#least tern

The sands and seas of coastal Massachusetts, and some of the wildlife that live there. We walked along a trail through and up Pitch Pine, Beach Heather, and Chokecherry-covered dunes above the Atlantic where flocks of Black Scoters and Common Eiders dove for fish. Another trail went down to the beach where a Piping Plover foraged along the shore and a number of Least Terns and curious Gray Seals hunted a short way out to sea. We were a good distance outside a restricted shorebird area, but we were happy to give them their space and could see them just fine with a pair of binoculars :)

suraj_ramamurthy

Least tern chicks By: John G. Sidle From: Natural History Magazine 1989

Internet Archive

Today's seabird is the least tern (Sternula antillarum). It is the smallest of the tern and gull family Laridae. They hunt in shallow lagoons and estuaries by flying over the water and diving down to catch small fish. They breed on hard ground and court by sharing food or doing flying performances.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. May 2022.

Least terns!!

EHRLIF/istock.com