ML254766961

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Continuing bird that arrived with tropical storm Isaias, first reported by Sean Williams on 8/4/20. Medium-sized tern with long, pointed wings, wings and body all dark (very dark/black) above, below has a white body, underside of wings mostly white, darker aft edge (In my poor pictures you can see the sharp contrast b/t the very dark flight feathers and the white coverts on the underwing), tips also darker. Had forked tail that was mostly dark; perhaps saw white edge once or twice. Could make out black capped head (also visible in pics; the cap was dark black just like back and topsides of wings) with white throat. Was mostly soaring and circling above and below the tree line on the distant shore opposite from the gate 36 dike (could see bird better when below tree line), mainly to the right of the yellow buoy, around a sand cliff/bluff and an apparent cove just to the right of that. A couple times the bird swooped down close to the water but never touched the water.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM +1.4x III

ISO

400

Focal length

560 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/800 sec

Dimensions

646 pixels x 431 pixels

Original file size

80.71 KB