Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans), Patagonia Lake, upper end, Santa Cruz County

7 June 2009 brought a remarkable windfall of Elegant Terns to Arizona following a couple of days of strong southwesterly winds.  There are only six previous records of this species in Arizona.  However, on this date 5 individuals were reported from 3 different locations:  these two in Patagonia, one in Benson and two in Tucson. These occurrences were correlated with strong southwesterly winds and the apparent abandonment of a large Elegant Tern colony in the Gulf of California because of warm water and low food. 

The orange-billed Elegant Tern was discovered at 7:55 a.m. by Matt Brown and the orange-billed bird was immediately joined by the yellow-billed bird, seen first by Raymond Van Buskirk.   Bill Talbot and Michael Hilchey were also present.  They were photographed by Matt Brown and Michael Hilchey on 7 June 2009 and by Laurens Halsey on 8 June 2009. 

While the yellow-billed bird stirs thoughts of Cayenne Tern of South America, apparently breeding Elegant Terns are variable in bill color.  This individual does seem to be somewhat extreme, however. 

07 June 2009, photos by Matt Brown

 

07 June 2009, photos by Michael Hilchey

 

08 June 2009, photos by Laurens Halsey

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer

 

Map:

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