December 28, 1994
Sunny, 75°F
Today, I visited the Marine Life Center where sea turtles are rehabilitated. I saw a number of turtles, large and small, in tanks where they were recovering until they were well enough to be released into the ocean again. Very cool. After seeing the turtles, I walked along the beach. North and east of the center, in a grassy dune, there is a lookout tower, from which I spotted a pair of Magnificent Frigatebird. Their name certainly does them justice! I also saw Yellow-shafted Flicker, Blue Jay, and American Kestrel.
Finally, I sat on the beach in the midst of a mixed flock of terns and gulls, prepared to spend some time dedicated to studying the terns and learning to identify them. I purposely did not bring a field guide with me, so I would be forced to be more observant about their characteristics, and then I wrote extensive notes that would hopefully allow me to identify them back at home when I did have a book in hand. Here are my descriptions:
“Large terns, about half of the size of a gull. Speckled gray foreheads with black crest. BRIGHT orange beaks and black legs. Black dot in front of the eye.” – ☆Royal Tern☆
“Small terns – black eye ‘stripe’ (more of an oval-shaped patch). Orange bills with black at the top and tip. Orange legs. No visible crest. No black on the back of the neck.” – ☆Forster’s Tern☆
“Smaller terns with a black crest and black beaks, yellow on the tip of beak.” – Cabot’s Tern
All together, on the beach that day I saw about four dozen terns, and I’d say I did a pretty good job of observing these terns – my IDs seem to hold up as I scrutinize the field guide!
In addition to the terns, Sanderling came very close to me as they foraged on the beach, and Ruddy Turnstone were also not shy, and came very close to me as I sat in the sand. Along with the terns, I was surrounded by dozens of gulls, whom I didn’t take the time to identify. Many of them seemed to want food from me. When they thought I wasn’t looking, they’d sneak up on either side of me, and at one point, I thought I saw one eyeing my toes! What scoundrels!
Species List
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens rothschildi), Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri), American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres morinella), Sanderling (Calidris alba rubida), Cabot’s Tern (Thalasseus acuflavidus acuflavidus), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata semplei)
Let me know what you think!