Date: 7/6/26 9:17 pm From: George Chrisman via groups.io <geodani55...> Subject: [pen-bird] Royal Terns at Ravenswood SF2
Today I headed down to Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge pond SF2 on the south side of the Dumbarton Bridge. Seems like the flock of breeding CASPIAN TERNS has thinned out and possibly already fledged their young. But there were two large groups of ELEGANT TERNS on Island 23 that were moving regularly all around the pond. In reviewing some long distance photos I took this afternoon, there appears to be at least two ROYAL TERNS mixed in with the ELTE's. I have had two Royal Terns here in June of 2023. Photos were cropped from long distant photos and can be seen on my eBird checklisthttps://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S368703880
There was also a large number of BLACK SKIMMERS with many feeding juveniles that clearly were hatched here along with a large number of FORSTER'S TERNS also feeding fledgelings. There were also at least 45 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS resting and feeding throughout the pond.
Shorebirds have also returned with over 500 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, hundreds of WILLETS, AMERICAN AVOCETS, DOWITCHERS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS, MARBLED GODWITS, and a few LONG-BILLED CURLEWS.
I believe the ponds are worth checking out for the ROYAL TERNS.
