All of the terns seen at the Necanicum River (north coast of Oregon) were
in basic plummage except for one single bird in alternate plummage off by
itself. In past irruptions most birds were in basic plummage as well.

It should be noted that in the strictest use of terminology "basic"
plummage means non-breeding. Alternate is used to describe breeding
plummage. I use this terminology here.

>
>What plumage are the Elegant Terns in that are showing up on the Washington
>coast? Are they in the basic breeding plumage or alternately in
>non-breeding plumage?
>
>Denny Granstrand
>Yakima, WA
>
>
>

--
********************************* One of us might lose his hair
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * but you're reminded that it once was ther
* mpatters at orednet.org * from the embryonic whale
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters to the monkey with no tail -- TMBG