I checked out the Lake a few days ago after a few kind posters had - over a
period of weeks - mentioned spotting Little Curlews & Pratincoles (or was it
Phalaropes?).
No luck w/- the aforementioned, but good fun anyway. More to the point, I
noticed some birds among a small group of Whiskered Terns which didn't look
much like the juveniles or out-of-season adults I had seen before at places
like Wivenhoe.
My binocs are nothing flash and, lacking something to brace them on, weren't
up to the task of delivering a clear view at the higher mag. levels.
Stoopid me left my ratty old copy of Slater Slater Slater in the car, so I
couldn't check for diagnostic differences while actually lookin' at the
birdies in question.
When I got home, I checked in Simpson& Day, Pizzey&Doyle, National
Photographic Index "Shorebirds" and Readers Digest "Complete Book". All
seemed to confirm what I had gleaned from Slater: the birds appeared to be
White Winged Terns.
Could anyone who has been to the Lake recently confirm the presence of White
Winged Terns? I'm moderately certain these are what I spotted, but I'm
unfamiliar with the critters and - as I said - my optics are a bit sub-par
for longer-distance work.
Many thanks
Chris P
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