ML570919871

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

After I found the Caspian Tern, I began to scan the mudflat with my scope. This bird flew by and my first thought was that it was a swallow, but quickly noticed the light body.....and thought "That looks like a Least Tern!" I stayed on it with the scope for several minutes and watched it erratically dart every which way with every quick wingbeat from the narrow wings. It also plunged into the water several times near the mudflat shoreline. Finally it lit on an exposed rock near the mudflat. I got good looks at its very small size, black cap contrasting with clean white forehead, light bill, white underparts and light gray upperparts. I watched this bird for at least an hour. It would fly around some, but mostly perched. I tried to get photos, but it was 2000-2500' away. Fine for observing through the scope but too far for decent photos. No other GA terns are this petite....the closest in size would be Chlidonias terns, which have totally different plumage. Black Terns would be in full breeding plumage by now. Sterna terns(Common and Forster's) are noticeably larger and do not have as quick wingbeats or erratic movement as the Least. I've had both of those species at this site in the past. Adult breeding COTE wouldn't have white foreheads and younger birds would have dark carpal bars. Forster's wouldn't have white foreheads. Younger birds would have black eye masks but no black caps. The overall posture of the bird was obvious. It clearly wasn't a Sterna. The head looked tall due to the thinner neck and the cap orientation is not Sterna. Some of this is noticeable in the photos even though blurred. Inland records exist for other GA regions and surrounding states, so this species most likely migrates through annually going towards the Mississippi River. They're rarely reported by birders. Weather events most likely bring them down. There was a localized predawn rain shower that could have pushed the Least and Caspian down. I don't know of any records for Georgia's mountain region, though there are a few unaccepted reports.

Technical information

Model

SM-S536DL

ISO

50

Focal length

5.2 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/1.8

Shutter speed

7/2000 sec

Dimensions

1546 pixels x 1458 pixels

Original file size

196.26 KB