El Paso county --- ARCTIC TERN (9/8 and 9/9/14)

[Mark Peterson]

COBirders,

There is currently an adult ARCTIC TERN at Big Johnson reservoir.  I found the bird late yesterday in low light and the bird was distant so was not 100% sure it was an Arctic.  I watched the bird until it just got too dark to see it anymore.  SO I was hoping it would be there this morning and Bill Maynard just refound the bird and confirmed it is an Arctic.  Things a thought I was seeing last night were, full gray belly, long tail streamers, all black cap, small bill (could not tell if it was all red) and very short legs.  In fact, most of the time it looked like the bird was sitting down and maybe it was?  But at one point I did see the actual legs so I knew it was not sitting and I could barely see them.  Again, I had very poor light so I was afraid I might be seeing what I wanted to see.

The other interesting thing was that every time it would dive it would then be harassed by BARN SWALLOWs.  Other birds there last night were about 10 BLACK TERNS, the continuing LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a single MARBLED GODWIT.

For directions:

http://coloradocountybirding.org/BySite.aspx?SiteID=859

 

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Mark Peterson
Colorado Springs