Posted by John Boyd on May 09, 2001 at 13:13:28:
In Reply to: arctic terns at Miami Beach posted by steve siegel on May 07, 2001 at 20:08:27:
I tried Steve's area Tuesday afternoon,
starting at about 5pm.
I found 3 Arctic Terns, 1 Common Tern, a number
of Gannets, a couple of distant Frigates,
and 1 Storm-Petrel.
The Storm-Petrel wasn't close enough to be 100%
sure of the ID, but I'm pretty sure it was a
Band-rumped. I'm basing this on lack of contrast
on the upperparts (not Leach's), no visible
projecting legs (a closer look would have been
definitive), a tail that variously looked
straight-cut to notched, the white band seemed
to disappear in side views (Wilson's should
wrap around more), and a zig-zaggy flight (which
I only later learned was a Band-rumped trait).