On our way back from Berlin Lake, we visited Lake Milton to its NNE. Also a reservoir on the Mahoning River, Lake Milton is far more developed along its shores and relatively congested on its open waters, making it less appealing to this naturalist.
Nevertheless, we stopped at a beach along its northwest shore, where a flock of ring-billed gulls lounged on the sand. Joining the gulls was a large tern with a thick, blood-red bill; it was, of course, a Caspian Tern. After breeding in scattered areas across Canada, southern Alaska and the Great Basin, these terns head to southern beaches for the northern winter, from the U.S. to South America. In my experience, migrant Caspian terns are generally seen alone or in small groups, joining larger flocks of gulls, other terns, skimmers and shorebirds.
Once again, a detour from the direct route turned up an unexpected sighting. We may see what we plan to observe but also what we allow ourselves to experience.
Nevertheless, we stopped at a beach along its northwest shore, where a flock of ring-billed gulls lounged on the sand. Joining the gulls was a large tern with a thick, blood-red bill; it was, of course, a Caspian Tern. After breeding in scattered areas across Canada, southern Alaska and the Great Basin, these terns head to southern beaches for the northern winter, from the U.S. to South America. In my experience, migrant Caspian terns are generally seen alone or in small groups, joining larger flocks of gulls, other terns, skimmers and shorebirds.
Once again, a detour from the direct route turned up an unexpected sighting. We may see what we plan to observe but also what we allow ourselves to experience.
