hello tweeties,

yesterday's mystery bird was an immature Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/10/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_15.php

as usual, Rick Wright has a detailed analysis to help talk you through identifying this species, which is especially helpful for when you might run across this bird when it is alone.

i am giving you a "breather" from the terns for a little while, so if they were discouraging you, be sure to look at today's mystery bird (one of a large avian group that i introduce to my beginning birding students), image courtesy of Rick Wright;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/10/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_30.php

cheers,

GrrlScientist
Devorah
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC