Common Tern is the most likely coastal tern this time of year, though I can
remember seeing all three one year in Newport, OR in mid-September.
Identifying terns by the wingtips is my least favorite method. Common Terns
always seem to have much more dark on the wing tips, Arctic Terns the least.
Arctic Terns seem to have flashy wings (probably because they lack the dark
trailing edge to their wings).
When sitting, young terns have a substantial dark bar on the wrist which is
very effective for separating them from Forster's.
Note bill color and extent of capping around the head.
>
>On Sunday at Titlow Beach in Tacoma a was watching about two dozen terns playing kings of the pilings. One would take off as another was about to settle on top of it.
>Then it would displace another on yet another piling. A couple of times, the whole group, seemingly spooked, flew out over the Sound a few hundred yards and then circled back.
>I enjoyed watching them immensely, but found it frustrating too. How many people out there can readily identify terns?
>It seemed feasible that they could be either Forster's or Common terns, or a combination thereof. It even occurred to me they could be off course Arctic terns.
>Most of them seemed to be somewhere in-between winter and summer plumage. The bright sunlight made it difficult to distinguish either a "dark wedge" or "frosty" wing tips
>as Peterson describes the outer primaries.
>For some reason, I've gotten through my life to this point seeing very few terns.
>Michael Brown
>mbeb1215 at delphi.com
>Puyallup, WA
>
>

--
******************************** Nothing at the top, but a bucket and a mop
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * and an illustrated book about birds
* mpatters at ednet1.osl.or.gov * see a lot up there, but donUt be scared.
******************************** Who needs action when you got words? KC