Greetings from Chincoteague,
Today (Aug. 2) between 4:50 and 5:40 PM, I observed an ELEGANT TERN resting
with Royal, Caspian, Black, Sandwich, and Forster's Terns on the Queen's Island
Sound flats on the northeast side of the causeway (RT 175) to Chincoteague at
low tide. When compared to the other terns nearby, the bird was intermediate
in size between Royal and Forster's and appeared somewhat "top-heavy" with a
proportionately larger head and shorter wings and tail. The wings did not
appear to extend beyond the tail. The bill was longer and much thinner than
the nearby Royals and was slightly down-curved. The crest was very shaggy and
drooped down the back of the neck and the the bird had a broad black line
through the eye. The e bird was much shorter legged than Royals.
I will check for this bird again at low tide on Tuesday (around 6 am)and report
status to va-bird.
Other birds of note at Chincoteague today included Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed
and Short-billed Dowitcher, and Black-necked Stilt.
Good Birding,
Mike Boatwright--
Amherst, VA
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