black terns at Bear Is, SC

["Leah Campbell" <faeriemaiden@hotmail.com>]

I didn't mention this in my last post because the jury (Bruce and I) was 
still out on what kind of terns we were seeing. While admiring the 
black-necked stilts, willets, and snowy egrets, we saw a large number (~20) 
terns skimming the water for prey (shrimp?). They had varying plumages, but 
most had some black below (concentrated on the belly, but on some, extending 
to the head). We finally decided these were black terns molting out of 
bleeding plumage.

After my last post (Wed night) I went back to Bear Is. to do a little 
photography before heading home. Where we saw about 10 wood storks the day 
before, I saw 30+ circling overhead and floating down into the marsh. It 
reminded me of gulls, but on a much grander scale with a prehistoric feel. I 
was only 10 feet from the closest ones. Awesome!

Leah

Leah Campbell
Blackstock, SC
leahcam@lycos.com
faeriemaiden@hotmail.com

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