ML146555821

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

On sand between jetties, until a surfer decided that running through right them and stretching in their spot was the thing to do, despite an otherwise empty beach. In the middle of my count, he sent them all up in the air in a panic. They first flew towards the south jetty and then scattered out over the water, eventually turning north and disappearing over the harbor mouth towards the base. While on the beach, they were mixed with Royals. Many of the Elegant Terns had faint peach/pink hue on breast/belly but some had distinctly tinted rumps as well. With shaggy napes, long drooping orange bills with a clearer end. Almost all in breeding plumage, though two did not have the complete black cap. Several breeding adults had a very red base, not orange, but def. not Caspian. Smaller size apparent next to Royals. Black legs on almost all but two had some yellow/orange patches closer to feet. Incl poor photo because of contrasts on display

Technical information

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