Terns

[floraphile 174]

05 Oct 2019 Dauphin Island, Mobile co. AL

Just looking at the terns in the foreground (not the blurry ones in the back) in amongst Black Skimmers & Laughing Gulls. 

From L to R:

Caspian Tern X 1  (bill tip somewhat obscured by gull's head)

Royal Tern X 5 

Caspian Tern X 2

Royal Tern X 4

[Connor Cochrane 2,151]

Looks good, unless I’m missing something. The blurry ones in the back look like mostly Royal. 

[Tony Leukering 2,280]

I'd go with five CATEs, the fourth being the largest tern in the back clump on the left edge (it's obviously larger than the Royals around it and seems to have a mostly blackish crown) and the fifth being the closest tern on the right edge of the back clump. Nine ROYTs in the first clump and, as Connor wrote, most of the back clump are ROYTs.

[floraphile 174]

20 minutes ago, Tony Leukering said:

I'd go with five CATEs, the fourth being the largest tern in the back clump on the left edge (it's obviously larger than the Royals around it and seems to have a mostly blackish crown) and the fifth being the closest tern on the right edge of the back clump. Nine ROYTs in the first clump and, as Connor wrote, most of the back clump are ROYTs.

I wasn't ready to tackle the ones in the back clump, but I can see the different species now that you've pointed them out.  Thank you!

[Candydez12 53]

Yes, I think you are right about which terns are where. I also see some Black Skimmers mixed with them.

[Seanbirds 448]

2 hours ago, Candydez12 said:

Yes, I think you are right about which terns are where. I also see some Black Skimmers mixed with them.

Six of them, to be exact.