Yesterday I started my "Residency" at Quonnie Breachway Point (or as I like to call it "Barbara's Weekday Point". Had a good start with the Royal Tern yesterday -- if you followed my post I traded "what terns are expected here" with a San Diego birder friend. I noted a Sandwich tern because it was on a fairly reliable RI bird list. A local birder friend wrote -- "send up a BIG flare if you see a Sandwich!" In other words -- we usually don't see those here.
Would you believe? I still don't believe it -- way too coincidental! A Massachusetts birder who came down to try to see the Royal Tern spotted a Sandwich Tern on a far away rock. He let me look through his scope (I did not bring mine out as it was really foggy early). I don't have a photo -- too far. I think they call it a Sandwich Tern because its bill looks like to was dipped in mustard at the tip. Very exciting -- and to general what was stated yesterday -- you can't chase a tern.
The guy who spotted it called it a MEGA -- I thought that was an acronym, but it is not -- just A very rare bird. I've seen MEGAs before, but I have not been there when it was first spotted. The morning started out very slow -- then it got really fun and exciting.
I'm going to visit Ralph in NY tomorrow -- but I'll see if I can get an hour in before I leave. Now I'm afraid to miss my time there. I'm been really bird-lucky lately.
Thanks to Justin Lawson for sharing it with me.
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