ML363191551

Observation details

I arrived at Red House Lake a little bit before sunrise, around 6:15 a.m. At this point it was still raining, and there was quite a bit of fog on the lake so it took me a little while to spot the flock of Terns. Initially, I was able to count 9 birds when the flock came into view.. At 1st the visibility was too poor to get diagnostic looks, but the distinctive flight, which can best be described as more fluttering, like a swallow, and and the feeding strategy of hovering and plucking as opposed to diving from higher above, quickly singled them out. Early on I saw 2 Common Terns that were still here from yesterday. They apparently moved on soon after. Although it is a very gray and cloudy day, the light and visibility improved as time passed. I was able to start photographing the Black Terns as they worked their way around the lake. I also got to hear them calling. I was joined by Travis Suckow and Bruce Robinson, later in the morning, and we watched the Terns until they disappeared around 9 am.