ML619153436
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
- Behaviors
- Flying
Media notes
Cropped and brightened
Observation details
The default tern for Kerr County for May is Forster's. Before this afternoon, there is only one accepted Caspian Tern record and no Royal Tern records for Kerr County. Analysis: The extensive underwing darkness in the wing primaries, suggests CATE, not ROYT. The fork in the tail is probably too shallow for ROYT, and better for CATE. Wing tips topsides white, not dark like on ROYT. The head's black pattern would make me choose Royal Tern, not Caspian. Bill is large and orange, not the larger and more red that I would expect for Caspian. Length is wing span look about 1:2, with Siblley's ROYT at 20:41, Caspian at 21:50 and Forster's at 13:3. Mildly forked, white tail good for ROYT or CATE. I would say that calculating the ratio based on my photos is not an exact science. Bill size and color are both sufficient for ROYT or CAPE, but rules out Forster's. I saw the three terns seen at once, all from the Cypress Park boat launch. I am not sure if the Royal Tern seen in ebird.org/checklist/S133901667 is correct, but it is a good match with some of my images. Very poor lighting conditions with solid overcast and occasional sprinkles. Another link to a photo like some of my is a May, TX, CAPE at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S88976317
Technical information
- Model
- Canon PowerShot SX720 HS
- ISO
- 80
- Focal length
- 19.7 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire
- f-stop
- f/5.0
- Shutter speed
- 1/1250 sec
- Dimensions
- 996 pixels x 889 pixels
- Original file size
- 98.45 KB