has some critical point I'd have to give it up! It was a great week of birding in your state, either way!