A couple of posts back I mentioned a site called Bayou Sauvage a few miles due east of New Orleans. During our second afternoon birding here I spent most of my time taking photos of Forster's Terns. Living in the UK I'm really not used to seeing terns in January yet here we had three species at least: Gull-billed, Caspian and these Forster's terns all feeding on inland freshwater. Although Forster's Tern is practically annual in Britain I've never seen one here so this was a good chance to catch up on this bird's winter plumage. This tern is similar to the Common Tern, but it's a bit bigger with heavier and bigger legs and bill.. The head markings, which you can see in these photos, are pretty unique in medium-sized terns but Gull-billed Terns also have these black patches in an oval shape on the ear coverts.
Whilst we there we had a long chat with a builder called Randy! He was keen to tell us about Katrina but he still had a sense of humour. He told us a cracking joke. What do you call an alligator in a vest?
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
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| Winter plumage Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
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| Winter plumage Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
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| Winter plumage Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
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| Winter plumage Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
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| Winter plumage Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
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| Winter plumage Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
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| Winter plumage Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
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