I was at Pitt Lake a couple of days ago and noticed some Terns flying some distance from the shore. I didn't hear any of the normal sounds I would have from a Caspian Tern. However, I did see one dive into the lake from a great height.

While watching one which was very far away, I noticed that it wasn't diving, but skimming. I've never seen this before in a Tern. I snapped a couple of soft photos and can see that this "skimmer" has a bright orange bill, but with black at the front end. It appeared to have its lower bill in the water as it flew along parallel to the surface.

Do Terns skim very often? Could this be a different type of Tern?

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MikeDB
http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdbug3/

Check out Black Skimmer at link.Woukd be a great find for these parts.Ted Ardley Victoria

http://www.google.ca/search?q=black+ski ... 24&bih=672

Caspian Terns are a regular along the Pitt River and over the lake at this time of the year. On Friday I had a group of 5 about km south of Grant Narrows. over the river.

Closest province with a Skimmer I believe is Ontario and to the south California. It indeed would be an exciting find. Here's hoping !!

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Larry Cowan
Pitt Meadows