[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Marc & Eliana on 12:03:24 09/02/11
Birded Cutler Wetlands and Dump Marsh this morning. Most notable sighting was what appeared to be a gull-billed tern (???) flying back and forth over the east dump marsh pond. Let me describe the bird and its behavior so I can get some help with ID:
The bird was flying solo, back and forth across the east pond, several feet above the water. Never dipped down to the water's surface, but seemed to be foraging. Its flight was very graceful and delicate like a tern, though its body was larger than a common tern and smaller than a laughing gull. Its bill was black, thick, and short, looking more like a gull's bill than a tern's. Wings were long and pointy and the tail ended in a V-shape. Whitish nape with some black on the head and possibly even a dark ear spot. Overall impression of body and wing color was greyish ending in darker wing tips. Eventually the bird flew very high, up and over and out of sight. Does this sound like gull-billed tern, or what else could it have been?
Other notable sightings from Dump Marsh:
Northern Waterthrush
Belted Kingfisher
Broad-winged Hawk
Peep sandpipers (sp?)
Cutler Wetlands:
Glossy Ibis
Greater Yellowlegs
Peep sandpipers (sp?)
Broad-winged hawk
Castellow Hammock:
Northern Parula Warbler
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
... and many other usual suspects!
Marc & Eliana
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]