My job today was to drive a boat around the shoreline of a large, wonderfully clear lake and map and identify the emergent vegetation. All this in partly cloudy, 80 degree weather. Not a bad gig if you can get it. Even if you have to work with the intern. (No really, he's a great guy, I just don't like having "teaching others what their future job may entail" as part of my own job description, for more than a day or two. That's just how I am. Oh well.)In the process, we encountered this bird, and I happened to have my camera ready! How often does that happen? I knew right away it wasn't one of the usual ring billed gulls, but my mistake was thinking it was still a gull. After getting back to the office, and comparing the picture to my Sibley's guide, it turned out to be...a Forster's tern, adult non-breeding plumage. I don't think they occur around here, in late July, too often. Anyway, it was maybe a first for me and a great chance to show the intern about looking at the whole picture. I don't know anyone else around my office who takes the time to identify birds.
6 comments:
Cool tern!! It DOES sound like you have a sweet job today. Lucky you Deb.
see you Saturday- can't wait!!!!
Good for you, Deb.
I like to have a chance every once in a while to share nature watching/discovery with others, too.
What's really satisfying is having them come back--excited about something THEY've found. Eager to share it with you.
One good tern deserves another.
A favorite tern of mine.
we take time at work to identify most everything--not that i remember much.
Lynne- just getting back to this post. Yesterday was so fun! It was good to see you!
Nina- "one good tern"...haha. I'm glad this inTERN seems to tolerate my bird observations!
FC- I've probably seen them before, but it's nice when I have the time to observe them up close.
Karl- I've mostly been identifying aquatic plants, and getting stumped by them a few times. Birds are easy by comparison.
Pretty tern! Good for you Deb. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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