hello tweeties,

yesterday's mystery bird was a Royal Tern, Sterna maxima, in flight -- easy for you BUT the species that follow will become more challenging, so be sure to read Rick Wright's detailed analysis for IDing this species;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/09/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_9.php

icidentally, people have asked what that string or thread was that is being dragged from the bird's mouth. i have no idea, and cannot tell you anything about it until i hear form Joseph Kennedy, who, sadly, seems to have been blown off the intertubes by the recent hurricane in Texas. hopefully, he will be backj in touch soon.

starting today, i am publishing the mystery bird images earlier (10am ET) than i have been to differentiate them from my long-established "image of the day" series (3pm ET). this is a little experiment to see if the mystery birds take on a life of their own, so your feedback is very important to me (and to Rick and Joseph) regarding this.

today's mystery bird can be viewed here;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/09/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_13.php

incidentally, if you are interested to see one of the best-preserved neolithic tombs in the world, be sure to check out Dave Rintoul's "image of the day";

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/09/barpa_langass.php

cheers,

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