Posted by Michelle Davis on May 11, 2001 at 14:53:43:
This morning, from 6AM-945AM David La Puma & I went up to South Beach Park in Boca Raton to try and see some of the pelagics that were about. We saw one beautiful breeding-plumaged Arctic tern which was traveling S down the beach, feeding in the surf. A few hours later, we saw (the same?) Arctic tern working its way back N along the surf zone near the Deerfield pier. This bird flew right over the pier, about 20 feet in front of us, and we got fantastic looks at the short deep red bill and grey underparts-a lifer for David!
We also found a dead Wilson's Storm-petrel on South Beach Park. There were several gannets(about a dozen, all immature)and we watched one plunge-diving within 50 meters of shore by the South Inlet jetty.
All in all, it was a good morning and worth getting up at 445AM for!
Happy birding!
Michelle & David