Brett Gleitsmann sent photos to the NYSARC email address showing what appears to be the Elegant Tern. I shared the images with Andy Guthrie and Andrew Baksh who agree it's likely the same bird.
If I understand Brett's message correctly it was photographed on some sand flats just west of the Ponquogue Bridge shortly before 8 PM this evening. This is 12 miles east of Cupsogue County Park. Given the extensive coverage at Cupsogue and likely two sightings in the space of a week (Arie Gilbert on 27 Jun and the Guthrie/Baksh et al on 3 July), it makes sense the bird is ranging a fair bit. Thus it's probably a good idea if people search widely in the coming days and try to stay in cell phone contact with other searchers in case one party refinds it. With a few more sightings a more predictable pattern might emerge. Those who've seen and photographed Royal Terns in the area over the past few weeks should check their images. Good luck, Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
