(no subject)

[camwyn]

Just did some poking around on whatbird.com to identify a species I saw out by Snake Island today. It was awfully little- the smallest seabird with gull-type wings I've ever seen- and it was mostly white and grey. I saw it hovering a bit before suddenly diving at the water and coming up again in a smooth stroke. Beautiful little thing, and not anything I'd ever seen before, so I made a note to go and check whatbird.com when I got home.

Pretty sure it was a least tern, which are apparently pretty rare in Massachusetts but which established some nests in Winthrop a while back.

Comments

[in_the_blue]

Terns are kind of awesome. I might have photos of least terns from when I stayed on Little St. Simon's Island in Georgia a few years back, I can check if you want to compare notes.

[camwyn]

Sure. I remember thinking it was completely white at first, but realizing that I was seeing it mostly from below and that it was probably gray across the back; it was very small, and had just incredibly slender and almost stylized wings. And I remember it seeming to hover for several seconds, and suddenly diving almost straight down- which is apparently something least terns do. If you've got any pictures available I'd love to have a look.