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Black Terns/Little Gulls in late summer



Folks:
	Birders in August have turned winter-plumaged Black Terns into Little
Gulls one more than one previous occasion. Little Gulls are rare in NC
waters, and I don't think there are any legitimate records at this time
of year. They generally show up after Christmas counts -- from the end
of December into April, with February and early March the peak time.
They moslty occur with Bonaparte's Gulls. Black Terns can be numerous
over the ocean and along the coast in August, and they come in a
bewildering array of plumages now. Some plumages could certainly look
like Little Gulls.

-- 
Harry LeGrand
Chair, NC Bird Records Committee
NC Natural Heritage Program
DENR   Office of Conservation and Community Affairs
1601 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
(919) 715-8697 (work)
FAX: 919-715-3085
e-mail: harry.legrand@ncmail.net