Date: 6/27/25 12:36 pm From: <tonybrake...> via groups.io <tonybrake...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Nesting ELEGANT TERNS on the Richmond Breakwater
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Since April, we had been noticing the early arrival of ELEGANT TERNS along the Richmond channel breakwater along with the CASPIAN TERNS that usually nest, which we can observe from our home. In recent years ELEGANT TERNS have arrived at later date (June-July?) presumably post-breeding. On 8May we rode the Richmond-SF ferry and I took photographs along the breakwater in order to get a better look and make an estimated count.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S239003744 It seemed quite likely that many were in an incubation posture, presumably on eggs. Ethan Monk told me that this would be the first nesting record for Contra Costa County, so I conservatively recorded them as “Occupied Nest”
Yesterday, 26June, we gain rode the ferry along the breakwater and this time saw many juvenile ELEGANT TERNS, as well as juvenile CASPIAN TERNS. I made a rough estimate of about 3,000 ELEGANT TERNS. This is likely an under count since the birds were densely packed especially in/around the creche of juveniles. Also many terns were flying to and fro. Here is a checklist of these and other species.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S254165210
I have attached a few photos that give an idea of the scene.
