Forster's Tern - Raphael Fennimore
Report

Contributor

Raphael Fennimore Media from this contributor

Date

Location

Union Bay Natural Area/Montlake Fill
King, Washington, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 47.65424, -122.29137
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified
Behaviors
Carrying food; Flying; Foraging or eating

Observation details

Continuing bird found by Greg F. this morning - thanks Greg/Craig/Phraig!! Arriving at the Turtle Logs, I picked up the bird on my first scan of the bay as it was resting on top of a white buoy out in Union Bay towards the 520 bridge. Sterna tern with long wings, pale primaries, a long tail, a dark cap extending down its nape, legs which didn’t seem super short, and a bill that was clearly smaller than that of a Caspian Tern (I could not yet make out the color). Matt D. soon arrived, and the Forster’s Tern took flight and began successfully plunge-diving for fish, once making a relatively close pass. Long forked tail observed in flight, orange bill with dark tip, and buoyant Sterna flight - easy to track even at a distance. My first for Washington, thanks Greg!

Technical information

Model
Canon EOS R5
Lens
RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
ISO
200
Focal length
500 mm
Flash
Flash did not fire
f-stop
f/8.0
Shutter speed
1/1000 sec
Dimensions
673 pixels x 673 pixels
Original file size
83.85 KB