Arctic tern

[wxq...@gmail.com]

Thanks John Bissell’s quick ebird report.
When I got to Oak Grove, the Arctic tern was still on the buoy. These are the best pictures which can be obtained from the shore. It is too far away, but it is much much closer than Arctic🙂

Xiaoqing Wu
Ames, Iowa

[Chad Gatlin]

If anyone spots the tern this morning, please post it.  I live 3 hours away and really want to see it, but don't want to waste the trip.

Thank you very much,

Chad

Unionville, MO

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Sent from my iPhone

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[Clayton Will]

Arctic Tern continues at Oak Grove, Polk Co.. It flies off  for several minutes and then returns. Good video and an audio file.

Clayton Will

Madrid

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[John Bissell]

Hi Clayton,

That appears to be a Forster’s Tern. That’s a very orange colored bill. Someone please correct me if Im wrong.

 

Good birding,

John Bissell

Grimes

 

John Bissell, AIC Subrogation Assistant Manager

T 515-345-7554  John.N....@EMCIns.com My working hours are: 7:00-3:30 emcinsurance.com

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[Mark Welford]

Arctic Terns have very small bills - this is very large compared to head size.

Dr. Mark Welford

Professor and Head of Geography 

University of Northern Iowa

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 29, 2026, at 8:08 AM, John Bissell <John.N....@emcins.com> wrote:



Hi Clayton,

That appears to be a Forster’s Tern. That’s a very orange colored bill. Someone please correct me if Im wrong.

 

Good birding,

John Bissell

Grimes

 

John Bissell, AIC Subrogation Assistant Manager

<image001.jpg>

T 515-345-7554  John.N....@EMCIns.com My working hours are: 7:00-3:30 emcinsurance.com

Employers Mutual Casualty Company | EMC Property & Casualty Company EMCASCO Insurance Company | Union Insurance Company of Providence Dakota Fire Insurance Company | Illinois EMCASCO Insurance Company

 

From: ia-...@googlegroups.com <ia-...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Clayton Will
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2026 7:37 AM
To: Chad Gatlin <chadv...@gmail.com>
Cc: wxq...@gmail.com; IA-BIRD <ia-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Arctic tern

 

<image002.jpg>

 

Clayton Will

Madrid

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[John Bissell]

I stand corrected. The bill looks awfully orange on my work laptop, but its definitely the Arctic Tern per Steve Dinsmore.

 

My apologies and good birding!

John Bissell

Grimes

 

John Bissell, AIC Subrogation Assistant Manager

T 515-345-7554  John.N....@EMCIns.com My working hours are: 7:00-3:30 emcinsurance.com

Employers Mutual Casualty Company | EMC Property & Casualty Company EMCASCO Insurance Company | Union Insurance Company of Providence Dakota Fire Insurance Company | Illinois EMCASCO Insurance Company

 

From: ia-...@googlegroups.com <ia-...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Clayton Will
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2026 7:37 AM
To: Chad Gatlin <chadv...@gmail.com>
Cc: wxq...@gmail.com; IA-BIRD <ia-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Arctic tern

 

Arctic Tern continues at Oak Grove, Polk Co.. It flies off  for several minutes and then returns. Good video and an audio file.

 

Clayton Will

Madrid

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ia-bird/CAHX11shkZKdZh%2BNM-VJV6fA3t89TLFYj2NtSufW%2BR19HxH%3DRRA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Clayton Will]

No worries John, 

Here's a short video. 

Clayton

 Arctic Tern Oak Grove June 29 2026 082.MP4

[wybo...@gmail.com]

I was there at 10:45 today, and the bird was not on buoys/beach (there were beachgoers); another birder came up and said they located it to the south of the parking lot/beach. In bright/difficult light conditions, I briefly saw a small tern sitting on the shore in the little cove. I turned around to set up my scope and then it was gone.

 

Within a few minutes, scanning the lake (very windy, lots of whitecaps), I saw a distant small tern flying about mid-lake with a Caspian Tern. I assume I saw the Arctic Tern. However, as much as I’d like to count the lifer, I did not see any ID marks so it is possible it could have been a Forster’s.

 

I’ll check back later, hopefully the bird will stick around and I’ll get a good view and photos.

Thanks!

Wyman

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[Chad Gatlin]

At 11:55am the tern is still here. It's now perched on one of the floats on the beach marker rope.

Chad

[Doug & Nina Harr]

I got to Oak Grove about 9AM this morning and was told it was at the south end of the parking area, along the beach behind some small trees.  And there it was, perched on an old log on the water's edge.  Definitely an Arctic Tern, with a smaller red bill and short red legs. It perched several minutes for some nice photo opportunities, one shot included here. I was afraid it might not be worth my driving down nearly 40 miles after reading the other emails last night, because I thought it would likely be gone today.  But it wasn't, and well worth my trip for an Iowa lifer and portraits!

Thanks to Reid & Pam Allen for the first reports yesterday!

Doug Harr

Ogden

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[Tim Houghton]

I hope to arrive at Oak Grove by NOON tomorrow, leaving to get there around 9:30. Would appreciate reports tomorrow morning before I leave, whether the bird is seen or not, if anyone looks for it. Thanks.

Tim Houghton

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