Check the news before you head over there. It's bad here.

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> On Jun 1, 2020, at 2:55 PM, Doug Santoni <dougsantoni at gmail.com> wrote:

>

> After seeing and reporting a tern that I thought was either a Common or a Forster's at the Beaver Lodge Sanctuary this morning, I drove to the Montlake Fill a little while ago upon hearing the news of a least tern sighting. I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't even consider the possibility of a least tern this morning. When I arrived at the Montlake Fill, the least tern was sitting on a log just offshore from the Osprey platform. It was close enough to see all of the distinguishing features before a crow swooped in and it flew away. (at least the crow didn't eat it.) It flew out over the lake, and when I left the tern was flying above the 520 bridge not far from where I'd seen the tern this morning. If the bird is not present at the Montlake Fill, I'd suggest looking on the south shore of Union Bay from the Beaver Lodge Sanctuary or from the eastern end of Foster Island. I didn't even think of the possibility of least tern this morning; it just goes to show that unexpected birds can show up!

>

> Doug Santoni

> Ph 305-962-4226

> DougSantoni at gmail.com

>

>> On Jun 1, 2020, at 12:54 PM, Doug Santoni <dougsantoni at gmail.com> wrote:

>>

>> Tweeter friends -; I was seated on a bench at the Beaver Lodge Sanctuary on an arm of Union Bay having coffee and a breakfast sandwich, when I was surprised to see a tern flying around the 520 bridge, just to my north. I see Caspian Terns fairly regularly, and this bird was far smaller, did not have a huge red bill, and did not have the wing markings of a Caspian. It had a full cap and looked to be in breeding plumage. I watched it for a few minutes, and it plunged into the water twice to catch small fish (it was successful). I feel 100% confident that it was either a Forster's or a Common, but I am not certain which. While I watched the tern for a while in 8x binoculars, the tail looked all white to me so I just can't be sure which species it was. It was not far from the fresh water marsh east of Foster Island, but it was flying over open water. Maybe it will show up at the Montlake Fill, which is not far as the tern flies. -; Doug Santoni

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