On July 7, 2007, while birding at Walter F George Reservoir in Clay County, I observed a pair of adult terns that I identified as Gull-billed Terns (Sterna nilotica). This time of year a few terns, namely Common and Forster's start to show up, and Walter F George Dam can have about anything show up at anytime. As I started to get within about 100 yards of the gate near the lock I saw two terns flying towards me right over the rip-rap of the dam. I picked them up in my bins before I got out the car and was pleasantly surprised to have a pair of adult Gull-billed Terns. I chased them down the length of the dam heading back towards the highway, only to have them double back towards the lock. After an 80-point turn to get turned around on the dam they had gotten over to the AL side and I never saw them again.

This was a very rare occurrence for this species as they are strictly coastal with only two previous inland sightings from Ben Hill County and Stewart County on June 15, 1956 and December 8, 1977, respectively. I have had at least one sighting of a pair this species at West Point Dam after hurricane Roberta in September of 2004. But the birds seen in Clay County were present not seemingly due to any type of major storm which makes this sighting a bit more interesting.

A picture has been provided that shows at least one bird with its head turned that shows the characteristic stout, solid black bill of the Gull-billed Tern. To a lesser degree, you can see the short, slightly notched tails of the birds.

Description:

Overall size – Clearly one of the “medium-sized” terns; too large for a Least, and too small for Caspian or Royal

Head – Crisp, black on cap into frontal area to base of bill, suggesting adult birds

Bill – Relatively short, stout, and solid black

Top of wings, mantle – uniform pale grey

Underneath – Mostly whitish throughout, including wing linings

Tail – Fairly sort, no streamers, slightly notched

Voice – called several times with a rather nasal, two part phrase (phonetics difficult to describe), but not grating in quality

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