Help! I Think I Am All Terned Around!

OK, one good Tern deserves another!

We spent the day at Sandy Hook, NJ and the Terns were getting me so turned around with their in-flight escapades that I didn't know which way to Tern, I mean turn!

Once they settled down a bit, I started to take some photos. Then when I took a look, I got all Terned around yet again.

Here you go. C&C always welcomed.

OK so at least they weren't in their strafing runs - flying erratically and diving into the water for bait fish. Now they were just swimming and splashing and having a great ol' time. Clearly, it seemed from appearances, these guys were Forster's Terns.

Nice series Ed. Looks like you left no stone unterned.

Ed, this terned into a nice post ! well done.

canonloader wrote in post #3158021
Nice series Ed. Looks like you left no stone unterned.

Absolutely not! I checked every reference book I have in tern and concluded that they were indeed two different Terns.

And thanks. I am glad you liked the series.

bromm wrote in post #3158025
Ed, this terned into a nice post ! well done.

Thanks Trevor. I am glad I was able to tern this into something interesting and fun.

Now for the rest of you... it's your tern. Do I have the identifications correct? What to you think of the series?

Great series. I really love the third as it shows a clear difference between the two species with the Common Tern having a much more reddish bill, shorter legs and dark primaries. The Forster's Tern has very white outer wingtips. But I've seen Forster's with darkish primaries too...ugh...confusing. But overall, the Common will show much more black in the wings. Looks like you saw some cool birds at the Hook.

ngannet wrote in post #3158293
Great series. I really love the third as it shows a clear difference between the two species with the Common Tern having a much more reddish bill, shorter legs and dark primaries. The Forster's Tern has very white outer wingtips. But I've seen Forster's with darkish primaries too...ugh...confusing. But overall, the Common will show much more black in the wings. Looks like you saw some cool birds at the Hook.

Thanks Bob. I was proud of myself for being able to recognize that I had two different Terns in the photos. They look so much the same until you start looking at the little things.

Yes, we saw some nice birds. I got some better but still not great shots of the Ospreys, Lesser Yellowlegs (I think), Great Egret doing some fishing, Laughing Gulls, and some shots of a Green Heron but from a bit too far away. There was some other birds as well. All in all, it was a good day.

Hi - id on these species is, as you've noticed quite complex. What you have is all Common Terns with the exception of the right hand bird in pictue three which is a Forster's Tern.

davewalters wrote in post #3159307
Hi - id on these species is, as you've noticed quite complex. What you have is all Common Terns with the exception of the right hand bird in pictue three which is a Forster's Tern.

Actually, my first impression was the exact opposite - that they were all Forster's. But I really think there are a mix but more Forster's in #1 and #2 and an even split in #3 and #4.

Other opinions? Your tern!

Lol sorry man but only 1 Forster's - I can absolutely guarantee it