– Black Noddy Tern Sightings –
Debra Hess
Yankee Freedom II Naturalist
The northeast coaling docksat the Dry Tortugas National Park have been yielding daily sightings of Black Noddy Terns. These terns- slightly smaller, darker, and with a slightly longer bill than the Brown Noddy Tern can be picked out with binoculars or a spotting scope at the N.E. coaling docks by carefully observing the terns side by side . The Black Noddy Tern is known to be a more pelagic (open ocean) species, and has consistently been observed in the Dry Tortugas in the spring since the 1960’s, although it is not known to nest here. At least 2 simultaneous sightings of 2 Black Noddy’s have occurred on the N.E. coaling docks the week of April 13, 2008.
Falcon’s have dominated the paradeground of Fort Jefferson during this same week (April 13th)- as many as 7 Merlins in one day, and numerous Peregrines and Kestrel as well. Warbler sightings are still slow- new species for the 2008 season include Swainson’s, Blackpoll, Redstart, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, Tennessee, and Pine. The first Thrush – a Wood Thrush, Indigo Bunting,Orchard Oriole, Yellow billed Cuckoo, Red eyed and Black Whiskered Vireo, Grey and Eastern Kingbird are other visitors in early April. A Dunlin, several Avocets, and a Greater Yellowlegs were observed on the beaches. We are still anxiously awaiting a big push of migrants to occur.
Tags: birding, dry tortugas, Dry Tortugas Birding, florida national parks, fort jefferson