| Virginia Society of Ornithology |
| Records Committee Report Form |
| Species. |
| Bridled Tern (Sterna anaethetus melanoptera) |
| Specimen found after Hurricane Isabel. |
| Date(s) and Time(s) of Observation. |
| September 19, 2002 |
| Location: County and Town. |
| City of Suffolk, VA |
| This location is off of "Town Point" which is located on the Nansemond River and is just south of Bennett's Creek. The tern was found in a field south of Route 17 (or Bridge Road), near the Godwin Bridge. |
| Length of Time Observed. |
| N/A - specimen |
| Habitat. |
| The tern was found in an area next to a wide tidal river. An adult Bridled Tern was observed during the day of the storm (9/18/03) within 300 yards of where the specimen was found. This area was eventually on the east side of the hurricane eye but the adult bird referenced above was found on strong north east winds before the passing of the eye. These winds were the result of the gradient between a strong high pressure center which was finally pushed out by Hurricane Isabel. Said northeast winds ranged from 50-70 mph and lasted for some 7+ hours until finally subsiding when the winds swung around to the east, southeast, and finally south. |
| Optical Equipment. |
| N/A - specimen |
| Viewing Conditions. |
| N/A - specimen |
| Description. |
| 1 dead juvenile tern found after Hurricane Isabel. The tern was in several pieces after having either been predated or scavenged by an unknown animal. |
| Field Marks. |
| The tern's dorsal feathers were all dark gray with some white spotting. The tail: The bill and feet were black. The bill measured approx. 2 inches from gape to tip. |
| Description of Behavior. |
| N/A |
| Voice. |
| N/A |
| Previous experience with this or similar species. |
| I have observed both Bridled and Sooty Terns of adult and juvenal plumages on many east coast pelagic trips with Brian Patteson's Seabirding Tours (www.seabirding.com). |
| What other field marks helped you eliminate other similar species? |
| The tern's back was too dark for Common, Forster's, Arctic, & Roseate Terns. Sooty Tern juvenile would have dark chest and both juvenile and adult Sooty Tern would have blackish rather than dark gray upper parts. Other races (i.e. _antarctica_ or _anaethetus_) would have tails that show almost NO white at all while the tail feathers of this bird clearly show extensive white in most of the outer tail feathers indicating the West Indian race - melanoptera. |
| Other observers, if any. |
| Brian Patteson, Ned Brinkley (via internet pictures only) |
| Did other observers agree on species identifications? In not, state specifically why. |
| Yes |
| Resources consulted for identification. |
| Sibley Field Guild to Birds |
| National Geographic Guide to Birds of North America |
| Attach photographs, field notes, and sketches, if any, and provide details of equipment used. |
| Web link to digital pictures of this tern: |
| http://www.clwillis.com/BirdingVA/Gallery/brte2.htm |
| Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 4300 Digital Camera. |
| SIGNATURE: |
| Les Willis |
| DATE: November 18, 2003 |