[EBB Sightings] Tern help?

Both species breed along the west coast of Mexico, including the Sea of
Cortez, and then disperse after the breeding season. According to Arnold
Small (California Birds: Their Status and Distribution, published in 1994),
Royal Terns �formerly ranged as far north as Marin County, and exceptionally
to Humboldt County, but numbers have declined in recent years and they are
now rare north of San Luis Obispo County.� About Elegant Terns, he says
�Prior to about 1950, there were very few records from California.
Subsequent flights in 1952, 1955, 1957, and 1959 established that a regular
pattern was developing, which annually brought large numbers of
post-breeding Elegant Terns to California from Mexico.�

This summer and fall, Elegant Terns have been observed by the hundreds and
sometimes thousands, both in the Bay and along the coast. If I�m not
mistaken, no Royal Terns have been reported in the SF Bay region this year.
So going strictly by the numbers, I�d say that Elegant Tern is most
probable.

Bruce Mast
Oakland, CA
510-435-1371
________________________________________
From: sightings-admin at diabloaudubon.com
[mailto:sightings-admin at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of Vaughan
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 5:25 PM
To: ebbsightings
Subject: [EBB Sightings] Tern help?

This afternoon about 5 PM at Crab Cove in Alameda I saw two terns among the
Forster's Terns that were larger with white foreheads, black head and
crest.� One had a yellow beak, the other was a bit on the orange side.�
Checking my guides they looked like Elegant or Royal Terns.� Peterson says
of Elegant: "wanders irregularly (mainly Aug.-Oct.) North to San Francisco
Bay."� Of Royal: "rarely to San Francisco."� Sibley makes no such mention
and the maps provided indicate neither should be here.� Audubon says of
Elegant, "winters to North and South....others regularly visiting Northern
California coast."� Of Royal it says "winters Southern California
Southward."
�
Anyone know what I saw?
�
Thanks
Bob