Manitowoc, Wisconsin scored big this past weekend. Charles Sontag & Mark Hodgson happened on an alternate White-winged Tern on Saturday, 21 May 2016 - only the 2nd record for the Western Great Lakes. Coincidentally, the first record also came from Wisconsin (
Jefferson County; 05 July 1873. Ludwig Kumlien).
Bruce Heimer and I made the 3-hour jaunt for this one. It didn't take much to convince me as I bird this site multiple times in the Spring/Summer.
Here's my lousy photo of the tern:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxK9gW74kTSamr61PvtrR6ldjrFhtH33pPnpFxRMiOxvk4HDw6c9ah70oeRn2fz14QBlg_Ah8rn6z5qy7HSjL-cxhDGKCY_AzgiSEv0ly-LcG8vt1psabBQiPxqq4Ii4-2joFj8hhsjyb/s640/DSC_8805.JPG) |
WHITE-WINGED TERN. 22 MAY 2016 |
And of course a few Littles:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU4W-XdV-SML0kTE2OkV429wyZMGpO6Q6Q0XEGppKROq-EvPFpoVusbZHxsS_cEuZPLDHSqqdfnDakYjvnZWcWqQRVI8uoeATxwYG11lLKU4TjR3l_w_Of_qYlbDiHFMca4m0yT39yiV-/s640/DSC_8766.JPG) |
1st Cycle Little Gull rebuking a similar-aged Bonaparte's Gull. |
Most of the LIGUs found here are 1st summer birds. An apparent adult was reported moments before we arrived. We never did see it, but photos confirm at least 5 LIGUs were present this past weekend, including a 1st cycle with an almost full hood, decked out with pink blush throughout.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxIH69FteCxlmnz6ZEc-76cuR029AklVqDLBksUQIqhH5uugZqenqiTqHhlKH0JHo4WRNeiZT9hiQefysk5kGJV-4Gp-JRKNIr8qedXiJuWPG9A2ooA3dAvNT6WGvLgCjL3nib1e3Ta16/s640/DSC_8683.JPG) |
Is there a LIGU in this photo...? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QlWPdu9RyjsBkNs3HLojpzaCtfz7rp3tfmjWiR8nia9Y3CrsL8i6CsyPRrUfFAVBnfQXh2zyEFJwuYC0P1aBAUQvBArmlIkDBcvfVNxN1d0bX2I_57G5-tm6o8LFGgtY0TTH_xNzyJwp/s640/DSC_8761.JPG) |
Of course there is... |
This one here was hawking insects over the impoundment for a few moments:
Beside hawking insects over the lake, the birds are here feeding mainly on dying alewives. Here's a glimpse of a small segment of the group flushing:
It's nice to see these diminutive, tern-like, gulls with their smaller cousins. Their feeding preferences, fight patterns and breeding habitats are much more alike when compared to those of the larger gulls.