I got a new year bird this week -- a Royal Tern. Well I didn't get a Royal Tern, I got 5 of them. The first three were at Quonnie and I had the pleasure of watching a number of other birders get a life bird or a state bird. I love that! I love it even more now that it is more of a rarity for me to get a new life bird here in Rhode Island. It is probably why I am starting to plan more birding travel -- first long distance one -- South Africa in October.
Back to Quonnie -- I started scanning the Sandbar that only appears during low tide counting Willets. There were tons of Laughing Gulls (when I counted 400+) and nestled in with them quite close to where I started scanning was the Royal Tern. I took a photo and confirmed that was what it was. It was almost exactly three years ago when I had my first Royal Tern in Rhode Island at Quonnie. I had my life Royal Tern before I started birding in the Florida Keys. I saw tons of Royal Terns when I was in Florida in February -- but nothing gives quite the thrill of seeing this rare lovely bird in your very own patch.
The second one showed up when the first one was in the air. My friend Sue spotted the third one on the sandbar shortly thereafter. They put on quite a show swooping and diving -- the birders that assembled were very happy, some even left and then came back when the third one showed up. After about 30 minutes they flew off high, which often means they are not coming back...
But two of them did -- then they flew off again -- one left and one came to the point. It was standing with the laughing gulls and was close enough for us to get photos of the band. A new crew of birders had come in by now and one of them spotted some Terns flying in the distance -- three at first, then four and then FIVE. We thought they were Royals, but only one was. The other four were Caspian Terns - who again put on a Tern Show. The Royal and one of the Caspians landed at the point. Needless to say I have a lot of photos.
Royal Tern
A Laughing Gull pretending to be a Royal Tern
Caspian Tern (The Largest Tern)
Royal Terns up close
Caspian Tern (red bill in the back), Royal Terns (orange bill) & Laughing Gulls (the rest)
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Terns
Caspian Tern
Royal, Caspian, Royal
Royal Tern with a bald spot!
And a fluffed up Piping Plover for good measure
Tuesday -- had great birder company at Quonnie but not many birds.
Caspian Tern flyover
Great Egret
I also had a multi-species photo from Atlantic Avenue
Great Egret, Barn Swallow, Great Blue Heron
Back to Quonnie on Wednesday, but just for a quick look -- I had to get to Newport for a Doctor's appointment. Had a sweet Green Heron and a Series with a Great Black-backed Gull and a Huge Crab.
Green Heron with a very much alive and kicking fish
Great Black-backed Gull with breakfast (that fights back)
I wanted to bird Brenton Point to see if the Roseate Terns had shown up yet. They hadn't. Imagine my shock and pleasure when I saw two Royal Terns sitting on a rock.
One of these birds and well as the one at Quonnie were banded. The two bands we got photos of were different, but the individual were banded on the same day - 7/10/2021 as a pre-fledged chick on Fort Wool near Hampton, VA. Still I was thinking the banded one could have been the one we couldn't read. There was an unbanded one at Quonnie and one at Brenton Pt -- so maybe they are the same. You tell me...
Thursday I saw what I thought was a Forster's Tern, but didn't get a photo and I was far from certain. Still given the amazing Tern week I've had -- it could have been. But Galilee gave me another gift today -- a Doe and her fawns.
I arrived home to four sleeping Barn Swallow nestlings - Could not be cuter! Well they are cuter when they are begging for food!
This will be the last day in this week's post as I am traveling to Maine tomorrow. I will post about Saturday & Sunday in a Maine post next week.
Friday was supposed to be rainy, but it wasn't. It does seem that Friday has become the weekend too, and my peace was interrupted by a family occupying the beach @6:45am and a dog let loose on the Sandbar (totally against the leash law) and flushed all the birds. It is only ok because I have a lot to do today to prep for my vacation, but still...
There was nothing unusual except the singing of the Common Loons. It was the first time I have heard that in Rhode Island (let alone Quonnie). I heard it last year (in winter I think) in Stonington, Connecticut -- and I love it! Takes me back to Kate Hepburn in On Golden Pond crying out "The Loons, the Loons). So haunting. So beautiful.
Common Loon
Next Post from Maine!
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