Date: 7/27/26 9:14 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] notes
This morning I was able to briefly check some spots in Richmond. Highlights were one Red Knot at Meeker Slough, 4 Forster's Terns in the Albany Crescent, and 10+ Least Terns in the Albany Crescent/off Isabel. Forster's Terns were not a difficult species to find in Richmond in July/August when I started birding, but I think it has been five or more years since I have seen a summer Forster's Tern in Richmond. The Least Terns were curious. At about 6:25 AM, I heard Least Terns flying over me while I was scoping the bay from near the Pt. Isabel radio tower. I looked up and saw a flock of 8 silhouetted against the fog flying northeast. I followed them as they appeared to beeline into urban Richmond towards ~50th/55th streets . About thirty minutes later I was scoping the Albany Crescent when 8 Least Terns dropped in from the north--from over the Costco--and began to forage in the bay water. I presume the same birds? Other than the 8, one adult and doting juvenile were foraging together off Pt. Isabel for much of the morning.
While I am here, last Friday morning birding Bethel Island I found a Swainson's Thrush. This is one of the latest local breeding species to migrate, and is exceptionally rare away from breeding sites in July. So, it feels worth a mention here.
