Another Common Tern to end June

Common Tern, Oxbow, Northampton, MA, Jun 30, 2020

Common Tern, Oxbow, Northampton, MA, Jun 30, 2020

Common Tern, Oxbow, Northampton, MA, Jun 30, 2020

Common Tern, Oxbow, Northampton, MA, Jun 30, 2020

While I was at work yesterday I checked my phone and had multiple text messages, phone messages and emails regarding a tern at the Oxbow in Northampton that was being identified as a Forster's Tern (a species I have seen only once before in Hampshire County).  Any sterna type tern this late in the season certainly needs to be studied closely to figure out the exact species.  I was limited to looking at a handful of photos on the small screen of my phone so it was tough to determine too much as far as identification.  Multiple people made it by to see the bird and most agreed with the original identification but the possibility of a Common Tern as the correct ID was also raised and better photos pointed in the direction of that as the correct species.  Terns around here typically do not stay around for multiple days so I was not too hopeful in catching up with it this morning after I got out of work but I figured I would try nonetheless.  With our continued on and off showery and stormy weather I did at least hold out a slim amount of hope that it would hang around into the morning.  I arrived in the area with a slight drizzle coming down and a few birders present who reported it was indeed still around but was last seen flying around and was now out of view.  I checked a couple other viewpoints along the shore of the Oxbow and after about 15 minutes it flew into view and headed back to the same barrel it sat on most of the day yesterday.  In flight it appeared to be a Common Tern but once it was on the barrel and I could get better scope views the grayish belly seemed to be gone and it appeared overall white but after studying it for awhile I felt the reflection off the barrel washed out the color making it appear all white.  I also got to look at a multitude of in flight shots as well as perched shots taken by others and felt comfortable with calling it a Common Tern.  A couple others took a look at the handful of photos attached to eBird lists and the consensus was Common Tern.  This makes a total of three Common Terns in Hampshire County this month with one on June 5th (along with a Black Tern) and another on June 9th..both of the others at Winsor Dam.  Overall the month was quite productive in the county with a total of 136 species (which tied last years recording setting total for June).

Black Bear, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 23, 2020

White tailed Deer, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 16, 2020

A check of the cameras at the house turned up a few mammals passing through the yard including a mid afternoon Black Bear and multiple White tailed Deer.