First record of an Arctic Tern for Nebraska

• Main Author: Dinsmore, Stephen J.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2000
• Subjects: Ornithology; Poultry or Avian Science; Zoology; Arctic; Arctic tern
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebbirdrev/73; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/nebbirdrev/article/1072/viewcontent/Nebraska_Bird_Review_v68_no4_First_Record_of_an_Arctic_Tern_for_Nebraska_p176_177.pdf

On 20 September 2000, I arrived at Lake Minatare in Scotts Bluff County after the passage of a strong cold front the day before. At 11:36 a.m., I noticed two distant Sterna flying east of the lighthouse. Although the distance was great, I could see that one tern was a juvenile Forster's Tern while the other tern was clearly a different species. Even at a distance, I thought I could see a white cheek, a darker gray belly, and pale upperwings, all indications that the bird was an adult Arctic Tern. I then drove to the lighthouse and soon found the two terns flying along the north shore of the lake where they eventually landed amongst a small flock of Franklin's and Ring-billed Gulls. I was able to approach to within 10 meters of the birds and take several photographs. The Arctic Tern remained at this location until I left the area at 12:40 p.m. and was still there several hours later (Helen Hughsen, pers. comm.).