Date: 11/17/25 6:27 pm From: mattbaker via groups.io <mattbaker...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Black Tern at Lake Merritt
All - just joined the group to echo my report from ebird this morning of a black tern near the Lake Chalet side:
Juvenille bird seen close to shore south of Lake Chalet restaurant. Showed more patterns on the back than a 'nonbreeding' bird, meaning darker streaking instead of solid dark gray. Facial patterns consistent with immature/nonbreeding bird, including black and white markings. The bird fished close to shore in front of the Chalet then proceeded to the NW part arm of the lake and out of sight. It did not appear to be associating with the Forster's terns that were further out in the lake. So far I have not been able to re-locate it. I am a recent transplant to the area but have a lot of experience with black terns from the Great Lakes region. Hoping someone else can spot the bird today before the weather clears again.
I hope it can be re-found, as I still haven't seen it again since around noon.
I also had an interesting gull I believe to be an iceland gull around the same time: This bird looks just like the 'darker juvenille' in Sibley with the 'white windows' very prominent in the primaries. Smaller than WEGU but larger than RBGU. Again hoping someone else can get eyes on this bird.
