Date: 5/15/26 11:45 am From: <tonybrake...> via groups.io <tonybrake...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Nesting terns on Richmond Breakwater
Like Forrest, we were wondering if Elegant Terns would be nesting this season on the Richmond Breakwater.. Although some had been appearing at various locations along the breakwater, there didn't seem to be a consistent group where they had nested last year near the Caspian Terns that have nesting here for some years. However, over the last week they began increase in the area of previous year's nesting as well as at another location near Brooks Island. Yesterday we took the Richmond-SF ferry to get a better look and some photos to confirm. Using the photos I made an estimate of 1800 Elegant Terns and 180 Caspian Terns. These are conservative counts due to the tightly packed groups with the two species intermingled. There was the usual large California Gull colony along with a Western Gulls nesting along the breakwater as well as one of the channel markers. Here is an eBird checklist with some photos from the return leg of our trip: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S339086855
I believe this must be the northernmost Elegant Tern nesting colony. I understand that they have been nesting in the South Bay and at Alameda since about 2019.
