QUICK POST: Huge thanks to Linda Scrima, who contacted me tonight to let me know she had a FORSTER’S TERN at Wallkill River NWR’s Liberty Loop. I jumped into the car and ran for the bird, and WOW, what a beautiful bird! It was perched on the measuring pole just to the left of the viewing platform, which made for a great photo op. I’ve never had FOTE in Orange County before, so this is OC bird #243 for me! Very exciting!
A VERY good bird in this county. I have only one previous record and that was looooong ago.
Congrats to Lind for finding the bird and to you for recording it with the very nice photo. Seeing how that perching place is the same as used earlier by the Black Tern maybe we should refer to that structure as the TERN POST and this way we will all know what we are referring to.
I was thinking the same exact thing about that post Ken – TERN POST it is! Matt
Nice photo Matt and great find by Linda for OC!
Scotty
Thanks Scotty. Linda has been on a tear this year, no doubt about it. Matt
Matt,
Congratulations to Linda on a great find and all of you for a new county bird! John
Thanks John. It was a really exciting evening for us. Matt
Great shot Matt.
It is s hard to get the catch light in the eye of a bird with a black head.
Wilma
I’ve always found it difficult to get the catchlight in terns, Wilma, so I was happy about this shot. Matt
It was a beautiful Forster’s Tern, and your photo was able to capture that beauty! This was an exciting moment during the what seems like the summer birding drought. I am glad that you were able to come see it. Thanks, everyone, for your nice comments. 🙂
Thanks Linda, and thanks again for the call. Excellent bird for the county! Matt
Great capture – Nice bird –
Thanks Renee- the light was perfect when I first arrived, which is when this was taken. Matt