If you're a birder, you'll know what a life list is. It's basically a list of all the bird species one has observed and positively ID'd in one's lifetime. This blog is a record of my "critter" life list (mostly of birds), including photos I've taken over the years, some of the actual lifer if I was lucky enough to get the shot. Don't expect National Geographic quality stuff here, just the work of an amateur photog who loves to trudge out into nature.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)

10/27/02 Winter adult at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA 
8/20/04 Juveniles at Pismo State Beach, San Luis Obispo County, CA 
6/22/02 Summer adult at Prado Regional Park, Chino Hills, San Bernardino County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Forster's Tern 

SPECIES: Sterna forsteri

FAMILY: Laridae (Gulls & Terns)

LIFE LIST DATE: 6/22/2002

LOCATION: Prado Regional Park, Chino Hills, San Bernardino County, CA

From Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of North America:

HABITAT/BEHAVIOR: Scarce in the northwest, but often more common than the Common Tern in the west and south. Nests in marshes, seen around any body of water during migration.

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 14 1/2" w30"; has long forked tail, black cap in breeding season. Summer adults have pale silverly upper side of wing tips; base of bill orange. Young and winter adults mostly white headed with bold black ear patches, not connecting across nape as on other terns. 

VOICE: Harsh kyaar, other notes. 
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